1952 Detroit Lions season

1952 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Buddy Parker
Home field	Briggs Stadium
Results
Record	9–3
Division place	1st NFL National
Playoff finish	Won 1952 NFL Championship Game vs. Cleveland 17–7
Pro Bowlers	7 Cloyce Box Lou Creekmur Don Doll Pat Harder Bob Hoernschemeyer Bobby Layne Bob Smith
AP All-Pros	3 E Cloyce Box OG Lou Creekmur QB Bobby Layne

The 1952 Detroit Lions season resulted in the Lions winning their second National Football League (NFL) championship, having won their first championship 17 years earlier in 1935. The team's co-captains were halfback Bob Hoernschemeyer and defensive tackle John Prchlik, and defensive end Jim Doran was selected as the team's most valuable player. In their third year under head coach Buddy Parker, the 1952 Lions compiled a 9–3 record during the regular season, finished in a tie with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFL's National Conference, defeated the Rams in a tiebreaker game, and defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17–7, in the 1953 NFL Championship Game at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.

The 1952 Lions outscored opponents 344 to 192 in 12 regular season games and ranked second in the NFL with an average of 28.7 points scored per game. The offense was led by quarterback Bobby Layne who ranked second in the NFL with 2,410 yards of total offense – 1,999 passing and 411 rushing. End Cloyce Box led the NFL with 15 touchdowns, including nine touchdown catches in the final three games of the regular season. For the third consecutive year, Bob Hoernschemeyer was the team's leading rusher with 457 yards and an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Jack Christiansen led the NFL with an average of 21.5 yards per punt return, returned two punts for touchdowns, and ranked fourth in the NFL with 731 punt and kick return yards.

The Lions' defense ranked first in the NFL in points allowed, allowing 16 points per game during the regular season. Defensive back Bob Smith ranked among the NFL leaders with a 90-yard interception return (2nd), nine interceptions (3rd), and 184 interception return yards (3rd). Smith was also the team's punter and ranked second in the NFL with an average of 44.7 yards per punt. Six players from the 1952 Lions team, Layne, Christiansen, halfback Doak Walker, defensive back Yale Lary, and offensive linemen Lou Creekmur and Dick Stanfel, were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Location	attendance
September 28, 1952	at San Francisco 49ers	Loss	13–17	Kezar Stadium, San Francisco	54,761
October 3, 1952	at Los Angeles Rams	Win	17–14	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	42,743
October 12, 1952	San Francisco 49ers	Loss	0–28	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	56,822
October 19, 1952	Los Angeles Rams	Win	24–16	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	40,152
October 26, 1952	at Green Bay Packers	Win	52–17	City Stadium, Green Bay	24,656
November 2, 1952	Cleveland Browns	Win	17–6	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	56,029
November 9, 1952	at Pittsburgh Steelers	Win	31–6	Forbes Field, Pittsburgh	26,170
November 16, 1952	Dallas Texans	Win	43–13	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	33,304
November 23, 1952	at Chicago Bears	Loss	23–24	Wrigley Field, Chicago	37,508
November 27, 1952	Green Bay Packers	Win	48–24	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	39,101
December 7, 1952	Chicago Bears	Win	45–21	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	50,410
December 13, 1952	Dallas Texans	Win	41–6	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	12,252
December 21, 1952	Los Angeles Rams	Win	31–12	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	47,645
December 28, 1952	at Cleveland Browns	Win	17–7	Municipal Stadium, Cleveland	50,934

Standings

NFL National Conference
	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Detroit Lions	9	3	0	.750	7–3	344	192	W3
Los Angeles Rams	9	3	0	.750	8–2	349	234	W8
San Francisco 49ers	7	5	0	.583	6–3	285	221	W1
Green Bay Packers	6	6	0	.500	3–6	295	312	L3
Chicago Bears	5	7	0	.417	4–6	245	326	W1
Dallas Texans	1	11	0	.083	1–9	182	427	L2

