1956 Cleveland Browns season

Last updated

1956 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach Paul Brown
Home field Cleveland Stadium
Local radio WGAR
Results
Record5–7
Division placeT-4th Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers None

The 1956 Cleveland Browns season was the team's eleventh season, and seventh season with the National Football League.

Contents

This was the first season in which the Browns missed the playoffs, and its first season with a losing record. The Browns lost seven games in 1956, after having lost a total of only 17 over the previous ten seasons combined.

Exhibition schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultAttendance
1August 10vs. College All-Stars at Chicago W 26–075,000
2August 19at San Francisco 49ers L 17–2838,741
3August 24at Los Angeles Rams L 6–1740,175
4September 1 Green Bay Packers L 20–2115,456
5September 7at Detroit Lions L 0–1748,105
6September 15vs. Detroit Lions at Akron L 14–3128,201
7September 21at Chicago Bears W 24–1456,543

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 30at Chicago Cardinals L 7–90–1 Comiskey Park 20,966 Recap
2October 6at Pittsburgh Steelers W 14–101–1 Forbes Field 35,398 Recap
3October 14 New York Giants L 9–211–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 60,042 Recap
4October 21at Washington Redskins L 9–201–3 Griffith Stadium 23,322 Recap
5October 28 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–241–4Cleveland Municipal Stadium50,358 Recap
6November 4at Green Bay Packers W 24–72–4 Milwaukee County Stadium 28,590 Recap
7November 11 Baltimore Colts L 7–212–5Cleveland Municipal Stadium42,404 Recap
8November 18at Philadelphia Eagles W 16–03–5 Connie Mack Stadium 25,894 Recap
9November 25 Washington Redskins L 17–203–6Cleveland Municipal Stadium22,878 Recap
10December 2 Philadelphia Eagles W 17–144–6Cleveland Municipal Stadium20,645 Recap
11December 9at New York Giants W 24–75–6 Yankee Stadium 27,707 Recap
12December 16 Chicago Cardinals L 7–245–7Cleveland Municipal Stadium25,312 Recap

Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. [1] [2]

Season recap

Week 1 at Chicago

The post Otto Graham era begins with a 9-7 loss to the Cardinals in Chicago. Cleveland's only score comes on a 46-yard touchdown pass from George Ratterman to Ray Renfro in the first quarter. But Pat Summerall's third field goal, a nine-yarder with 29 seconds remaining, won it for the Cardinals and broke a twelve-game losing streak to the Browns. [3] The Cardinals later won the season finale.

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
New York Giants 831.7277–3264197W1
Chicago Cardinals 750.5837–3240182W1
Washington Redskins 660.5005–5183225L2
Cleveland Browns 570.4174–6167177L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 570.4174–6217250W1
Philadelphia Eagles 381.2733–7143215L3

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

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References

  1. Livingston, Pat (October 7, 1956). "Steelers bow, 14-10". Pittsburgh Press. p. 1, section 4.
  2. "Browns edge Pitt Steelers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 7, 1955.
  3. "Grid Cardinals upset champion Browns, 9-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. October 1, 1956. p. 25.