1953 Cleveland Browns season

1953 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach	Paul Brown
Home field	Cleveland Stadium
Results
Record	11–1–0
Division place	1st NFL American
Playoff finish	Lost NFL Championship

The 1953 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fourth season with the National Football League. Their start of 11–0–0 before losing their last game was the closest to a true perfect season in the NFL until the 1972 Miami Dolphins, but after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in their last game and missing a perfect regular season, the Browns were beaten in the NFL Championship Game by the Detroit Lions

Exhibition Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	August 23, 1953	at San Francisco 49ers	W 20–7	36,273
2	August 28, 1953	at Los Angeles Rams	L 27–9	21,440
3	September 4, 1953	at Detroit Lions	T 24–24	39,985
4	September 7, 1953	vs. Baltimore Colts at Akron	W 23–21	20,000
5	September 11, 1953	at Chicago Bears	W 20–14	36,796
6	September 19, 1953	Green Bay Packers	W 21–13	22,336

Regular Season Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 27, 1953	at Green Bay Packers	W 27–0	22,604
2	October 4, 1953	at Chicago Cardinals	W 27–7	24,374
3	October 10, 1953	Philadelphia Eagles	W 37–13	45,802
4	October 18, 1953	at Washington Redskins	W 30–14	33,963
5	October 25, 1953	at New York Giants	W 7–0	30,773
6	November 1, 1953	Washington Redskins	W 27–3	47,845
7	November 8, 1953	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 34–16	35,592
8	November 15, 1953	San Francisco 49ers	W 23–21	80,698
9	November 22, 1953	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 20–16	32,904
10	November 29, 1953	Chicago Cardinals	W 27–16	24,499
11	December 6, 1953	New York Giants	W 62–14	40,235
12	December 13, 1953	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 42–27	38,654

NFL Championship Game

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Championship	December 27, 1953	at Detroit Lions	L 17–16	54,577

Scoring

• DET – Walker 1 yard run (Walker Kick)
• CLE – FG Groza 13 yard
• DET – FG Walker 23 yard
• CLE – Jagade 9 yard run (Groza kick)
• CLE – FG Groza 15 yard
• CLE – FG Groza 43 yard
• DET – Doran 33 yard pass from Layne (Walker kick)

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Cleveland Browns	11	1	0	.917	9–1	348	162	L1
Philadelphia Eagles	7	4	1	.636	6–3–1	352	215	W1
Washington Redskins	6	5	1	.545	6–3–1	208	215	L1
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	6	0	.500	5–5	211	263	W2
New York Giants	3	9	0	.250	3–7	179	277	L2
Chicago Cardinals	1	10	1	.091	0–10	190	337	W1

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

Awards and records

• Otto Graham, NFL MVP