View source for 1950 NFL Championship Game

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFLChamp
| type = nflc
| name = 1950
| image = 
| visitor = [[1950 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]
| home = [[1950 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]
| visitor_coach = [[Joe Stydahar]]
| home_coach = [[Paul Brown]]
| visitor_conf = National
| home_conf = American
| visitor_abbr = LA
| home_abbr = CLE
| visitor_record = 9–3
| home_record = 10–2
| visitor_total = 28
| home_total = 30
| visitor_qtr1 = 14
| visitor_qtr2 = 0
| visitor_qtr3 = 14
| visitor_qtr4 = 0
| home_qtr1 = 7
| home_qtr2 = 6
| home_qtr3 = 7
| home_qtr4 = 10
| date = December 24, 1950
| stadium = [[Cleveland Stadium]]
| city = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| attendance = 29,751
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| announcers = [[Harry Wismer]], [[Red Grange]]
| HOFers = '''Rams:''' [[Dan Reeves (NFL owner)|Dan Reeves]] (owner), [[Tex Schramm]] (administrator), [[Joe Stydahar]] (coach), [[Tom Fears]], [[Elroy Hirsch]], [[Norm Van Brocklin]], [[Bob Waterfield]] <br> '''Browns:''' [[Paul Brown]] (coach/gm), [[Len Ford]], [[Frank Gatski]], [[Otto Graham]], [[Lou Groza]], [[Dante Lavelli]], [[Marion Motley]], [[Mac Speedie]], [[Bill Willis]]
}}
{{Location map
|USA
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Cleveland</small>
|lat        = 41.506
|long       = -81.700
|caption    = Location in the [[United States]]
|position   = bottom
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 290
}}
The '''1950 NFL Championship Game''' was the 18th [[National Football League]] (NFL) [[History of the National Football League championship|title game]], played on Sunday, December 24 at [[Cleveland Stadium]] in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]].<ref name=bwtiftsec>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1950/12/25/page/75/article/browns-win-title-in-final-20-seconds |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Prell |first=Edward |title=Browns win title in final 20 seconds |date=December 25, 1950 |page=1, part 4}}</ref><ref name=bwptigkth>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PORXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OfYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3288%2C3376839 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Browns win pro title; Groza's kick thriller |date=December 25, 1950 |page=25}}</ref>

This was the first NFL championship game played between two expansion teams. In their first NFL season after four years in the rival [[All-America Football Conference]], the [[1950 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] defeated the [[1950 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]], 30–28.<ref name=gfgbrms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jAgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PmoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5661%2C4472794 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Groza's field goal beats Rams, 30-28 |date=December 25, 1950 |page=32}}</ref><ref name=gglmtriu>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nmFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KQAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3808%2C4289954 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |last=Marthey |first=Larry |title=Groza gives Browns last-minute 30-28 triumph |date=December 25, 1950 |page=26 }}</ref> The championship was the first of three won by Cleveland in the 1950s under head coach [[Paul Brown]] behind an offense that featured [[quarterback]] [[Otto Graham]], [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] [[Marion Motley]], and [[End (American football)|ends]] [[Dante Lavelli]] and [[Mac Speedie]].

Cleveland began the season with a win against the [[1950 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]], who had won the previous two NFL championships. The Browns won all but two of their regular-season games, both losses coming against the [[1950 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]. Cleveland ended the season with a 10–2 win–loss record, tied with the Giants for first place in the American Conference, forcing a playoff that the Browns won, 8–3.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, finished the season 9–3, tied with the [[1950 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] for first place in the National Conference, forcing a playoff that the Rams won 24–14.

Thus, the Championship Game would see the Browns play host to the Rams <ref>The formation of the Browns and the AAFC, combined with poor home attendances and heavy financial losses, had seen the Rams leave Cleveland for Los Angeles four years earlier.</ref> with the Browns being four-point favorites.<ref name=rbbfnt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=49cbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HU4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4046%2C3543458 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Rams, Browns battle for NFL title |date=December 24, 1950 |page=19 }}</ref><ref name=fptfvti>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nWFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KQAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2935%2C3839424 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |title=Browns 4-point pick for title |agency=Associated Press|date=December 24, 1950|page=1, section 4}}</ref>

The game began with a long touchdown pass from Rams quarterback [[Bob Waterfield]] to halfback [[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]] on the first play from scrimmage, giving Los Angeles an early lead. Cleveland tied the game later in the first quarter with a touchdown from Graham to [[Dub Jones (American football)|Dub Jones]], but the Rams quickly went ahead again on a [[Dick Hoerner]] touchdown run. Cleveland scored two unanswered touchdowns in the second and third quarters, retaking a 20–14 lead. A pair of Rams touchdowns in the third quarter, however, gave Los Angeles a two-possession advantage going into the final period. Cleveland responded with a diving touchdown catch by [[Rex Bumgardner]] in the final minutes of the game, followed by a field goal by [[placekicker]] [[Lou Groza]] with 28 seconds left to win, 30–28.