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

Roster

1953 Detroit Lions final roster
	Quarterbacks 1 Jim Hardy 19 Tom Dublinski 22 Bobby Layne Running backs 14 Bob Hoernschemeyer HB 23 Jug Girard HB 33 Ollie Cline FB 34 Pat Harder FB 37 Doak Walker HB 45 Byron Bailey HB Wide receivers 80 Cloyce Box E 81 Bill Swiacki E 82 Leon Hart E Tight ends		Offensive linemen 51 Vince Banonis C 62 Jim Martin G 63 Dick Stanfel G 70 Gus Cifelli T 76 Lou Creekmur G Defensive linemen 65 Les Bingaman MG 73 Thurman McGraw 75 John Prchlik DT 83 Jim Doran DE 85 Sonny Gandee DE 86 Blaine Earon DE		Linebackers 53 LaVern Torgeson LB 60 Dick Flanagan LB Defensive backs 24 Jack Christiansen S 25 Jim David DH 28 Yale Lary DH 44 Don Doll S Special teams 34 Pat Harder K 36 Bob Smith P 28 Yale Lary PR 24 Jack Christiansen KR 84 Pat Summerall K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Season summary

Preseason

The 1951 Lions had compiled a 7–4–1 record and finished in a tie for second place in the NFL National Conference.^[1] The 1952 team was a veteran group, including quarterback Bobby Layne (fifth year in NFL, third in Detroit), fullback Pat Harder (seventh year in NFL, second in Detroit), halfbacks Doak Walker (third year in NFL, all in Detroit) and Bob Hoernschemeyer (seventh year in NFL, third in Detroit), ends Cloyce Box (third year in NFL, all in Detroit) and Leon Hart (third year in NFL, all in Detroit), defensive linemen Les Bingaman (fifth year in NFL, all in Detroit), John Prchlik (fourth year in NFL, all in Detroit), Thurman "Fum" McGraw (third year in NFL, all in Detroit), and defensive backs Don Doll (fourth year in NFL, all in Detroit), Jack Christiansen (second year in NFL, both in Detroit), and Bob Smith (fifth year in pro ball, fourth in Detroit).

The Lions won all six pre-season exhibition games as follows: (1) 28–13 over the Chicago Cardinals on August 18 at Amarillo, Texas;^[2] (2) 7–3 over Philadelphia Eagles at Little Rock, Arkansas;^[3] (3) 33–13 over the New York Giants on September 2;^[4] (4) 28–21 over the Cleveland Browns on September 6;^[5] (5) 21–14 over the Dallas Texans on September 12 at Dallas;^[6] and (6) 45–7 over the Washington Redskins on September 20.^[7] The Lions were considered a favorite for the NFL championship.^[8][9]

Week 1: at San Francisco

1 2 3 4 Total Detroit 0 3 0 0 3 • San Francisco 7 0 7 3 17 Date: September 28 Location: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco Game attendance: 52,750

On September 28, 1952, the Lions lost the first game of the regular season to the San Francisco 49ers by a 17–3 score in heavy fog at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Lions against the 49ers, dating back to the 1950 season. The Lions' offense was limited to a 21-yard field goal by Doak Walker in the second quarter. Detroit turned the ball over five times on three interceptions and two fumbles. Joe Perry rushed 19 times for 80 yards and scored the 49ers first touchdown.^[10][11]

Week 2: at Los Angeles

1 2 3 4 Total • Detroit 0 14 3 0 17 Los Angeles 0 7 7 0 14 Date: October 3 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Game attendance: 42,743

On Friday, October 3, 1952, the Lions defeated the defending NFL champion Los Angeles Rams, 17–14, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Bobby Layne threw two touchdown passes to Cloyce Box, the first set up by a Les Bingaman interception. The Lions led, 14–0, but the Rams scored later in the second quarter on a 20-yard run. Doak Walker kicked a 13-yard field goal in the third quarter that ended up providing the deciding margin.^[12][13]

