The Playoff Seeds for 1954...
#6 seed-New York Giants (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...8-5, 2 NFL Championships (1950, 1951)
Pro Bowl-FB Eddie Price, LH Frank Gifford, RH Kyle Rote, LG Bill Austin, LDT Ray Krouse, LDH/P Tom Landry, LS/PR Emlen Tunnell
The Giants are back in the postseason after a one-year absence. New York's defense led the way, allowing the second fewest points in the NFL and leading the league with 33 interceptions, led by 8 each from Emlen Tunnell and Tom Landry. The Giants opened 4-1 before barely surviving the second half of the schedule to earn a playoff berth.
#5 seed-Philadelphia Eagles (7-4-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...9-6, 2 NFL Championships (1944, 1945)
Pro Bowl-RT Lum Snyder, RE Pete Pihos, MG Bucko Kilroy, RDE Norm Willey, LLB Chuck Bednarik, RLB Wayne Robinson, P/QB Adrian Burk
Philadelphia got off to a hot start, winning their first 4 games and looking like one of the best teams in the league. Eventually, the difficulties the Eagles had running the ball caught up with them, and they struggled to qualify for the postseason.
#4 seed-San Francisco 49ers (7-4-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-7
Pro Bowl-QB Y.A. Tittle, FB Joe Perry, LH John Henry Johnson, RG Bruno Banducci, RE Billy Wilson, MG Al Carapella, RS Jim Cason
The 49ers ground attack paced one of the best offenses in the NFL. San Francisco survived a 3-game losing streak in midseason to advance to the playoffs. Joe Perry gained over 1,000 yards on the ground and Y.A. Tittle completed 58 percent of his passes for the Niners.
#3 seed-Chicago Bears (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...2-10
Pro Bowl-LE Harlon Hill, MG Bill George, RDT Bill Bishop, RDE Ed Sprinkle, FB/KR Chick Jagade
The Bears were 4-4 after 8 games and looked like they would be left out of the postseason chase, but they regrouped and won their last 4 games to qualify as the 3rd seed. Chicago's passing attack was led by receiver Harlon Hill, who averaged 25 yards a catch and scored 12 touchdowns.
#2 seed-Cleveland Browns (9-3)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, NFL Champions
Playoff Record...11-5, 3 NFL Championships (1946, 1948, 1953)
Pro Bowl-QB Otto Graham, LG Abe Gibron, RE Dante Lavelli, RDT Don Colo, RDE Len Ford, K/LT Lou Groza
The Browns had the best defense in the NFL in 1954, leading the league in fewest yards, points, rushing yards and passing yards allowed. Cleveland had an 8-game winning streak that led them to the playoffs. The Browns are attempting to win their fourth championship in nine seasons.
#1 seed-Detroit Lions (9-2-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...4-3, 1952 NFL Champions
Pro Bowl-LT Lou Creekmur, LLB Joe Schmidt, RLB LaVern Torgeson, LDH Jim David, RDH Bill Stits, K Doak Walker, LS/PR Jack Christiansen
The Lions had the highest-scoring offense in the NFL in 1954. Detroit started the season at 8-1 and never looked back on their way to the postseason, as the road to the championship now leads through Tiger Stadium.
1954 Playoffs
December 26, 1954
New York Giants at Chicago Bears, 3 pm
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 pm
January 2, 1955
highest seed at Cleveland Browns, 3 pm
lowest seed at Detroit Lions, 6:30 pm
January 9, 1955
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm
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