1953 Detroit Lions season
1953 Detroit Lions season | |
---|---|
Head coach | NFL Western |
Playoff finish | Won NFL Championship (vs. Browns) 17–16 |
Pro Bowlers | 7 |
AP All-Pros | 5 |
The 1953 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 24th season in the
The 1953 Lions ranked fifth in the NFL in scoring offense. The offense was led by quarterback
The team also ranked second in the NFL in scoring defense. Defensive back
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 38–21 | 1–0 | 44,587 |
2 | October 3 | at Baltimore Colts | W 27–17 | 2–0 | 25,159 |
3 | October 11 | San Francisco 49ers | W 24–21 | 3–0 | 58,079 |
4 | October 18 | Los Angeles Rams | L 19–31 | 3–1 | 55,772 |
5 | October 25 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 14–10 | 4–1 | 54,662 |
6 | November 1 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 24–37 | 4–2 | 93,751 |
7 | November 7 | Baltimore Colts | W 17–7 | 5–2 | 46,208 |
8 | November 15 | at Green Bay Packers | W 14–7 | 6–2 | 20,834 |
9 | November 22 | at Chicago Bears | W 20–16 | 7–2 | 36,165 |
10 | November 26 | Green Bay Packers | W 34–15 | 8–2 | 52,547 |
11 | December 6 | Chicago Bears | W 13–7 | 9–2 | 58,056 |
12 | December 13 | at New York Giants | W 27–16 | 10–2 | 28,390 |
- Saturday night (October 3, November 7),[1][2] Thursday (November 26: Thanksgiving)[3][4]
Standings
NFL Western Conference
| |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
Detroit Lions | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 8–2 | 271 | 205 | W6 | |
San Francisco 49ers | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 8–2 | 372 | 237 | W4 | |
Los Angeles Rams | 8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 7–3 | 366 | 236 | W2 | |
Chicago Bears | 3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 2–7–1 | 218 | 262 | L2 | |
Baltimore Colts | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 2–8 | 182 | 350 | L7 | |
Green Bay Packers | 2 | 9 | 1 | .182 | 2–7–1 | 200 | 338 | L5 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Postseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Championship | December 27 | Cleveland Browns | W 17–16 | 54,577 |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Season summary
Week 1: Pittsburgh
|
On September 27, 1953, the Lions defeated the
Week 2: at Baltimore
|
On October 3, 1953, the Lions won, 27–17, in a close game with the
Week 3: San Francisco
|
On October 11, 1953, the Lions defeated the
Week 4: Los Angeles
|
On October 18, 1953, the Lions lost to the
Week 5: at San Francisco
|
On October 25, 1953, the Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 14–10, in front of 54,862 spectators at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The victory was the first by a Lions team in San Francisco. The 49ers took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter on a short run by Joe Perry and extended their lead on a field goal in the second quarter, but were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Late in the second quarter, the Lions cut the 49ers lead to three points on 47-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Layne to Dorne Dibble. The Lions scored the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard pass from Layne to Ollie Cline. The winning touchdown was set up by a fake punt on fourth down, with Yale Lary carrying the ball 21 yards to the San Francisco 24-yard line. Y. A. Tittle, who fractured his cheekbone two weeks earlier against the Lions, appeared briefly in the game and was intercepted on both of his passes. The 49ers outgained the Lions, 351 yards to 239 yards.[14][15]
Week 6: a Los Angeles
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On November 1, 1953, the Lions lost for the second time to the
Week 7: Baltimore
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On Saturday, November 7, 1953, the Lions defeated the
Week 8: at Green Bay
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On November 15, 1953, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 14–7, in front of 20,834 spectators at City Stadium in Green Bay. The Packers outgained the Lions, 394 yards to 303, but the Lions intercepted four passes (three by Yale Lary in the second half) to halt Green Bay's drives. Detroit's touchdowns came on passes by Bobby Layne – an 83-yard completion to Doak Walker in the second quarter and a 22-yard completion to Leon Hart in the fourth quarter. The second touchdown deflected off a defensive back's hands and was caught by Hart at knee level. Harley Sewell and Bob Forte were ejected from the game in the fourth quarter for fighting.[20][21]
Week 9: at Chicago
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On November 22, 1953, the Lions defeated the
Week 10: Green Bay
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On Thursday, November 26, 1953, in the annual Thanksgiving Day game at
Week 11: Chicago
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On December 6, 1953, the Lions defeated the
Week 12: at New York
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On December 13, 1953, the Lions clinched the NFL Western Division championship with a 27–16 victory over the New York Giants in front of 28,390 spectators at the Polo Grounds in New York. Bobby Layne threw two touchdown passes in the first half – a 25-yard completion to Leon Hart and a 34-yard completion to Doak Walker. Walker also ran 50 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. The Giants mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter with a touchdown and a safety, closing the score to 20–16. The Giants threatened three more times in the fourth quarter, but the defense intercepted two passes and stopped Frank Gifford on a fourth-down play at the one-yard line. After a Bob Smith interception, Gene Gedman sealed the Lions' victory with a four-yard run touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. With five interceptions in the game, the Lions totaled 38 for the season – four behind the NFL record of 42.[28][29]
NFL Championship Game
|
On December 27, 1953, the Lions played the
Awards, honors and league leaders
Team awards
At the end of the regular season, the Lions players voted offensive guard Dick Stanfel as the team's most valuable player.[32]