Week 3: San Francisco

1 2 3 4 Total • San Francisco 0 14 7 7 28 Detroit 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 12 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 56,822

On October 12, 1952, the Lions lost, 28-0 for the fifth consecutive time to the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions did not convert a first down in the first half, totaled only 114 yards of offense in the game, and were shut out for the first time since October 1948. The game was played at Briggs Stadium in front of the largest home crowd (56,822) in Lions history to that point. Bob Latshaw in the Detroit Free Press called it "as inept an exhibition as has ever been seen in Briggs Stadium", as the 49ers "smother[ed] any semblance of a Detroit offense."^[14][15] Having been billed as a championship contender in the preseason, the Lions had a 1-2 record after three regular season games.

Week 4: Los Angeles

1 2 3 4 Total Los Angeles 6 7 3 0 16 • Detroit 0 7 14 3 24 Date: October 19 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 40,152

On October 19, 1952, the Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 24-16, in front of a crowd of 40,152 at Briggs Stadium. After the Lions' poor performance the prior week against the 49ers, the Detroit crowd booed the Lions as they came onto the field. The boos continued as the Rams took a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. From that point forward, the Lions outscored the Rams, 24 to 3. The comeback began with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Layne to Cloyce Box. The Lions scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter on a 29-yard interception return by LaVern Torgeson and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bob Hoernschemeyer to Cloyce Box. Pat Harder added a field goal in the fourth quarter.^[16][17]

Week 5: at Green Bay

1 2 3 4 Total • Detroit 14 14 14 10 52 Green Bay 7 3 7 0 17 Date: October 26 Location: City Stadium, Green Bay Game attendance: 24,656

On October 26, 1952, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 52–17, before a crowd of 24,656 at City Stadium in Green Bay. The 52 points scored by the Lions tied the franchise's all-time, single-game scoring record. Bobby Layne threw three touchdown passes, and Bob Hoernschemeyer rushed for two touchdowns. Jug Girard caught two touchdown passes and gained 130 yards, 69 receiving and 61 rushing. The Lions also scored on a 46-yard interception return by Bob Smith and a 65-yard punt return by Jack Christiansen. The defense held the Packers to 53 rushing yards, recovered four fumbles, and intercepted five passes. Pat Harder scored nine points on a 16-yard field goal and six extra points.^[18][19]

Week 6: Cleveland

1 2 3 4 Total Cleveland 3 0 3 0 6 • Detroit 0 10 0 7 17 Date: November 2 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 56,029

On November 2, 1952, the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17-6, in front of a crowd of 56,029 at Briggs Stadium. The game was the first meeting between the Lions and the Browns, the latter having joined the NFL in 1950. On defense, the Lions forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, and held the Browns to two Lou Groza field goals. On offense, Bobby Layne threw two touchdown passes to Leon Hart. Hart, playing on his 24th birthday, caught eight passes for 109 yards. Pat Harder also kicked a 43-yard field goal. Defensive end Jim Doran at one point sacked Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham on consecutive plays for losses totaling 36 yards. The Lions intercepted three passes and held the Browns to 12 rushing yards in the second half.^[20][21][22]

Week 7: at Pittsburgh

1 2 3 4 Total • Detroit 3 7 7 14 31 Pittsburgh 0 0 6 0 6 Date: November 9 Location: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh Game attendance: 26,170

On November 9, 1952, the Lions defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31–6, before a crowd of 26,170 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Usually a pass-oriented offense, the Lions adopted a different approach against the Steelers, rushing for a season-high 321 yards. Bob Hoernschemeyer rushed for 107 yards on 20 carries, and Jug Girard contributed 71 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Bobby Layne completed only four of 17 passes for 70 yards, 46 of which came on a touchdown pass to Cloyce Box in the third quarter. On defense, the Lions held the Steelers to minus three yards rushing and intercepted two passes. Defensive halfback Bob Smith recovered a fumbled lateral that set up a field goal in the first quarter and returned an interception 90 yards late in the game.^[23][24]

