The 1948 Season

Here are the playoff seeds for 1948.

#8 seed-Baltimore Colts (7-7)
Last Playoff Appearance...first appearance in franchise history
All-Pro-LG Dick Barwegan, LH Billy Hillenbrand

The Colts won their last game against Buffalo to bring them to 7-7 on the season and it was just enough to get Baltimore to the playoffs. This AAFC version of the Colts lost 5 of 6 in midseason to drop to 4-6, but recovered nicely, winning 3 of 4 to end the season.

#7 seed-Los Angeles Rams (6-5-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1946, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...1-2
All-Pro-LE Tom Fears, LT Dick Huffman, C Fred Naumetz, RG Mike Lazetich, RT Gil Bouley

The Rams enter the postseason on a roll, winning their last 3 games. Tom Fears led the offense with 51 catches, the feature player on the second best passing attack in the NFL.

#6 seed-Washington Redskins (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1945, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...4-1, 2-time NFL Champions (1942, 1943)
All-Pro-QB Sammy Baugh

The Redskins started 6-2 and were hoping to get a home game in the postseason, but 3 straight losses in November brought them back to earth. Sammy Baugh is still an effective quarterback at age 34, and Dan Sandifer set new NFL records for interceptions and return yards.

#5 seed-Philadelphia Eagles (9-2-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1947, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-1, 2-time NFL Champions (1944, 1945)
All-Pro-QB Tommy Thompson, RG Bucko Kilroy, RT Al Wistert, RE Pete Pihos, LH Steve Van Buren, P Joe Muha

The Eagles are an outstanding team that excels on both sides of the ball. After starting with a loss and a tie, they ripped off 8 straight wins to get to the playoffs. Steve Van Buren scored 10 TD on the ground and Pete Pihos scored 11 TD through the air.

#4 seed-Chicago Bears (10-2)
Last Playoff Appearance...1947, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...1-6
All-Pro-QB Sid Luckman, LT Fred Davis, LG Chuck Drulis, C Bulldog Turner, RG Ray Bray, LE Ken Kavanaugh, RH George McAfee, RE Ed Cifers, G Wash Serini, K Johnny Lujack

The Bears were true Monsters of the Midway as they led the NFL in defense. The Bears only allowed 2 opponents to score more than 20 points in any one game. Chicago only lost 2 games by a total of 8 points all season.

#3 seed-San Francisco 49ers (12-2)
Last Playoff Appearance...1947, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...1-2
All-Pro-RH Johnny Strzykalski, RT-John Woudenberg, RE Alyn Beals, QB Frankie Albert, G Riley Matheson

The Niners started with 10 straight wins and a high-flying offense that produced more points and yards than any team in the AAFC. Frankie Albert set a new standard with 29 TD passes, with 14 of them going to Alyn Beals. Three different 49ers scored at least 10 TD.

#2 seed-Chicago Cardinals (11-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1947, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...0-2
All-Pro-C Vince Banonis, RG Buster Ramsey, RE Mal Kutner, LH Charlie Trippi, FB Pat Harder, RH Elmer Angsman, LT Chet Bulger

The Cardinals have won their last 10 games heading to the postseason, using the best offense in the NFL. The Cardinals averaged 4.8 yards per carry as a team and scored 25 TD on the ground, featuring a triumvirate of great runners in Trippi, Harder, and Angsman.

#1 seed-Cleveland Browns (14-0)
Last Playoff Appearance...1947, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...5-1, 1946 NFL Champions
All-Pro-QB Otto Graham, LE Mac Speedie, LG Ed Ulinski, RT Lou Rymkus, RE Dante Lavelli, FB Marion Motley, G Bill Willis, C Lou Saban, G Weldon Humble

The best of the AAFC Cleveland Browns teams looks poised to go after a second NFL title in three years. The Browns defense was the best in the AAFC. Otto Graham was still the leader of the offense, finishing with 2,713 passing yards and 25 TD. Marion Motley finished the regular season with 964 yards rushing and 6.1 yards per carry.

1948 Playoffs

December 18, 1948
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Cardinals, 4:30 pm
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, 8 pm

December 19, 1948
Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Browns, 1 pm
Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers, 4:30 pm

December 26, 1948
NFL Semifinals, 3 pm and 6:30 pm

January 2, 1949
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm