NFL Championship Game, 1953
Encyclopedia
The 1953 National Football League
championship game was the 21st annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 27, 1953 at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
. The game was a rematch to the 1952 game between the Detroit Lions
and Cleveland Browns
.
The Detroit Lions
had finished the 1953 season with a record of 10-2 and the Western Conference title. The Lions were led by quarterback Bobby Layne
and running back Doak Walker
.
The Cleveland Browns
had finished the regular season with a record of 11-1 and won the Eastern Conference. The Browns were led by their head coach Paul Brown
and quarterback Otto Graham
. This was the Browns' fourth NFL championship game appearance since joining the NFL in 1950.
Scoring
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
championship game was the 21st annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 27, 1953 at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The game was a rematch to the 1952 game between the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
The Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
had finished the 1953 season with a record of 10-2 and the Western Conference title. The Lions were led by quarterback Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne
Robert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
and running back Doak Walker
Doak Walker
Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
.
The Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
had finished the regular season with a record of 11-1 and won the Eastern Conference. The Browns were led by their head coach Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
and quarterback Otto Graham
Otto Graham
Otto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
. This was the Browns' fourth NFL championship game appearance since joining the NFL in 1950.
Scoring
- DET - Walker 1 yard run (Walker Kick) 7-0 DET
- CLE - FG GrozaLou GrozaLouis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
13 yard 7-3 DET - DET - FG Walker 23 yard 10-3 DET
- CLE - Jagade 9 yard run (Groza kick) 10-10 TIE
- CLE - FG Groza 15 yard 13-10 CLE
- CLE - FG Groza 43 yard 16-10 CLE
- DET - DoranJim DoranJames Robert Doran is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Iowa State University. He was a two-way player, playing both on offense and defense...
33 yard pass from LayneBobby LayneRobert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
(Walker kick) 17-16 DET