Week 8: Dallas

1 2 3 4 Total Dallas 0 0 13 0 13 • Detroit 10 19 0 14 43 Date: November 16 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 33,304

On November 16, 1952, the Lions defeated the Dallas Texans, 43–13, before a crowd of 33,304 at Briggs Stadium. The loss was the eighth straight for the Texans. In the first half, the Lions took a 29-0 lead on two Pat Harder field goals, a 58-yard punt return by Yale Lary, an eight-yard run by Bobby Layne, a 55-yard touchdown pass from Layne to Cloyce Box, and a safety when defensive end Sonny Gandee tackled Pittsburgh quarterback Frank Tripucka in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, Harder kicked his third field goal, and fullback Ollie Cline scored on a two-yard run.^[25][26]

Week 9: at Chicago

1 2 3 4 Total Detroit 3 13 0 7 23 • Chicago 10 0 7 7 24 Date: November 23 Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago Game attendance: 37,508

On November 23, 1952, the Lions lost to the Chicago Bears, 24–23, before a crowd of 37,508 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Bob Hoernschemeyer scored two rushing touchdowns, and Pat Harder also kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Lions. The Lions led, 16–10, at halftime, but the Bears took the lead in the third quarter on a 59-yard touchdown pass from George Blanda to Billy Stone. The Lions retook the lead, 23–17, when Jack Christiansen returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. With nine seconds left in the game, Blanda threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Ed Sprinkle for the winning score.^[27][28]

Week 10: Green Bay

1 2 3 4 Total Green Bay 3 14 7 0 24 • Detroit 3 21 7 17 48 Date: November 27 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 39,101

On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 48–24, before a crowd of 39,101 at Briggs Stadium. The Lions scored 100 points in two games against the Packers during the 1952 season. In the Thanksgiving game, the Lions scored on five touchdown passes – three thrown by Bobby Layne and three caught by Cloyce Box. Layne accounted for over 300 yards of total offense – 63 yards on 13 rushing carries and 249 yards on 16 of 30 passing. Box caught a total of nine passes for 155 yards. Pat Harder scored 17 points on a touchdown run, two field goals, and five extra points. On defense, the Lions forced eight turnovers, including six fumble recoveries.^[29][30]

Week 11: Chicago

1 2 3 4 Total Chicago 7 7 0 7 21 • Detroit 14 7 10 14 45 Date: December 7 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 50,410

On December 7, 1952, the Lions defeated the Chicago Bears, 45–21, before a crowd of 50,410 at Briggs Stadium. The game was the Lions' first victory over the Bears in Detroit since 1945. Bobby Layne and Cloyce Box connected for three touchdown passes in the first half: for 29 and 28 yards in the first quarter and for 25 yards in the second quarter. Layne also threw an 11-yard pass to Jim Doran in the third quarter. In all, Layne completed 22 of 35 passes for 296 yards. Detroit's defense held the Bears to 37 rushing yards and 171 passing yards and intercepted six Chicago passes. Defensive back Jack Christiansen also played at running back, rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown on six carries.^[31][32]

Week 12: Dallas

1 2 3 4 Total Dallas 0 0 0 6 6 • Detroit 0 14 10 17 41 Date: December 13 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 12,252

On Saturday, December 13, 1952, the Lions defeated the Dallas Texans, 41–6, before a small crowd of 12,252 at Briggs Stadium. With the win and the Rams' victory the following day, the Lions and Rams became co-champions of the NFL's National Conference. The game had originally been scheduled for December 14 in Dallas, but the NFL assumed control of the Texans one month earlier, and NFL commissioner Bert Bell decided that the Texans would play their remaining games "on the road."^[33][34]

