| 1953 Cleveland Browns season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Paul Brown |
| Home field | Cleveland Stadium |
| Local radio | WTAM |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–1 |
| Division place | 1st Eastern |
| Playoff finish | Lost NFL Championship (atLions) 16–17 |
| |
The 1953 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fourth season with the National Football League. Their start of eleven wins before losing their last game was the closest to a true perfect season in the NFL until the 1972 Miami Dolphins. After that fifteen-point loss at Philadelphia,[1] the Browns met the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game for the second straight year; the Lions won again, this time by a point at home.[2][3]
This was the second of two NFL seasons that coach Paul Brown would win eleven games. It would be seventy years before another (Kevin Stefanski) would win eleven games in two seasons coaching the Browns, by which time the NFL regular season schedule had expanded from twelve to seventeen games.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 23 | atSan Francisco 49ers | W 20–7 | 1–0 | Kezar Stadium | 36,273 |
| 2 | August 28 | atLos Angeles Rams | L 9–27 | 1–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 21,440 |
| 3 | September 4 | atDetroit Lions | T 24–24 | 1–1–1 | Briggs Stadium | 39,985 |
| 4 | September 7 | vs. Baltimore Colts | W 23–21 | 2–1–1 | Rubber Bowl | 20,000 |
| 5 | September 11 | atChicago Bears | W 20–14 | 3–1–1 | Wrigley Field | 36,796 |
| 6 | September 19 | Green Bay Packers | W 21–13 | 4–1–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 22,336 |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 27 | atGreen Bay Packers | W 27–0 | 1–0 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 22,604 | [4] |
| 2 | October 4 | atChicago Cardinals | W 27–7 | 2–0 | Comiskey Park | 24,374 | [5] |
| 3 | October 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 37–13 | 3–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 45,802 | [6][7] |
| 4 | October 18 | atWashington Redskins | W 30–14 | 4–0 | Griffith Stadium | 33,963 | [8] |
| 5 | October 25 | atNew York Giants | W 7–0 | 5–0 | Polo Grounds | 30,773 | [9] |
| 6 | November 1 | Washington Redskins | W 27–3 | 6–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 47,845 | [10] |
| 7 | November 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 34–16 | 7–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 35,592 | [11] |
| 8 | November 15 | San Francisco 49ers | W 23–21 | 8–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 80,698 | [12] |
| 9 | November 22 | atPittsburgh Steelers | W 20–16 | 9–0 | Forbes Field | 32,904 | [13] |
| 10 | November 29 | Chicago Cardinals | W 27–16 | 10–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 24,499 | [14] |
| 11 | December 6 | New York Giants | W 62–14 | 11–0 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 40,235 | [15] |
| 12 | December 13 | atPhiladelphia Eagles | L 27–42 | 11–1 | Connie Mack Stadium | 38,654 | [16] |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
In the first-ever regular season meeting between Cleveland and Green Bay, the Browns rolled up 376 yards and Otto Graham completed 18 of 24 yards to highlight a 27–0 season opening win in at the new County StadiuminMilwaukee.[17] The Browns yield 159 yards and allow the Packers to penetrate Cleveland territory just four times.
Graham scores the game's only touchdown on a 4-yard run in the second period as the Browns beat the Giants, 7–0, on a muddy Polo Grounds field. Graham, who attempts only five passes as the inclement conditions, scores after an offsides penalty on Lou Groza's missed field goal attempt gives the Browns a critical first down.
The undefeated Browns make life miserable for Redskins quarterback Eddie LeBaron by intercepting four passes in a 27–3 win at Cleveland Stadium. Tommy James ties his own Browns record with three as Cleveland scores 24 points off turnovers.
A Cleveland Stadium crowd of 80,698 watches the Browns dispatch longtime rival San Francisco, 23–21. With the Browns leading 10–0, Graham is knocked out of bounds by defensive back Fred Bruney and elbowed in the face by linebacker Art Michalik, who opens a gash that requires 15 stitches and nearly incites a riot. Graham returns for the third quarter wearing a clear plastic protective bar in front of his face, a device that will evolve into today's face mask. Showing little effect from his injury, Graham leads the Browns to 13 second half points and the victory.
The Browns improve to 11–0 by winning a 62–14 laugher over the Giants at Cleveland Stadium. George Ratterman starts in place of Graham and completes 15-of-27 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Graham plays briefly and completes 3-of-4 passes, two for touchdowns. Pete Brewster catches seven passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the most productive game of his career.
| NFL Eastern Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Cleveland Browns | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | 9–1 | 348 | 162 | L1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 4 | 1 | .636 | 6–3–1 | 352 | 215 | W1 | |
| Washington Redskins | 6 | 5 | 1 | .545 | 6–3–1 | 208 | 215 | L1 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 5–5 | 211 | 263 | W2 | |
| New York Giants | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 3–7 | 179 | 277 | L2 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 1 | 10 | 1 | .091 | 0–10 | 190 | 337 | W1 | |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | December 27 | atDetroit Lions | L 16–17 | 0–1 | Briggs Stadium | 54,577 | [18] |
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| Playoff appearances (30) |
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| Division championships (12) |
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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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