The 1954 Season

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

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)

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