Bobby Layne led the Lions to a 14–0 lead in the first half on touchdown passes of 18 yards (a flea flicker with Layne passing to Cloyce Box who immediately lateraled the ball to Pat Harder) and 77 yards to Cloyce Box. Layne was injured (strained knee ligament) shortly before halftime and did not return to the game. Jim Hardy took over at quarterback and led the Lions to 27 points in the second half, including two touchdown passes to Box of 40 and 41 yards. Jack Christiansen also ran 65 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Lions' longest rushing play of the season. Layne completed 10 of 20 passes for 167 yards, and Hardy completed nine of 15 passes for 147 yards. Box caught a total of seven passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new Lions' team record with 15 touchdown receptions in a season. Harder scored 17 points in the game on a touchdown, two field goals, and five extra points.^[35][36]

Playoff game – Los Angeles

1 2 3 4 Total Los Angeles 0 7 0 14 21 • Detroit 7 7 10 7 31 Date: December 21 Location: Briggs Stadium, Detroit Game attendance: 47,645

On December 21, 1952, the Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31–21, in a playoff game to decide who would advance to the NFL Championship Game. The Lions had beaten the Rams twice in the regular season and were a 1½-point favorite in the playoff.^[37] The playoff game was played in heavy fog and rain at Briggs Stadium before a crowd of 47,645. Pat Harder led both teams with 72 rushing yards on eight carries and scored 19 points on two touchdown runs in the first half, a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter, and four extra points. The Rams double-teamed and sometimes triple-teamed Cloyce Box, which opened the running game and allowed Leon Hart to have one of his best receiving days. Hart scored in the third quarter on a 24-yard pass from Doak Walker.^{[38][39][40][41]}

NFL Championship Game

1 2 3 4 Total • Detroit 0 7 7 3 17 Cleveland 0 0 7 0 7 Date: December 28 Location: Memorial Stadium, Cleveland Game attendance: 50,934

On December 28, 1952, the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17–7, in the 1952 NFL Championship Game at Memorial Stadium in Cleveland. The Lions had defeated the Browns in both a preseason game and in a regular season game and were favored by 3½ points.^[42]

Bobby Layne rushed for a touchdown in the second quarter, and the Lions led, 7–0, at halftime. In the third quarter, Doak Walker ran 67 yards for a touchdown to extend the Lions' lead to 14 points. Walker's touchdown in the championship game was his first of the 1952 season. The Detroit Free Press wrote: "The Doaker was the Walker of old as he twisted and turned, eluded tackler after tackler and ran 67 yards for the Lions' second touchdown."^[43] The Browns narrowed the lead to 14–7 on a seven-yard touchdown run by Chick Jagade in the third quarter. Pat Harder added a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Browns' outgained the Lions 384 yards to 258 and had 22 first downs to 10 for Detroit. The Lions' defense mounted four goal-line stands against the Browns' offense led by Otto Graham, and Lou Groza missed three field goal attempts.^{[43][44][45][46]}

Awards, honors and league leaders

Team awards

At the end of the regular season, the Lions players selected defensive end Jim Doran as the team's most valuable player.^[47]

All-NFL honors

The following six Lions players won All-NFL honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI) and/or the New York Daily News:

• Cloyce Box (1st team Associated Press [AP])
• Lou Creekmur (1st team AP, United Press [UP], and New York Daily News [DN])
• Pat Harder (2nd team, AP)
• Bob Hoernschemeyer (1st team DN, 2nd team AP/UP)
• Bobby Layne (1st team AP, 2nd team DN)
• Bob Smith (1st team UP and DN, 2nd team AP)

Pro Bowl

The following seven Lions players were selected to play in the 1953 Pro Bowl:^[48]

• Cloyce Box
• Lou Creekmur
• Don Doll
• Pat Harder
• Bob Hoernschemeyer
• Bobby Layne
• Bob Smith

NFL leaders

Several Lions players were also among the NFL leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:^[49]

• Cloyce Box

15 touchdowns (1st)

15 receiving touchdowns (1st)

90 points scored (2nd)

924 receiving yards (4th)

22.0 yards per reception (4th)

