1953 NFL Championship-Cleveland Browns-29, Detroit Lions-16

Lou Groza kicked 5 FG

January 3, 1954

Weather-28 degrees, 11 mph WNW, light snow

The Browns got off to a quick start, easily handling Detroit to win their 3rd NFL Championship, 29-16. Cleveland took the opening kickoff and drove 8 plays to the game's first touchdown, a 1-yard plunge from Billy Reynolds. Detroit QB Bobby Layne was intercepted on the next play from scrimmage, and Cleveland scored 3 plays later to take a 14-0 lead.

The Browns would eventually take a 20-0 lead and controlled the pace of the game throughout. Cleveland becomes the first NFL team to win 3 championships in THPF.

Detroit Lions.....(11-3)-0-3-7-6-16
Cleveland Browns.(13-1)-14-6-0-9-29

Cle-Reynolds 1 run (Groza Kick)
Cle-Renfro 11 pass from Graham (Groza Kick)
Cle-Groza 24 FG
Cle-Groza 27 FG
Det-Walker 13 FG
Det-Box 25 pass from Layne (Walker Kick)
Cle-Groza 18 FG
Cle-Groza 32 FG
Det-Gedman 4 pass from Layne (Pass Failed)
Cle-Groza 14 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Det-Hoernschemeyer-11-79-0 (123-613-7), Gedman-7-27-0 (97-279-3), Walker-9-24-0 (84-374-2), Layne-6-16-0 (105-363-0)
Cle-Renfro-13-64-0 (84-450-4), Jagade-14-52-0 (112-433-4), Reynolds-10-28-1 (92-373-4), Graham-4-15-0 (54-189-6), Carpenter-1-3-0 (51-205-4), Jones-1-0-0 (33-34-0)

Passing
Det-Layne-21-11-136-2-1 (307-143-2,335-19-22)
Cle-Graham-21-14-180-1-0 (304-200-3,139-14-9)

Receiving
Det-Hart-3-37-0 (31-550-8), Dibble-2-33-0 (18-307-3), Hoernschemeyer-2-22-0 (25-304-2), Gedman-2-7-1 (16-128-1), Box-1-25-1 (19-460-3), Walker-1-12-0 (33-552-3)
Cle-Renfro-4-53-1 (46-809-6), Lavelli-3-35-0 (53-878-6), Brewster-2-28-0 (38-726-5), Jagade-2-21-0 (23-224-0), Reynolds-1-19-0 (11-155-0), Jones-1-14-0 (29-433-0), Gillom-1-10-0 (8-90-0)

1953 NFL Semifinal-Detroit Lions-12, Philadelphia Eagles-7

Leon Hart

December 27, 1953

Weather-34 degrees, 12 mph SSE

The Lions earned a hard-fought 12-7 victory over Philadelphia at Tiger Stadium on Sunday, advancing to the NFL Championship Game in Cleveland next week against the Browns. Detroit scored twice in the span of 2 minutes late in the first half, first on a safety of QB Bobby Thomason by the Lions pass rush, then on a 24-yard strike from Bobby Layne to Leon Hart. The Lions defense battled the entire second half, only securing the victory with 40 seconds remaining when Thomason's 4th down pass to Pete Pihos fell incomplete. Detroit could only manage 22 yards after halftime.

Detroit is attempting to repeat as champions, which would make them the 4th team to complete the feat in the 13-year history of THPF.

Philadelphia Eagles.(8-4-1)-0-0-0-7-7
Detroit Lions.......(11-2)-3-9-0-0-12

Det-Walker 12 FG
Det-Safety, Torgeson sacks Thomason in end zone
Det-Hart 24 pass from Layne (Walker Kick)
Phi-Pihos 5 pass from Thomason

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Phi-Johnson-10-74-0 (105-557-6), Ziegler-10-16-0 (105-416-5), Williams-8-16-0 (79-401-3), Thomason-1-0-0 (12-27-1), Giancanelli-2-(-2)-0 (53-156-1)
Det-Hoernschemeyer-11-52-0 (112-534-7), Walker-9-13-0 (75-350-2), Layne-12-4-0 (99-347-0), Gedman-7-(-3)-0 (90-252-3), Hart-1-(-3)-0 (2-(-1)-0)

