Browns: Paul Brown (coach/gm), Doug Atkins, Len Ford, Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Chuck Noll (as a coach), Bill Willis Lions: Jack Christiansen, Lou Creekmur, Yale Lary, Bobby Layne, Joe Schmidt, Dick Stanfel, Doak Walker
TV in the United States
Network
DuMont
Announcers
Harry Wismer and Red Grange
Radio in the United States
Network
Mutual
Announcers
Earl Gillespie, Chris Schenkel
← 1952
NFL Championship Game
1954 →
Detroit
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Location in the United States
The 1953 NFL Championship Game was the 21st annual championship game, held on December 27 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.[1][2][3][4]
The defending NFL champion Detroit Lions (10–2) of the Western Conference were led by quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker, and the Cleveland Browns (11–1) of the Eastern Conference were led by head coach Paul Brown and quarterback Otto Graham. The game was a rematch of the previous 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 in 1950, and they were favored by three points.[7]
The Lions were attempting to become the third team in the championship game era (since 1933) to win two titles in a row, following the Chicago Bears (1940, 1941) and Philadelphia 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 the following year for a third consecutive title match-up.
Ticket prices ranged from three to seven dollars.[9]
^Strickler, George (December 27, 1953). "Browns, Lions meet for title". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
^ abStrickler, George (December 28, 1953). "Lions win in last 3 minutes, 17 to 16". Chicago Daily Tribune.
^Sell, Jack (December 28, 1953). "Lions retain NFL title; edge Browns, 17-16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
^ ab"Lions capture pro title 17-16". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. United Press, Associated Press reports. December 28, 1953. p. 2B.
^Prell, Edward (December 29, 1952). "Lions win pro crown; beat Browns, 17-7". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
^Sell, Jack (December 29, 1952). "Lions defeat Browns for NFL title, 17-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
^"Browns, Lions clash today". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 27, 1953. p. D1.
^Livingston, Pat (December 28, 1953). "Detroit's rally keeps NFL title". Pittsburgh Press. p. 14.
^"Tickets go on sale for pro grid title". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 14, 1953. p. 13, part 2.
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