77.0 receiving yards per game (4th)

924 yards from scrimmage (6th)

42 receptions (9th)

• Jack Christiansen

21.5 yards per punt return (1st)

2 punt returns for touchdown (T-1st)

79-yard punt return (4th)

731 punt and kick return yards (4th)

65-yard rush (7th)

322 punt return yards (5th)

25.6 yards per kick return (6th)

409 kick return yards (10th)

• Blaine Earon

5 fumbles recovered (T-2nd)

• Pat Harder

85 points scored (4th)

34 extra points made (2nd)

11 field goals made (T-2nd)

47.826 field goal percentage (6th)

• Bob Hoernschemeyer

457 rushing yards (5th)

4.3 yards per rushing attempt (5th)

45.7 rushing yards per game (6th)

• Yale Lary

25.3 yards per kick return (T-7th)

182 punt return yards (8th)

11.4 yards per punt return (8th)

53-yard interception return (8th)

58-yard punt return (9th)

• Bobby Layne

2,410 yards total offense (2nd)

20 passes intercepted (2nd)

139 passes completed (3rd)

1,999 passing yards (3rd)

19 passing touchdowns (3rd)

166.6 passing yards per game (3rd)

4.4 yards per rushing attempt (4th)

48.4 pass completion percentage (7th)

411 rushing yards (7th)

• Bob Smith

44.7 yards per punt (2nd)

90-yard interception return (2nd)

9 interceptions (3rd)

184 interception return yards (3rd)

2,729 punting yards (6th)

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Five members of the team were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They are:

• Bobby Layne (inducted 1967)
• Jack Christiansen (inducted 1970)
• Yale Lary (inducted 1979)
• Doak Walker (inducted 1986)
• Lou Creekmur (inducted 1996)
• Dick Stanfel (inducted 2016)