Passing
Phi-Thomason-29-16-161-1-1 (358-193-2,774-23-21)
Det-Layne-13-7-111-1-0 (286-132-2,199-17-21)

Receiving
Phi-Pihos-6-45-1 (75-1,172-12), Walston-5-77-0 (51-883-5), Giancanelli-1-17-0 (22-366-5), Schnelker-1-12-0 (6-50-0), Johnson-1-7-0 (13-234-2), Hudson-1-2-0 (1-2-0), Ziegler-1-1-0 (17-225-0)
Det-Hart-3-41-1 (28-513-8), Walker-2-38-0 (32-540-3), Box-2-32-0 (18-435-2)

1953 NFL Semifinal-Cleveland Browns-27, Washington Redskins-7

Paul Brown and the 1953 Browns

December 27, 1953

Weather-36 degrees, 15 mph S

Cleveland QB Otto Graham completed 19 of 25 passes for 237 yards and 2 TD as the Browns dominated Washington and earned a berth in the NFL Championship, 27-7. Graham completed his first 7 passes and spread the ball to 7 different receivers as the Redskins secondary couldn't keep up with the Cleveland offensive attack. The Browns defense limited the Redskins to 199 yards offense and generated constant pressure, registering 5 sacks and many hits on the Washington quarterbacks.

Cleveland will host the winner of the Philadelphia/Detroit semifinal for the NFL Championship.

Washington Redskins.(7-6-1)-0-0-7-0-7
Cleveland Browns..(12-1)-7-10-0-10-27

Cle-Brewster 8 pass from Graham (Groza Kick)
Cle-Renfro 9 pass from Graham (Groza Kick)
Cle-Groza 14 FG
Was-Justice 20 pass from LeBaron (Dudley Kick)
Cle-Groza 32 FG
Cle-Carpenter 3 run (Groza Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Was-Justice-14-88-0 (143-784-3), Rykovich-7-28-0 (89-295-0), Heath-4-26-0 (92-338-4), Scarbath-1-3-0 (25-99-0), LeBaron-1-2-0 (22-97-2)
Cle-Jagade-12-37-0 (98-381-4), Renfro-11-34-0 (71-386-4), Reynolds-10-32-0 (82-345-3), Graham-7-31-0 (50-174-6), Carpenter-4-7-1 (50-202-4), Jones-1-6-0 (32-34-0)

Passing
Was-LeBaron-18-6-50-1-1 (186-78-1,085-5-19), Scarbath-8-2-36-0-0 (139-48-910-9-12)
Cle-Graham-25-19-237-2-0 (283-186-2,959-13-9)

Receiving
Was-Taylor-4-44-0 (42-818-8), Polsfoot-2-5-0 (15-202-0), Justice-1-20-1 (25-467-3), Rykovich-1-17-0 (9-102-1)
Cle-Lavelli-5-60-0 (50-843-6), Brewster-4-66-1 (36-698-5), Jones-4-46-0 (28-419-0), Renfro-3-34-1 (42-756-5), Reynolds-1-16-0 (10-136-0), Jagade-1-10-0 (21-203-0), Ford-1-5-0 (1-5-0)

1953 NFL Quarterfinal-Washington Redskins-17, San Francisco 49ers-7

Charley "Choo Choo" Justice

December 20, 1953

Weather-57 degrees, 12 mph WNW

The Redskins jumped out to a 17-0 lead against San Francisco and held on to advance to the NFL Semifinals. Washington got off to a great start on their first possession, scoring a touchdown on a 53-yard sweep of left end by Charley "Choo Choo" Justice. The Redskins survived to get to the postseason by playing solid pass defense, and this game was no different. Washington intercepted Y.A. Tittle twice and held him to 14 of 33 passing. Joe Perry was the star of the game for the Niners. Perry ran for 123 yards and a TD.

The Redskins will travel to Cleveland to play the Browns in the early window next weekend.

Washington Redskins.(7-5-1)-7-10-0-0-17
San Francisco 49ers.....(9-4)-0-0-7-0-7

Was-Justice 53 run (Dudley Kick)
Was-Dudley 12 FG
Was-Haynes 12 pass from LeBaron (Dudley Kick)
SF-Perry 62 run (Soltau Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Was-Justice-14-80-1 (129-696-3), Heath-12-46-0 (88-312-4), Rykovich-9-16-0 (82-267-0), Barry-2-8-0 (58-226-0), Scarbath-2-(-2)-0 (24-96-0)
SF-Perry-17-123-1 (209-1,141-11), McElhenny-12-51-0 (124-554-3)

Passing
Was-LeBaron-19-10-161-1-1 (168-72-1,035-4-18), Scarbath-2-1-12-0-0 (131-46-874-9-12)
SF-Tittle-33-14-179-0-2 (292-163-2,300-20-18), Powers-2-0-0-0-0 (51-22-259-1-2)

Receiving
Was-Taylor-3-71-0 (38-774-8), Polsfoot-2-33-0 (13-197-0), Justice-2-13-0 (24-447-2), Dekker-1-20-0 (15-202-1), Barry-1-12-0 (9-82-0), Rykovich-1-12-0 (8-85-1), Haynes-1-12-1 (1-12-1)
SF-Wilson-5-74-0 (56-914-10), Soltau-4-43-0 (47-663-6), McElhenny-2-37-0 (32-511-2), Perry-2-19-0 (21-210-3), Arenas-1-6-0 (11-119-1)

1953 NFL Quarterfinal-Philadelphia Eagles-20, Los Angeles Rams-7

The NFL's leading receiver in 1953, Pete Pihos

December 20, 1953

Weather-73 degrees, 6 mph SSE

The Eagles withstood an early bomb from the Rams before imposing their ground game on Los Angeles on their way to a 20-7 victory. Philadelphia gained 242 yards on the ground, controlling the clock and keeping the dangerous Los Angeles passing attack off of the field. Eagles QB Bobby Thomason completed 15 of 25, including a TD pass to Pete Pihos, Pihos' 11th TD catch of the year.

Philadelphia's victory moves them into the semifinals, where they will face either Cleveland or Detroit in the semifinals.

Philadelphia Eagles.(8-4-1)-0-14-3-3-20
Los Angeles Rams......(8-4-1)-7-0-0-0-7

LA-Boyd 63 pass from Van Brocklin (Agajanian Kick)
Phi-Pihos 2 pass from Thomason (Walston Kick)
Phi-Johnson 9 run (Walston Kick)
Phi-Walston 26 FG
Phi-Walston 12 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Phi-Ziegler-12-80-0 (95-400-5), Parmer-1-47-0 (39-205-2), Johnson-12-44-1 (95-483-6), Williams-10-40-0 (71-385-3), Giancanelli-7-27-0 (51-158-1), Thomason-2-4-0 (11-27-1)
LA-Towler-17-50-0 (169-929-7), Quinlan-9-27-0 (106-732-4), Younger-2-8-0 (86-358-8)

Passing
Phi-Thomason-25-15-151-1-0 (329-177-2,613-22-20)
LA-Van Brocklin-27-15-212-1-1 (313-171-2,605-20-15)

Receiving
Phi-Pihos-6-78-1 (69-1,127-11), Walston-5-56-0 (46-806-5), Ziegler-1-13-0 (16-224-0), Schnelker-1-4-0 (5-38-0), Giancanelli-1-3-0 (21-349-5), Williams-1-(-3)-0 (32-435-1)
LA-Hirsch-5-48-0 (66-989-4), Boyd-4-101-1 (28-649-5), Fears-4-37-0 (27-315-4), Quinlan-1-16-0 (18-276-2), Hecker-1-10-0 (3-35-0)