| 1952 Cleveland Browns season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Mickey McBride |
| General manager | Paul Brown |
| Head coach | Paul Brown |
| Home field | Cleveland Stadium |
| Local radio | WTAM |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–4 |
| Division place | 1st NFL American |
| Playoff finish | Lost NFL Championship (vs. Lions) 7–17 |
| |
The 1952 Cleveland Browns season was the team's third season with the National Football League and seventh season overall. They were 8–4 in the regular season and won the American Conference.[1][2] Cleveland hosted the NFL Championship Game, but lost 17–7 to the Detroit Lions.[3][4]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 23 | atGreen Bay Packers | W 21–14 | 1–0 | City Stadium | 22,215 |
| 2 | August 29 | Chicago Bears | W 14–7 | 2–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 37,976 |
| 3 | September 6 | vs. Detroit Lions | L 21–28 | 2–1 | Archbold Stadium | 26,000 |
| 4 | September 13 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | L 31–35 | 2–2 | Rubber Bowl | 30,119 |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 28 | Los Angeles Rams | W 37–7 | 1–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 57,832 | Recap |
| 2 | October 4 | atPittsburgh Steelers | W 21–20 | 2–0 | Forbes Field | 27,923 | Recap |
| 3 | October 12 | New York Giants | L 9–17 | 2–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 51,858 | Recap |
| 4 | October 19 | atPhiladelphia Eagles | W 49–7 | 3–1 | Shibe Park | 27,874 | Recap |
| 5 | October 26 | Washington Redskins | W 19–15 | 4–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 32,496 | Recap |
| 6 | November 2 | atDetroit Lions | L 6–17 | 4–2 | Briggs Stadium | 56,029 | Recap |
| 7 | November 9 | Chicago Cardinals | W 28–13 | 5–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 34,097 | Recap |
| 8 | November 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 29–28 | 6–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 34,973 | Recap |
| 9 | November 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–28 | 6–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 28,948 | Recap |
| 10 | November 30 | atWashington Redskins | W 48–24 | 7–3 | Griffith Stadium | 22,679 | Recap |
| 11 | December 7 | atChicago Cardinals | W 10–0 | 8–3 | Comiskey Park | 24,541 | Recap |
| 12 | December 14 | atNew York Giants | L 34–37 | 8–4 | Polo Grounds | 41,610 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Browns avenged their December championship game loss to Los Angeles with a 37–7 romp over the Rams at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns took a 23–0 halftime lead and never headed. Ken Carpenter rushed for 145 yards on 16 carries and the Browns defense limited Rams quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield to a combined six completions in 27 attempts.
Despite being without injured wide receiver Dante Lavelli and Carpenter and then losing defensive end Bob Gain to a broken jaw, the Browns had little problem pounding the Eagles 49–7 in Philadelphia. It is Cleveland's 5th win over Philadelphia in as many meetings. Otto Graham threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns and even backup quarterback George Ratterman got into the act, throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Horace Gillom.
In the first-ever regular season meeting between the Detroit Lions and the Browns, the Lions won 17–6, at Briggs Stadium. The Lions led 10–6, when a Graham pass intended for Ray Renfro was picked off by Detroit's Jack Christiansen. On the Lions next play from scrimmage, Bob Hoernschemeyer ran for 41 yards, setting up a Bobby LaynetoLeon Hart touchdown pass.
The Browns took a one-game lead in the Eastern Conference with a 48–24 win at Washington. Chick Jagade ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown scamper on a draw play. Carpenter also had a big day returning punts including one for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Needing a win in the season finale to clinch the American Conference Title, the Browns (8–3) traveled to the Polo GroundsinNew York City, but lost to the Giants, 37–34. Charlie Conerly fired four touchdown passes for the Giants while Graham threw three interceptions.[1] The Browns clinched anyway when Washington upset Philadelphia.
| NFL American Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Cleveland Browns | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 7–3 | 310 | 213 | L1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 6–4 | 252 | 271 | L1 | |
| New York Giants | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 5–4 | 234 | 231 | W1 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 4–5 | 300 | 273 | L1 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 3–7 | 172 | 221 | L2 | |
| Washington Redskins | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 4–6 | 240 | 287 | W2 | |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | December 28 | Detroit Lions | L 7–17 | 0–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 50,934 | Recap |
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Quarterbacks
Halfbacks
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Fullbacks
Ends
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Guards
Tackles
Centers
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Assistants
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| Franchise |
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| Rivalries |
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| Playoff appearances (30) |
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| Division championships (12) |
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| Conference championships (11) |
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| League championships (8) |
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Bold indicates AAFC championship (through 1949) or NFL championship (1950–1969) |
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