Lavelli set a then championship-game record with 11 receptions, and Waterfield's 82-yard pass to Davis on the first play of the game was then the longest scoring play in championship history. Los Angeles had 407 total yards to Cleveland's 373, but Cleveland had five [[interception]]s, compared to just one for the Rams. The Browns' [[Warren Lahr]] had two interceptions in the game.

After the game, NFL Commissioner [[Bert Bell]] called the Cleveland Browns "the greatest team ever to play football".

==Background==
Before the {{nfly|1950}} season, the NFL added three teams from the [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC), a competing league that went out of business as part of a peace deal negotiated in 1949.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=141}} After the addition of the [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Baltimore Colts (1947-50)|Baltimore Colts]], and [[San Francisco 49ers]], the NFL reorganized its Eastern and Western divisional structure into the American and National conferences.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=141}}<ref name="New NFL conference structure">{{cite news|title=National Grid League Really Gobbled AAC|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hzwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WGoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6094,882777&dq=american+national+conference+national+league&hl=en|access-date=October 26, 2013|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=March 4, 1950|agency=Associated Press|location=Philadelphia|page=10}}</ref> The Browns were placed in the American Conference with a group of teams mostly from the old Eastern Division, while the 49ers and Colts went into the National Conference with teams from the old Western Division.<ref name="New NFL conference structure" /> Under NFL rules at the time, the teams with the best records in each conference after the 12-game regular season were to play each other in the [[History of National Football League Championship|NFL championship]] to determine the winner of the league.<ref name="NFL Championship history">{{cite web|title=History: NFL Champions|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/champions.aspx|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=October 26, 2013}}</ref>

The 1950 season ended with ties for first place in both the American and National conferences, forcing two [[1950 NFL playoffs|playoff games]] for spots in the championship.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=173–174}} The Browns tied with the New York Giants for the best record in the American Conference, while the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears tied atop the National Conference.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=173–174}} It was the first time in league history that both of the NFL's conferences (or divisions) ended in a tie for first place.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=174}} The Browns defeated the Giants 8–3 in their playoff, and the Rams beat the Bears 24–20 to set up a Rams-Browns championship.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=175–176}}

===Cleveland Browns===
The Browns had been the AAFC's most dominant team, winning all four of its championships between its founding in 1946 and 1949 under head coach [[Paul Brown]].{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=62–64, 81–83, 118–120, 144–146}} The team, however, was seen by some NFL owners and sportswriters as merely the best squad in an inferior league.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=153, 157, 160, 162}} NFL commissioner [[Bert Bell]] scheduled a matchup between the Browns and the two-time defending champion [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in the first game of the season, played a day before the league's other games.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=160}} A crowd of 71,237 people saw the game, an attendance record in Philadelphia and the ninth-largest in professional football history at the time.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=163}} After Cleveland won the game, NFL commissioner Bert Bell named Browns quarterback [[Otto Graham]] the game's [[most valuable player]] and gave him a trophy, calling the Browns "the greatest team to ever play the game".{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=165}}

Cleveland lost for the first time in the third week of the season against the Giants.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=168}} That was followed by victories over the [[1950 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] and [[1950 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], but Cleveland lost again to the Giants in the sixth week of the season.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=168}} The team proceeded to win all of its remaining games, however, thanks in large part to an offense led by Graham, [[fullback (American football)|fullback]] [[Marion Motley]], [[end (American football)|end]]s [[Mac Speedie]] and [[Dante Lavelli]], and [[tackle (American football)|tackle]]/[[placekicker]] [[Lou Groza]].{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=169–173}} Cleveland's offense was fourth in the NFL in scoring, with 310 points.<ref name="1950 PFR Browns stats">{{cite web|title=1950 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1950.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=October 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105122921/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1950.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The defense, meanwhile, finished second in points allowed, with 144.<ref name="1950 PFR Browns stats" /> Cleveland played all of its games against American Conference opponents, aside from two matchups against the other former AAFC teams, the Colts and the 49ers.<ref name="1950 PFR Browns stats" />

Cleveland's record was 10–2 at the end of the regular season, leaving the team tied with the Giants and forcing a playoff to determine the conference winner.<ref name="1950 PFR Browns stats" /> The Browns won a coin toss to determine home-field advantage.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=173}} The game, played in cold weather at [[Cleveland Stadium]], was a low-scoring affair that the Browns won 8–3 on a pair of Groza field goals and a safety.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=174–175}}