All-NFL honors
The following eight Lions players won All-Pro honors from the
- Les Bingaman – AP (first-team All-NFL); UPI (first-team All-NFL)
- Jack Christiansen – AP (first-team All-NFL); UPI (first-team All-NFL)
- Lou Creekmur – AP (first-team All-NFL); UPI (first-team All-NFL)
- Bob Hoernschemeyer– NY Daily News (first-team All-NFL); UPI (second-team All-NFL)
- Bobby Layne – UPI (second-team All-NFL)
- Thurman McGraw– NY Daily News (first-team All-NFL); UPI (second-team All-NFL)
- Dick Stanfel – AP (first-team All-NFL); UPI (first-team All-NFL)
- Doak Walker – AP (first-team All-NFL); UPI (second-team All-NFL)
Pro Bowl
In addition, seven Lions players were selected 1954 Pro Bowl:
NFL leaders
Several Lions players were also among the NFL leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:
- 12 interceptions (1st)
- 238 interception return yards (1st)
- Bob Hoernschemeyer
- 482 rushing yards (9th)
- 7 rushing touchdowns (3rd)
- 4.8 yards/rush (7th)
- 2,431 yards total offense (3rd)
- 2,088 passing yards (6th)
- 16 passing touchdowns (5th)
- 21 passes intercepted (3rd)
- 45.8% pass completion (7th)
- 115 punt return yards (7th)
- 8.8 yards/punt return (4th)
- 41.2 yards/punt (8th)
- 119 interception return yards (7th)
- 93 points scored (3rd)
- 12 field goals (2nd)
- 27 extra points made (5th)
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Six members of the team were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They are:
- Bobby Layne (inducted 1967)
- Jack Christiansen (inducted 1970)
- Joe Schmidt (inducted 1973)
- Yale Lary (inducted 1979)
- Doak Walker (inducted 1986)
- Lou Creekmur (inducted 1996)
- Dick Stanfel (inducted 2016)
References
- ^ "Forty-Niners, Browns and Lions remain on victory trail". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). United Press. October 5, 1953. p. 17.
- ^ "Layne passes Lions to win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 8, 1953. p. 3C.
- ^ "Lions rally in 2nd half to whip Packers, 34-15". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 27, 1953. p. 4, part 2. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ^ "Layne-Box aerial puts life in Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 27, 1953. p. 12.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (September 28, 1953). "Lions Bowl Over Steelers in Opener, 38–21: Walker and Layne Pave Victory Path". Detroit Free Press. pp. 31, 33.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers 21 at Detroit Lions 38 Sunday, September 27, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (October 5, 1953). "Colts Treat Champs Like Also-Rans: Path to 2nd Title Thorny, Lions Find". Detroit Free Press. p. 29.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 27 at Baltimore Colts 17, Saturday, October 3, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (October 12, 1953). "Lions Defense Shatters 49er Jinx, 24–21: Early Lead Fades, But Champs Rally". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 36.
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers 21 at Detroit Lions 24 Sunday, October 11, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Lyall Smith (October 12, 1953). "58,079 Fans An All Time High". Detroit Free Press. p. 33.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (October 12, 1953). "Rams Trample Lions, 31–19, Before 55,772: Lewis Rips Champs on Runbacks". Detroit Free Press. pp. 33, 34.
- ^ "Los Angeles Rams 31 at Detroit Lions 19, Sunday, October 18, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (October 26, 1953). "49ers Romp – but Lions Win, 14–10: Layne Hits on Only 2 Chances". Detroit Free Press. p. 37.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 14 at San Francisco 49ers 10, Sunday, October 25, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (November 2, 1953). "93,751 See Rams Butt Lions from NFL Lead: L.A. Wins Big Game By 37–24; Champs Blow 10–0 First-Period Lead". Detroit Free Press. p. 37.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 24 at Los Angeles Rams 37, Sunday, November 1, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (November 8, 1953). "Lions Pressed To Beat Colts: Layne's Arm Bring 17–7 Edge As Baltimore Fades in Last Half". Detroit Free Press. pp. D1, D5.
- ^ "Baltimore Colts 7 at Detroit Lions 17, Saturday, November 7, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (November 16, 1953). "Lions Nip Packers, 14–7, Lead Alone". p. 37.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 14 at Green Bay Packers 7, Sunday, November 15, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (November 23, 1953). "Bears Gamble – Lions Win, 20–16: Blanda's End Zone Pass Nets Big TD; Champions Rally 3 Times To Salvage Seventh Triumph". p. 37.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 20 at Chicago Bears 16, Sunday, November 22, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (November 27, 1953). "Lions Cook Green Bay with 97-Yard Pass: They Talk Turkey in Last Half". Detroit Free Press. pp. 43, 44.
- ^ "Green Bay Packers 15 at Detroit Lions 34, Thursday, November 26, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (December 7, 1953). "Lions Win, 13–7, on Walker's 2 Field Goals: Bears Held Until Final Minutes; 58,056 See Detroit Clinch Share of Title". Detroit Free Press. pp. 37, 39.
- ^ "Chicago Bears 7 at Detroit Lions 13, Sunday, December 6, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (December 15, 1953). "Lions Win Crown: Defense Stars as N.Y. Bows, 27–16". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1, 37.
- ^ "Detroit Lions 27 at New York Giants 16, Sunday, December 13, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (December 28, 1953). "Our Lions Are Still Kings: Late Pass Beats Browns, 17–16; Layne Hits Doran for 33 Yards And Detroit's Second Crown in a Row". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1, 25.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns 16 at Detroit Lions 17, Sunday, December 27, 1953". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
- ^ Bob Latshaw (December 20, 1953). "Stanfel Voted Most Valuable: Lion Who Wouldn't Stay Crippled Hailed by Club". Detroit Free Press.