1950 Cleveland Browns season
The 1950 Cleveland Browns season was the team's first season with the National Football League after playing the previous four years in the All-America Football Conference, which folded after the 1949 season. The Browns' first NFL game was against the two-time defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. The overwhelming consensus at the time was that the Eagles would blow the Browns off the field; there were still many who thought the Browns were merely the dominant team in a minor league. However, the Browns were determined to prove they belonged. They shredded the Eagles' vaunted defense for 487 yards of total offense en route to a 35–10 blowout.
Exhibition Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
August 12, 1950 |
vs Green Bay Packers at Toledo |
W 38–7 |
10,000
|
| 2 |
August 19, 1950 |
vs. Baltimore Colts at Cincinnati |
W 34–7 |
21,000
|
| 3 |
August 25, 1950 |
vs. Detroit Lions at Akron |
W 35-14 |
23,670
|
| 4 |
August 30, 1950 |
Chicago Bears |
W 27–23 |
51,076
|
| 5 |
September 5, 1950 |
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo |
W 41–31 |
15,259
|
Regular season
Behind a potent offense that included future Hall of Famers Otto Graham, Marion Motley and Dante Lavelli, the Browns picked up right where they left off in the AAFC. After going 10–2 in the regular season, the Browns defeated the New York Giants 8–3 in a playoff game and then beat Cleveland's previous NFL tenants, the Rams (who were now in Los Angeles), 30–28, in the NFL Championship game. Since the NFL does not recognize the AAFC's records, this technically makes the Browns the most successful expansion team in league history. However, the 1950 Browns were not an expansion team in any sense of the term.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 16, 1950 |
at Philadelphia Eagles |
W 35–10 |
71,237
|
| 2 |
September 24, 1950 |
at Baltimore Colts |
W 31–0 |
15,201
|
| 3 |
October 1, 1950 |
New York Giants |
L 6–0 |
37,647
|
| 4 |
October 7, 1950 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
W 30–17 |
35,590
|
| 5 |
October 15, 1950 |
Chicago Cardinals |
W 34–24 |
33,774
|
| 6 |
October 22, 1950 |
at New York Giants |
L 17–13 |
41,734
|
| 7 |
October 29, 1950 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
W 45–7 |
40,714
|
| 8 |
November 5, 1950 |
at Chicago Cardinals |
W 10–7 |
38,456
|
| 9 |
November 12, 1950 |
San Francisco 49ers |
W 34–14 |
28,786
|
| 10 |
November 19, 1950 |
Washington Redskins |
W 20–14 |
21,908
|
| 11 |
Bye |
| 12 |
December 3, 1950 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
W 13–7 |
37,490
|
| 13 |
December 10, 1950 |
at Washington Redskins |
W 45–21 |
30,143
|
Playoffs
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| Divisional |
December 17, 1950 |
New York Giants |
W 8–3 |
33,054
|
| Championship |
December 24, 1950 |
Los Angeles Rams |
W 30–28 |
29,751
|
Standings
Roster
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| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
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Postseason
NFL Championship Game
The Browns had been the AAFC's most dominant team, winning all four of its championships. The Rams, who left Cleveland after the 1945 season for Los Angeles, were making their second straight appearance in an NFL title game. [1]
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Cle-Lavelli 35 yard pass from Graham (conversion pass failed)
- Third Quarter
- Cle-Lavelli 39 yard pass from Graham (Groza kick)
- LA-Hoerner 1 yard run (Waterfield kick)
- LA-Brink 6 yard fumble return (Waterfield kick)
- Fourth Quarter
- Cle-Bumgardner 14 yard pass from Graham (Groza kick)
- Cle- Groza 16 yard field goal
References
- ^ Harry Jones, Groza's Field Goal Is Signal for Celebration, Cleveland Plain Dealer December 24, 1950, Plain Dealer Browns' History Database Accessed 12 December 2007, http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19501224BROWNS.html
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