The 1953 Season

The Playoff seeds for 1953...

#6 seed-Washington Redskins (6-5-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1948, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-2, 2 NFL Championships (1942, 1943)
Pro Bowl-DE Gene Brito, DT Paul Lipscomb, S Don Doll

Head Coach Curly Lambeau has the Redskins back in the postseason for the first time in 5 years. Washington is led by it's pass defense, which ranked first in the NFL in passing yards allowed. The Redskins won 3 of 4 to close the season and sneak into the playoffs

#5 seed-Philadelphia Eagles (7-4-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...8-5, 2 NFL Championships (1944, 1945)
Pro Bowl-QB Bobby Thomason, C Ken Farragut, RT Lum Snyder, MG Bucko Kilroy, RE Pete Pihos, LB Chuck Bednarik

The Eagles won 6 games in a row in midseason, which was enough to get them to the playoffs. Philadelphia gained more yards and allowed fewer yards than any team in the NFL. They were led by Pro Bowl QB Bobby Thomason, who fired 21 TD passes, including 10 to Pete Pihos.

#4 seed-Los Angeles Rams (8-3-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...6-7
Pro Bowl-FB Dan Towler, LE Elroy Hirsch, DE Andy Robustelli, LB Don Paul, QB Norm Van Brocklin, RB Tank Younger

The Rams scored the second most points in pro football, as their offense was able to find success both threw the air and on the ground. The ground attack churned out 179 yards a game, led by Dan Towler and Skeet Quinlan. The passing attack was led by Pro Bowl QB Norm Van Brocklin, who completed 55% of his passes for almost 2,400 yards.

#3 seed-San Francisco 49ers (9-3)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-6
Pro Bowl-QB Y.A. Tittle, FB Joe Perry, C Bill Johnson, MG Art Michalik, DT Leo Nomellini, RH Hugh McElhenny, K/LE Goldie Soltau

The 49ers led the NFL in rushing and points scored, using battering ram FB Joe Perry for over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 13 TD. Billy Wilson caught 10 TD passes and Y.A. Tittle completed 58 percent. San Francisco ends the regular season on a roll, winners of 4 straight.

#2 seed-Detroit Lions (10-2)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, NFL Champions
Playoff Record...3-2, 1952 NFL Champions
Pro Bowl-QB Bobby Layne, RG Dick Stanifel, MG Les Bingaman, KR/LS Jack Christiansen, RT Lou Creekmur, K/LH Doak Walker, PR/LS Yale Lary

Detroit is trying to repeat as NFL Champions. If they are successful, they will become the 4th team in the 13-year history of THPF to do so. The Lions allowed the second fewest points in the NFL, using an opportunistic secondary that intercepted 38 passes in 1953. The Lions secondary is led by S Jack Christiansen, who intercepted 12 passes and made All-Pro.

#1 seed-Cleveland Browns (11-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1952, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...9-5, 2 NFL Championships (1946, 1948)
Pro Bowl-QB Otto Graham, FB Chick Jagade, LG Abe Gibron, RE Dante Lavelli, RE Len Ford, LDH Warren Lahr, RDH Tommy James, K Lou Groza, RB Ray Renfro

The Browns defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL, while their passing attack was both prolific and efficient. Cleveland QB Otto Graham threw for over 2,700 yards while completing 65 percent of his passes. The Browns defense gave up fewer than 14 points per game. Cleveland had won 11 straight to start the season before losing the last game of the season.

1953 Playoffs

December 20, 1953
Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, 3 pm
Washington Redskins at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 pm

December 27, 1953
lowest seed at Cleveland Browns, 3 pm
highest seed at Detroit Lions, 6:30 pm

January 3, 1954
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm