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Top Five 1950s Cleveland Browns games to watch while social distancing

By Elliot Kennel

Detroit Lions Hall of Fame safety Jack Christiansen intercepts Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Grahams pass to Hall of Fame wide receiver Dante Lavelli in a 56-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 26, 1954 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Tim Culek/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame safety Jack Christiansen intercepts Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Grahams pass to Hall of Fame wide receiver Dante Lavelli in a 56-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 26, 1954 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Tim Culek/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Rams halfback Glenn Davis on a carry in a 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 23, 1951 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Los Angeles Rams halfback Glenn Davis on a carry in a 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in a League Championship game on December 23, 1951 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

NFL Championship Browns vs Los Angeles Rams, 1950

1950 Championship Browns vs Los Angeles Rams

Most Browns fans are aware that the Browns moved to Baltimore with their foolish owner, Art Modell. But what they probably do not remember is that the Cleveland Rams were NFL Champions in 1945, and moved to Los Angeles at the same time that the Browns came to town. In fact, the Rams were the second team to move out of Cleveland. The Cleveland Bulldogs were in town long enough to win an NFL Championship in 1924, only to move to Detroit five years later and ultimately were absorbed by the New York Giants.

The video is awesome because you get a chance to meet older versions of Otto Graham, Lou Groza and Dante Lavelli, as well as Browns announcer Bob Neal. The Rams were well represented by Bob Waterfield, Glenn Davis and “Crazylegs” Elroy Hirsch, with announcer Curt Gowdy in the role of moderator.

Because of the insults the Browns received for passing the ball–not real football, so they complained–you might think that the Browns were the only team in the NFL slinging the ball around. Not so. In fact, the Rams had the high-octane air attack that year.

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Former Cleveland Rams quarterback Bob Waterfield was used as a platoon quarterback with Norm Van Brocklin. Though two-quarterback systems are frowned upon today, apparently it can work out well enough when both quarterbacks are future Hall of Famer’s.

It is hard to believe, but the Rams threw for 3,529 net passing yards in a 12-game season, averaging nearly 300 yards per game. The Rams actually outpointed the Browns by a staggering 156 points that year, though on the other hand they also gave up 163 more points than the Browns. So, while the Browns had the reputation of being an offensive air circus, in reality they were a very tough defensive team that year.

The Championship was played in Cleveland. Eleven future Hall of Famer’s took part in the festivities. The Rams wasted no time in establishing the offense, with Waterfield throwing an 82-yard bomb to “Mr. Outside,” Glenn Davis on the first play from scrimmage. Cleveland tied the game later in the quarter with a touchdown pass from Graham to Dub Jones.

The Rams regained the lead on a touchdown run from Dick Hoerner, but the Browns retaliated with a 37-yard scoring strike from Graham to Dante Lavelli in the second quarter. They then botched the extra point attempt, leaving them one point behind the Rams, 14-13. The half ended after Waterfield, who was the team’s kicker in addition to its quarterback, botched an easy 15-yard field goal attempt.

In the third quarter, Graham again hit Lavelli, this time from 39 yards out, and Groza made good on the extra point, putting them up 20-14.

The Rams retaliated by first connecting on passes to halfback Vitamin Smith and wide receiver Tom Fears, and then feeding Hoerner seven straight times, resulting in a one-yard touchdown to put the Rams back up 21-20.

But on the next possession, Marion Motley uncharacteristically fumbled, and Larry Brink returned the ball seven yards for another touchdown, putting the Rams up 28-20. Cleveland responded with a Graham pass to Rex Bumgardner, then got the ball back and Lou Groza was money with 28 seconds left to win, 30–28. The Browns were truly undisputed World Champions at last.

Harry Jones, writing in the Plain Dealer, recorded the ending as follows:

"“The moment Lou Groza’s 16-yard field goal cleared the crossbar in the last 20 seconds of what may well be the greatest gridiron spectacle in Cleveland history, 29,751 citizens went berserk at the stadium….Thousands of them poured onto the field, even before the gun sounded to finish the Browns’ 30-28 victory over the rugged Los Angeles Rams, returning the National Football League crown to this city after a four-year lapse.”"

The defense came up big against the Rams, who were able to move the ball but also coughed up five interceptions. It’s good they did, or else that Rams team might still be scoring.

After the game, NFL commissioner Bert Bell called Cleveland “the greatest team ever to play football.”  Who are we to argue?

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