References

1. "1951 Detroit Lions". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
2. Lyall Smith (August 19, 1952). "Box Scores 2 Touchdowns, as Lions Whip Cards, 28-13". Detroit Free Press. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Lyall Smith (August 24, 1952). "Layne-Doak Toss Enough as Lions Top Eagles, 7-3". Detroit Free Press. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Bob Latshaw (September 3, 1952). "Lions' 2nd-Half Rally Outclasses Giants, 33–13". Detroit Free Press. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Bob Latshaw (September 7, 1952). "Lions Rally, Defeat Cleveland, 28-21, on Aerials". Detroit Free Press. p. 21.
6. "Walker Rallies Lions for 21-14 Victory Over Dallas". Detroit Free Press. September 13, 1952. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Bob Latshaw (September 22, 1952). "Unbeaten Lions Overstaffed: Parker's Worries Happy Ones". Detroit Free Press. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Bob Latshaw (September 15, 1952). "Time to Tell: Can Lions Claim Gridiron Greatness?". Detroit Free Press. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Lyall Smith (December 29, 1952). "Lions Taste Glory After 17-Year Fast". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Bob Latshaw (October 27, 1952). "Just Like '51: Lions Fall to 49ers, 17-3: Flub '52 Opener in Frisco Fog; Fumbles Help Detroit Downfall". Detroit Free Press. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Detroit Lions 3 at San Francisco 49ers 17". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
12. Bob Latshaw (October 27, 1952). "Layne Hits Box With 2 TD Passes: Lions Lead Rams in Final Period, 17-14". Detroit Free Press. pp. 13, 14 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Detroit Lions 17 at Los Angeles Rams 14". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
14. Bob Latshaw (October 13, 1952). "Lions At Worst for Best Crowd in Detroit History: 56,822 See 49ers Stage 28-0 Rout; Home Forces Held to 4 First Downs". Detroit Free Press. pp. 25, 27 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "San Francisco 49ers 28 at Detroit Lions 0". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
16. Bob Latshaw (October 20, 1952). "Lions Spot Rams 13-0 Lead, Roar to 24-16 Victory: Turn Jeers of 40,152 to Cheers; Box Scores 2 TDs as Harder Lifts Club". Detroit Free Press. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Los Angeles Rams 16 at Detroit Lions 24". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
18. Bob Latshaw (October 27, 1952). "Packers Just What Doctor Ordered for Lions, 52 to 17: Layne Goes by Air for 3 Touchdowns; Defensive Unit Has Hand in 4 Scores". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 35 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Detroit Lions 52 at Green Bay Packers 17". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
20. Bob Latshaw (November 3, 1952). "56,029 See Leon Tally 2: Lions Beat Browns, 17-6, with Layne-Hart Punch". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 35 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Cleveland Browns 6 at Detroit Lions 17". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
22. "Hart ace as Lions upset Browns, 17-6". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 3, 1952. p. 4, part 2.
23. Bob Latshaw (November 10, 1952). "Lions Win, Tie 49ers for Lead: Pittsburgh Ground to Bits, 31-6; Hunchy, Girard Pace Vicious Rushing Race". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 34 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Detroit Lions 31 at Pittsburgh Steelers 6". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
25. "Lions Hand Dallas 8th Loss, 43-13: Stay Tied with 49ers for League Lead". Detroit Free Press. October 27, 1952. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Dallas Texans 13 at Detroit Lions 43". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
27. Bob Latshaw (November 24, 1952). "9 Seconds Left – Bears Shade Lions, 24 to 23: Long Drive Offsets 79-Yard TD Run by Christiansen". Detroit Free Press. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Detroit Lions 23 at Chicago Bears 24". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
29. Bob Latshaw (October 27, 1952). "On Turkey Day, Lions Cook Packers' Goose, 48-24: 39,101 See Detroit Get 1st Place". Detroit Free Press. pp. 43, 46 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Green Bay Packers 24 at Detroit Lions 48". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
31. Bob Latshaw (December 8, 1952). "Lions Brush Bears Aside, 45-21: Layne Hits Box for 3 Touchdows". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Chicago Bears 21 at Detroit Lions 45". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
33. "NFL takes over Dallas Texans". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 15, 1952. p. 2, part 2.
34. "National Football League takes franchise back from Dallas club". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 14, 1952. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
35. Bob Latshaw (December 14, 1952). "Layne Hurt, but Lions Win Share of Title: 41–6 Rout Completed by Hardy; Bobby's Knee Hurt; Box Sets TD Mark". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Dallas Texans 6 at Detroit Lions 41". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
37. "Favor Lions by 1½ points in Ram duel". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 21, 1952. p. 3B.
38. Bob Latshaw (December 22, 1952). "Lions Beat Rams, 31–21, to Gain NFL Title Playoff: 'Old Pros' Make Good in Clutch; Harder Scores 19; Late LA Rally Halted". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 34 – via Newspapers.com.
39. "Los Angeles Rams 21 at Detroit Lions 31". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
40. "Harder chalks up 19 points in Lions' 31-21 playoff triumph over Rams". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 22, 1952. p. 2, part 2.
41. "Harder leads Lions to 31-21 win over Rams". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 22, 1952. p. 22.
42. "Lions, hot after 1st title, favored by 3½ points". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 28, 1952. p. 1B.
43. Bob Latshaw (December 29, 1952). "Lions Beat Browns, 17–7, Win NFL Title: 50,934 See Defense Turn Tide: Detroit Rides Two Mistakes To Victory". Detroit Free Press. pp. 19, 20 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "Detroit Lions 17 at Cleveland Browns 7". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
45. "Lions trip Browns, 17-7, for NFL crown". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 1952. p. 2, part 2.
46. Sell, Jack (December 29, 1952). "Lions defeat Browns for NFL title, 17-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
47. "Lions Honor End Jim Doran". Detroit Free Press. December 25, 1952. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
48. "1952 Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
49. "1952 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2016.

External links

• Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference
• Video: 1952 NFL Championship Lions vs Browns