1955 NFL Championship

Lore & Background

The Browns successfully defended their title and won their third NFL championship of the 1950s in a second straight rout. This was the Rams' fourth title game in seven seasons, with one victory in 1951. The attendance of 87,695 broke the NFL championship game record by nearly 30,000. This was the first NFL championship game played on a Monday and the first televised by NBC.

In Their Own Story

The cold December wind whipped through Briggs Stadium, carrying snowflakes across the gridiron. In brown and orange, the Cleveland Browns huddled tight against the biting chill of Detroit's winter. Otto Graham looked around the circle, feeling the weight of a decade on his shoulders. As the whistle blew for the final play, there was no doubt in the minds of the fans watching: this was not just another win, it was a farewell to an era.

Reader's Guide

The game featured six interceptions by Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, three in the first half. Browns quarterback Otto Graham, who had announced his retirement, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Dante Lavelli and ran for two touchdowns. The Browns led 17–7 at halftime and 31–7 after three quarters. Final scoring included a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ray Renfro and a late Rams touchdown by Ron Waller.

Did You Know?

• The Browns were six-point favorites in their sixth consecutive NFL title game.
• Each player on the winning Browns team received $3,508, while Rams players made $2,316 each.
• The gross receipts for the game, including radio and television rights, were over $504,000, the highest to date.
• The NFL added the fifth official, the back judge, in 1947; the line judge arrived in 1965, and the side judge in 1978.