1954 Cleveland Browns season

Last updated

1954 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach Paul Brown
Home field Cleveland Stadium
Local radio WGAR
Results
Record9–3
Division place1st Eastern
Playoff finishWon NFL Championship (vs. Lions) 56–10

The 1954 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fifth season with the National Football League. The Browns' defense became the first defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest rushing yards allowed, fewest passing yards allowed, and fewest total yards allowed. [1]

Contents

The Browns were 9–3 in the regular season and won the Eastern Conference. They hosted the NFL Championship Game, and met the two-time defending champion Detroit Lions for the third straight year. This year's result was different, as the Browns won with a 56–10 blowout. [2] [3]

The teams had met on the same field the previous week, in a meaningless game won 14–10 by the Lions. Both teams had already clinched their respective conference titles; it was postponed from early October due to the World Series. [4] After the win, Detroit was a slight favorite for the title game. [5] [6]

Offseason

Defensive Back Don Paul arrived via a trade with the Washington Redskins, who acquired him from the Chicago Cardinals. Upon his arrival in Washington, he fell in disfavor with George Preston Marshall of the Redskins. [7]

In January 1954, assistant coach Weeb Ewbank departed to become head coach of the Baltimore Colts. [8] [9]

NFL Draft

The 1954 NFL Draft was one of the biggest busts in the team's history. With the first overall pick in the draft, the Browns selected quarterback Bobby Garrett out of Stanford University. The plan was that he would be the heir to Otto Graham. Garrett suffered from a stuttering problem which hindered his performance in the huddle. Eventually, Garrett was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for Babe Parilli, although Parilli would not play for the Browns until 1956. [7] Later in the first round, the club selected John Bauer, who never played for the Browns and only played in two NFL games in his career. [7]

Roster

1954 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

14 Otto Graham
16 George Ratterman

Running Backs

54 Tony Adamle (LB)
38 Maurice Bassett (FB)
46 Billy Reynolds (RB, DB)
32 Fred Morrison
44 Chet Hanulak

Wide Receivers

26 Ray Renfro
56 Dante Lavelli
40 Dub Jones (WB, DB, RB, KR)
94 Don Phelps (KR, PR)

Tight Ends

82 Pete Brewster
56 Dante Lavelli E (RE)

Offensive Linemen

74 Mike McCormack LT (DL)
76 Lou Groza RT (K)
64 Abe Gibron G/C
65 Chuck Noll RG
52 Frank Gatski C
62 Herschel Forester
78 John Sandusky
60 Harold Bradley

Defensive Linemen

82 Carlton Massey DE
70 Don Colo DE
79 Bob Gain DL (T)
83 Doug Atkins DE
80 Len Ford DE
79 Don King DL
72 John Kissell DE

Linebackers

65 Chuck Noll LB (G, C)
54 Tom Catlin (C)
34 Walt Michaels
54 Tony Adamle

Defensive Backs

42 Tommy James
20 Don Paul
22 Ken Konz DB
15 Ken Gorgal DB

Special Teams

76 Lou Groza K (RT)
84 Horace Gillom P (DE)

Reserve Lists
  • N/A
Source:

Exhibition schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultAttendance
1August 21at Green Bay Packers W 14–1315,747
2August 27at Los Angeles Rams L 38–1058,567
3September 5at San Francisco 49ers L 21–3846,877
4September 10vs. Detroit Lions at Dallas L 31–5642,000
5September 18 Chicago Bears L 7–3517,631

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 26at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–280–1 Connie Mack Stadium 26,546
2October 3Postponement to December 19; (World Series)
3October 10 Chicago Cardinals W 31–71–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 24,101
4October 17at Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–551–2 Forbes Field 33,262
5October 24at Chicago Cardinals W 35–32–2 Comiskey Park 23,823
6October 31 New York Giants W 24–143–2Cleveland Municipal Stadium30,448
7November 7 Washington Redskins W 62–34–2Cleveland Municipal Stadium25,158
8November 14at Chicago Bears W 39–105–2 Wrigley Field 48,773
9November 21 Philadelphia Eagles W 6–06–2Cleveland Municipal Stadium41,537
10November 28at New York Giants W 16–77–2 Polo Grounds 45,936
11December 5at Washington Redskins W 34–148–2 Griffith Stadium 21,761
12December 12 Pittsburgh Steelers W 42–79–2Cleveland Municipal Stadium28,064
13December 19 Detroit Lions L 10–149–3Cleveland Municipal Stadium34,168

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Cleveland Browns 930.7508–2336162L1
Philadelphia Eagles 741.6367–3284230W1
New York Giants 750.5837–3293184L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 570.4174–6219263L2
Washington Redskins 390.2502–8207432W1
Chicago Cardinals 2100.1672–8183347L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL Championship Game

RoundDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
Championship December 26 Detroit Lions W 56–101–0 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 43,827 Recap
Source: [2] [3]

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References

  1. ↑ The Best Show in Football:The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p.294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN   978-1-58979-360-6
  2. 1 2 Stolle, Fred (December 27, 1954). "Graham features as Cleveland crushes Detroit, 56-10, for pro grid championship". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). p. 8.
  3. 1 2 Liska, Jerry (December 27, 1954). "Graham stars as Browns humble Lions, 56-19". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 3, part 2.
  4. ↑ "Mixture as before: Lions beat Browns". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 20, 1954. p. 21.
  5. ↑ Livingston, Pat (December 26, 1954). "Lions battle Browns for NFL title". Pittsburgh Press. p. 1, section 4.
  6. ↑ "Browns-Lions clash in Cleveland today for grid title". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 26, 1954. p. D1.
  7. 1 2 3 The Best Show in Football:The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p.308, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN   978-1-58979-360-6
  8. ↑ "Baltimore signs Ewbank, Browns' aid(e), as coach". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 15, 1954. p. 3, part 2.
  9. ↑ The Best Show in Football:The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p.310, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN   978-1-58979-360-6
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