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| Date | December 27, 1953 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | Briggs Stadium Detroit, Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 54,577 | ||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | DuMont | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Harry Wismer andRed Grange | ||||||||||||||||||
| Radio in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | Mutual | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Earl Gillespie,Chris Schenkel | ||||||||||||||||||
The1953 NFL Championship Game was the 21st annualchampionship game, held on December 27 atBriggs Stadium inDetroit.[1][2][3][4]
Thedefending NFL championDetroit Lions (10–2) of the Western Conference were led by quarterbackBobby Layne and running backDoak Walker, and theCleveland Browns (11–1) of the Eastern Conference were led by head coachPaul Brown and quarterbackOtto Graham. The game was a rematch of theprevious year, which was won by the Lions, 17–7.[5][6] This was the Browns' fourth consecutive NFL championship game appearance since joining the league in1950, and they were favored by three points.[7]
The Lions were attempting to become the third team in the championship game era (since1933) to win two titles in a row, following theChicago Bears (1940,1941) andPhiladelphia Eagles (1948,1949).[4]
The home underdog Lions rallied in the fourth quarter with a late touchdown and conversion to win by a single point, 17–16.[2][8] The two teams met thefollowing year for a third consecutive title match-up.
Ticket prices ranged from three to sevendollars.[9]
The game proved to be a tight affair, as both teams turned the ball over four times each.
The Lions struck first with aDoak Walker touchdown, and both scored field goals in the second quarter and the Lions led at halftime, 10–3. The Browns took the lead on aChick Jagade run in the third quarter whileLou Groza kicked two field goals as Cleveland took the lead on 13 straight points in tbe second half.
Trailing 16–10 with four minutes and 10 seconds of play remaining, the Lions started from their own 20-yard line and fought their way 80 yards in eight plays, the touchdown coming on a 33-yard pass from Bobby Layne toJim Doran in the end zone, and Walker's extra point gave the Lions the lead.
Trailing 17–16, the Browns had one last chance;Ken Carpenter started the drive with a run to his own 28, but anOtto Graham pass intended forPete Brewster was deflected by rookie defensive halfbackCarl Karilivacz, who intercepted the throw, clinching the Lions their third title.[10] Graham had a miserable game, finishing with a 0.0 passer rating on 2-of-15 passing while Detroit'sBobby Layne went 12-of-25 for 179 yards. The leading rusher of the game wasChick Jagade, who ran for 102 yards on 15 carries for Cleveland.
Sunday, December 27, 1953
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.EST
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The NFL added the fifthofficial, the back judge, in1947; the line judge arrived in1965, and the side judge in1978.
The gross receipts for the game, including radio and television rights, were just under$359,000. Each player on the winning Lions team received $2,424, while Browns players made $1,654 each, the highest to date.[3][4][8]
[1] Harold Sauerbrie, "Browns Lose Title Game, 17–16", Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 27, 1953, Browns history database retrieved December 12, 2007
42°19′55″N83°04′08″W / 42.332°N 83.069°W /42.332; -83.069