Team of the '50s, Browns or Lions?

[74_75_78_79_]

Browns played in six straight Title Games, and those who'll give them the nod will also add '46-thru-'49 to the mix although it was in the previous decade as well as not NFL, but Detroit did beat Cleveland three out of four times for the prize. Should this give Detroit the nod in this discussion of these two teams that won 3 Titles each in the decade?

Although Steelers/Dallas still generates a 'buzz' to this day amongst NFL fans, even those who weren't around in the '70s or even '90s, and no important game between Clev/Det has been played since ('60 Playoff Bowl? Matt Stafford's "coming out" party?), I'd still have to say Browns/Lions of the '50s was the biggest inter-conference rivalry the NFL has ever had.

I know NFL still was 'behind' college ball at the time, but did Browns/Lions in the '50s come at least close to generating hype in the Great Lakes region as did Ohio St/Michigan?

[7DnBrnc53]

Detroit did beat Cleveland three out of four times for the prize. Should this give Detroit the nod in this discussion of these two teams that won 3 Titles each in the decade?

Since they both won three NFL Titles in the 50's, then that would be the tie-breaker for it.

[Saban1]

Both great teams. Both won NFL championship 3 times during the 1950's.

Cleveland played in 7 NFL championship games compared to 4 for Detroit.

Cleveland won more games than anyone during that decade.

Graham era Browns lost to Detroit 17 to 7 in 1952 championship, 17 to 16 in 1953, but beat Detroit 56 to 10 in the 1954 title game. Detroit beat Cleveland 59 to 14 in 1957 championship game, but the Browns were really a different team than the Graham era teams. Gone were not only Otto, but Lavelli, Speedie, Motley, Jagade, Gatski, Willis, Saban, Thompson, Rymkus, Jones, Jones, James, Houston, Gibron, Gillom, etc. etc. I think that the only original Brown left was Lou Groza. I don't consider the 1957 Cleveland Browns part of the same dynasty as the 1946-55 Browns.

[Saban1]

I looked it up and Cleveland's regular season record during the 1950's was 88 wins, 30 losses, and 2 ties. Detroit's 1950's record was 68 wins, 48 losses, and 4 ties.

Cleveland had one losing season during the 50's in 1956 (5 wins and 7 losses), which was the year after Otto Graham retired. Detroit had 3 losing seasons during that decade (3 wins and 9 losses in 1955, 4 wins and 7 losses and 1 tie in 1958, and 3 wins and 8 losses and 1 tie in 1959.

Cleveland not only played in 7 championship games during the 1950's, but also had a playoff game with the Giants in 1958.

After Cleveland's losing 1956 season, the Browns came back to win the Eastern Conference title in 1957, but lost the championship game to Detroit. It was a great comeback season for a team that wasn't as talented as their teams of the early 1950's, and Paul Brown got a coach of the year award. I don't think that Cleveland's loss in the 1957 championship game should be held against them.

So, Detroit seemed to have Cleveland's number in head to head match ups during the 1950's, especially after Otto Graham retired. From 1950 to 1955, it was Paul Brown and Otto Graham against Buddy Parker and Bobby Layne whenever they played. For the rest of the 50's, it was George Wilson and Tobin Rote against Paul Brown and Milt Plum (Tommy O'Connell for half the 1957 championship game.

Detroit almost always won head to head during the 1950's (1960's too), but Cleveland was much more of a consistent winner.

[JohnTurney]

I put in the d-stats for the decade of the 50s, didn't do offense, though it is easy to do, now with PFR

[JWL]

Although there is a compelling argument to make for the Lions, the Browns had the best record in the 50s and nobody won more NFL titles than them. My vote is for the Browns.

If either Super Bowl 10 or 13 went the other way, the 1970s would have been similar to the 1950s in that two teams would have tied for the most league titles in the decade. If Dallas and Pittsburgh each had three Super Bowl titles, the tiebreaker (best record in the decade) would have gone to Dallas.

[JohnH19]

Both great teams. Both won NFL championship 3 times during the 1950's.

Cleveland played in 7 NFL championship games compared to 4 for Detroit.

Cleveland won more games than anyone during that decade.

The Browns have my vote.

[JuggernautJ]

The 1950's Lions have some of my favorite players, coaches and stories.

But when I think of the greatest teams of all time I include the 1950's Browns.

[Saban1]

Here is another way of looking at it.

The dynasty years of the 1950's Cleveland Browns were 1950 through 1955. In those 6 years, the Browns played in 6 NFL championship games and won 3. Detroit's dynasty years were 1952 through 1957. In those years, Detroit played in 4 championship games and won 3, but about in the middle of those years, 1955, they finished in last place with a 3 wins and 9 losses record.

Having said that, I have to admit that those Detroit Lions were very tough, especially in championship games, when they did get in them. They reminded me a little bit of the 1960's Packers. The trouble is that they were about the same time as Cleveland's great teams. I think that both teams took championships away from the other.

The Lions had a great defensive team. Their defensive secondary was very difficult to pass against with Jack Christiansen, Yale Lary, Jim David, etc. Great quarterback in Bobby Layne. Great head coach in Buddy Parker.

If the Cleveland Browns were not around during the 50's, then people might be talking about the 1950's Detroit Lions like they talk about the 60's Packers or the 70'S Steelers.

[JohnH19]

If the Cleveland Browns were not around during the 50's, then people might be talking about the 1950's Detroit Lions like they talk about the 60's Packers or the 70'S Steelers.

If anything, the greatness of the Browns enhances our view of the 50's Lions since Detroit won 3 of the 4 championship games they played against each other. That's the main reason that the Lions have a case for being considered the team of the decade.