2. Browns 38, Rams 14, Dec. 26, 1955 NFL championship game at Los Angeles
In the final game of his career, Otto Graham fittingly delivered another title to Cleveland. Graham was the quarterback for the first 10 years in Browns’ history, and the team played in its league’s championship game every year. The Browns and Graham won the AAFC title game in all four years of the league’s existence (1946-49). Cleveland then reached the championship game in its first six NFL campaigns (1950-55), all with Graham at QB, and won three times.
Defensive back Don Paul’s interception and 65-yard return for a touchdown and Graham’s 50-yard touchdown toss to Dante Lavelli helped the Browns to a 17-7 halftime lead. Graham scored on runs of 15 yards and one yard in the third quarter, and his 35-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Ray Renfro built the Cleveland lead to 38-7.
Remarkably, the Browns intercepted seven passes, two by defensive back Ken Konz. Six of the picks were off Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, a Hall of Famer.
Graham was 14-of-25 for 209 yards. Lavelli had three catches for 95 yards. Ed Modzelewski ran for 61 yards on 13 carries, and he caught five Graham passes for 34 yards.
The Browns had won the NFL East Division with a 9-2-1 regular season finish, while Los Angeles claimed the West at 8-3-1.
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