The 1952 Season

The playoff seeds for 1952...

#6 seed-Philadelphia Eagles (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1950, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...8-4, 2 NFL Championships (1944, 1945)
Pro Bowl-DT Bucko Kilroy, RE Pete Pihos, LB Chuck Bednarik, DB Russ Craft

The Eagles defense was just good enough to earn a spot in the postseason. Philadelphia finished 2nd in the NFL in defense in 1952. Winning 3 straight games in November was all it took to sneak in as the lowest seed.

#5 seed-New York Giants (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, won NFL Championship
Playoff Record...7-4, 2 NFL Championships (1950, 1951)
Pro Bowl-FB Eddie Price, DT Arnie Weinmeister, DT Jon Baker, LB John Cannady, KR Emlen Tunnell, T Tex Coulter

The Giants started the season with 3 straight wins, then held on for a playoff berth. New York is seeking to become the first team in NFL history to win a third consecutive NFL Championship. The Giants struggled on both sides of the ball, although their run defense would finish second in the NFL.

#4 seed-San Francisco 49ers (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-5
Pro Bowl-FB Joe Perry, C Bill Johnson, RT Leo Nomellini, DE Ed Henke, LB Hardy Brown, KR Hugh McElhenny, K Gordie Soltau

San Francisco got off to a quick start, winning 5 straight and looking like they would finish with the top seed in the postseason. Losing 5 of 7 to end the season sunk the Niners to the #4 seed. Joe Perry and Hugh McElhenny combined to give San Francisco the most prolific ground game in the NFL in 1952.

#3 seed-Cleveland Browns (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...9-4, 2 NFL Championships (1946, 1948)
Pro Bowl-QB Otto Graham, RH Dub Jones, LE Mac Speedie, LG Abe Gibron, DT Bill Willis, RE Len Ford, P Horace Gillom, K Lou Groza

The Browns have been a great team since first entering pro football, consistently competing for championships, season after season. 1952 was no different, as the Browns finished first in the NFL both offensively and defensively.

#2 seed-Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...5-6
Pro Bowl-QB Norm Van Brocklin, FB Dan Towler, RE Elroy Hirsch, DT Jim Winkler, DT Stan West, LB Tank Younger, LB Don Paul

The Rams were still the highest scoring team in the NFL, even if they didn't light it up the way they once had. Los Angeles lost 3 of their first 4, and they looked like they would miss the playoffs. Instead, the Rams ripped off 8 straight wins to end the season and earn the bye week into the semifinals.

#1 seed-Detroit Lions (9-3)
Last Playoff Appearance...1951, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...1-2
Pro Bowl-QB Bobby Layne, RB Bob Hoernschemeyer, LE Cloyce Box, LT Lou Creekmur, LS Don Doll, P Bob Smith, K Pat Harder

The Lions led the NFL in run defense and scoring defense, and they have home-field advantage throughout the 1952 playoffs. The Lions have won 8 of their last 9, scoring at least 40 points in 5 of those 8 victories. Cloyce Box caught 15 of the Lions 24 passing TD in 1952.

1952 Playoffs

December 21, 1952
Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns, 3 pm
New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 pm

December 28, 1952
lowest seed at Detroit Lions, 3 pm
highest seed at Los Angeles Rams, 6:30 pm

January 4, 1953
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm