Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The Lions had the Browns' # in the '50s. Detroit probably still wins the League Championship Game over Cleveland in 1953 anyway as they did the previous year and in '57. But on a thread years ago - viewtopic.php?t=5771 - I entertained the possibility that maybe (maybe) the reason why the Browns lost the Title Game in '53 was because they could have felt deflated due to their unbeaten regular season not being spoiled weeks earlier (when you can quickly get over it and say that at least a weight has now been lifted off), but you lose that very first game on...the FINAL week!!

And now you have to immediately get ready for the playoffs with that fresh punch-to-the-GUT!

Heck, if the 'deflated' theory is true, then not only did that finale loss, and the psychological toll it then would have taken on them, cost them a '53 Title, but an undisputed 'Team of the Decade!"

I never personally competed in such an event that involved being undefeated going into the final week of the regular season. You've been trying all along to have that "one game at a time" attitude but can't help but to get excited with each victory and think that something special can end up taking place at the very end of it all.

And then you blow that finale! The psychology from there, even though the attitude should be to not worry - "a championship is a championship" unbeaten or not - it could very well put a bad taste in the mouth going into that first (or, in Cleveland's case, ONLY) playoff game.

And just when if, possibly, 15-0 New England actually loses to the Giants? Considering that Del Rio's Jags gave them such a hard time in real-time in the divisional round, and the Pats would have to deal with a full two weeks to think about..."now not finishing undefeated" (as was the case with Cleveland), could we have POSSIBLY (POSSIBLY) had ourselves a...Jacksonville at San Diego AFCCG??

The sports psychology of coming up just short of being undefeated the very week before the post-season.

Thoughts?

I don't believe that the loss to the Eagles in the final regular season game in 1953 had very much to do with the Browns losing the championship game to the Detroit Lions, 17 to 16. I will give some reasons that I believe led to that loss for Cleveland:

1. Detroit was a great team and was very tough.

2. The game was played in Detroit even though the Browns had the best record that year. It was really hard to beat Detroit at Briggs Stadium in those days.

3. Otto Graham had a terrible game. I read someplace that there was something wrong with his right hand that may have affected his passing. I do not know about that one way or another.

4. There were a couple of big calls that went against Cleveland that day. Layne was sacked on the Lions 2 yard line on a 3rd down play and Detroit would have had to punt from the back of the end zone. This could have led to points for the Browns ( a safety, a field goal, or maybe more). An official called roughing on Don Colo so the Lions got a first down on about the 17 yard line. Also a fumbled kickoff by Detroit recovered by Cleveland after a big scramble for the ball on about Detroit's 4 yard line. An Official said that the whistle had blown.

5. The field was muddy and slippery that day, which could have affected the outcome of the game.

6. Mac Speedie was playing in Canada in 1953. Marion Motley, in his last season with Cleveland and past his prime, never carried the ball in that game and I am not sure that he even played in the title game. Speedie and Motley are both in the PFHOF.

7. Cleveland was the most hated team in the NFL by the old NFL teams due to coming into the NFL from another league (the AAFC) and to make matters worse, won the championship in 1950, their first year in the league. People in the NFL did not like that, maybe even some of the officials.

Despite the loss, which was maybe the toughest in the Browns history, things turned out pretty well for the Graham era Cleveland Browns. Cleveland went on to win the next two NFL title games, 56 to 10 over Detroit in 1954 and 38 to 14 over the Rams in 1955, avenging the only teams to beat them in championship games. Otto Graham then retired. A great way to go out for Otto.

The 53 Browns had an incredibly easy division, whereas the Lions had to contend with the Niners and Rams, and the Bears always played Detroit tough as well. The Browns were a fine team, but I think them being 11-0 going into week 12 was as much of a product of schedule as it was with dominance.

The Browns were also an 11-1 team in 1951, but lost their first regular season game to the 49ers that year instead of their last regular season game as in 1953. Actually, when Cleveland entered the NFL in 1950, they were placed into the Eastern (American) Conference which was the tougher Conference at the time. Not only 2 time NFL Champion Philadelphia was in the East but also the rebuilt Giants with the AAFC Yankees players.

I believe that the East was tougher in 1951 as well, but that changed in 1952 when the Lions got very tough. It changed back again in 1955 and 1956 with the Lions and 49ers having bad years and the Giants getting good. So, as teams change with the years, the different conferences can change as well. BTW, Cleveland never had much trouble with the Rams, 49ers, or Bears during the 50's except for the 1951 title game, which was the only time that Cleveland lost to the Rams during that decade.

Detroit was the only team to give the Browns much trouble during the 50's except for the Giants during the late 50's.