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1952 NFL playoffs

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1952 NFL playoffs
DatesDecember 21-28, 1952
Season1952
Teams3
Games played2
NFL Championship Game site
Defending championsLos Angeles Rams
ChampionsDetroit Lions
Runners-upCleveland Browns
Conference
runners-up
NFL playoffs
← 1950 1957 →

The 1952 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the National Conference championship between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, requiring a one-game playoff. This conference championship game was played on December 21 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit; the winner then traveled to play the American Conference champion Cleveland Browns on December 28 in the NFL Championship Game. The Lions won both games, 31–21 over the Rams and 17–7 at Cleveland.

Tournament bracket

National Conference playoff NFL Championship
A Cleveland 7
N Los Angeles 21 N Detroit 17
N Detroit 31

National Conference championship

Detroit Lions 31, Los Angeles Rams 21
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 01421
Lions 7 7 10731

at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: December 21, 1952
Game information
Scoring
  • DET – Harder 12 run (Harder kick) DET 7–0
  • DET – Harder 4 run (Harder kick) DET 14–0
  • LA  – Fears 14 yard pass from Van Brocklin (Waterfield kick) DET 14–7
  • DET – Hart 24 yard pass from Walker (Harder kick) DET 21–7
  • DET – field goal Harder 43 DET 24–7
  • LA  – Towler 5 yard run (Waterfield kick) DET 24–14
  • LA  – Smith 56 yard punt return (Waterfield kick) DET 24–21
  • DET – Hoernschemeyer 9 yard run (Harder kick) DET 31–21

The Rams and Lions had matched up two times in the 1952 season, with Detroit having won each time (17–14, 24–16). The defending champion Rams did not have the services of rookie sensation Night Train Lane, who injured his ankle in the season finale. Three-point favorites at home in muddy fog, Detroit prevailed over the Rams to return to the NFL Championship for the first time in 17 years. Pat Harder had two touchdown runs to bolster a 14-7 lead before kicking extra points on two Lions touchdowns in the second half to go with a field goal, with Bob Hoernschemeyer closing out the scoring for good on a 9-yard run. Detroit had four interceptions from Bobby Layne, but Los Angeles lost two fumbles and suffered a late fourth quarter interception thrown by Bob Waterfield while being outgained in both rushing and passing. Harder set a new record for point scored by one player in a playoff game with 19, eclipsing the old record of 18 held by Andy Farkas (1943). Paul Hornung would tie the record in 1961 before it was later broken in 1995.[1][2][3][4]

NFL Championship game

Further information: 1952 NFL Championship Game

The 1952 NFL Championship Game was held in Cleveland and was won by the Lions, 17–7.

References

  1. ^ "Divisional Round - Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - December 21st, 1952". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ 1952: The Dawning of Motown’s Gridiron Empire profootballresearchers.com
  3. ^ "Daily News from New York, New York". December 22, 1952.
  4. ^ "NFL Points Scored Single Game Playoffs Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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