===Los Angeles Rams===
The Rams began the season with a loss to the Chicago Bears.<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats">{{cite web|title=1950 Los Angeles Rams Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1950.htm |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023042520/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1950.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Victories over the [[New York Yanks]] and 49ers followed, but the team fell to 2–2 with a loss to the Eagles in the fourth week of the season.<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" /> Los Angeles then went on a six-game winning streak that included a 70–27 blowout of the Colts and a 65–24 win over the [[Detroit Lions]].<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" /> The Rams lost the second-to-last game of the season, again against the Bears, and finished with a 9–3 record.<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" /> That tied the Rams with the Bears atop the National Conference, forcing a playoff that Los Angeles won, setting up a championship matchup with the Browns in Cleveland.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}}<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" />

The Rams, who left Cleveland after the {{nfly|1945}} season for [[Los Angeles]], were making their second straight appearance in an NFL title game.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}} The Rams had one of the most potent offenses in NFL history in 1950 under head coach [[Joe Stydahar]].{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}} It featured [[Bob Waterfield]] and [[Norm Van Brocklin]] at quarterback, [[Tom Fears]] and [[Bob Boyd (American football)|Bob Boyd]] at end, and [[Elroy Hirsch]] at halfback.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}}

The Rams averaged 309 passing yards per game, a record that stood until 1984.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}} The team's running unit, led by [[Dick Hoerner]], [[Vitamin Smith]], and [[Dan Towler]], averaged more than 140 yards a game.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=177}} Los Angeles averaged 38.8 points per game in 1950, an NFL record that still stood as of 2018.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=176}} Los Angeles ended the regular season first in the NFL in points scored, with 466.<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" /> The team was ninth of 13 teams in points allowed, however, with 309.<ref name="1950 Rams PFR stats" />

==Game summary==
While the Rams were unmatched offensively, the Browns' defense gave up half as many points during the regular season.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=177}} Cleveland coach Paul Brown announced before the game that he would employ an [[Formation (American football)|umbrella defense]] against the Rams, similar to the one the Giants had used effectively against the Browns.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} His plan was to show Los Angeles the umbrella formation at first but switch back to the team's usual formation soon after.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} He abandoned the umbrella defense after the Rams scored a touchdown on their first play.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}}

{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Rams
|V1=14|V2=0|V3=14|V4=0
|Host='''Browns'''
|H1=7|H2=6|H3=7|H4=10
|Date=December 24
|Location=[[Cleveland Stadium]]
|StartTime=1:30 p.m. 
|TimeZone=EST
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=29,751
|Weather=dry, {{convert|29|F}}, {{convert|28|mph|abbr=on}} wind,
|Referee= Ronald Gibbs
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
*'''Source:''' [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195012240cle.htm Pro Football Reference]
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|FirstEntry=yes|Quarter=1|Time=|Team=LAR|Event=[[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]] 82-yard pass from [[Bob Waterfield]] (Bob Waterfield kick)|Score=LAR 7–0}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=1|Time=|Team=CLE|Event=[[Dub Jones (American football)|Dub Jones]] 27-yard pass from [[Otto Graham]] ([[Lou Groza]] kick)|Score=7–7}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=1|Time=|Team=LAR|Event=[[Dick Hoerner]] 3-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick)|Score=LAR 14–7}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=2|Time=|Team=CLE|Event=[[Dante Lavelli]] 37-yard pass from Otto Graham (kick failed)|Score=LAR 14–13}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=3|Time=|Team=CLE|Event=Dante Lavelli 39-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)|Score=CLE 20–14}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=3|Time=|Team=LAR|Event=Dick Hoerner 1-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick)|Score=LAR 21–20}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=3|Time=|Team=LAR|Event=[[Larry Brink]] 6-yard fumble return (Bob Waterfield kick)|Score=LAR 28–20}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=4|Time=|Team=CLE|Event=[[Rex Bumgardner]] 14-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)|Score=LAR 28–27}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=4|Time=|Team=CLE|Event=Lou Groza 16-yard field goal|Score=CLE 30–28|LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}

The championship game took place on [[Christmas Eve]] in Cleveland a week after the conference playoffs.<ref name="Championship game PD">{{cite news|last=Jones |first=Harry |title=Groza's Field Goal Is Signal for Celebration |url=http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19501224BROWNS.html |access-date=October 19, 2013 |newspaper=Cleveland Plain Dealer |date=December 24, 1950 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020054535/http://www.cleveland.com/brownshistory/plaindealer/index.ssf?/browns/more/history/19501224BROWNS.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The weather was dry, with {{convert|28|mph|abbr=on}} winds and a temperature of {{convert|29|F}}.<ref name=bwptigkth/><ref name=gfgbrms/> On the Rams' first play after the opening kickoff, Waterfield passed to [[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]] for an 82-yard touchdown, giving Los Angeles an early 7–0 lead.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} Martin was covering Davis, but slipped on the slick turf, leaving the receiver open.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} Graham and the Browns' offense responded with a drive later in the first quarter that evened the score, but the Rams went ahead again by a touchdown on a three-yard Hoerner rush.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} Cleveland scored a second touchdown in the second quarter, this time a 37-yard pass from Graham to Lavelli.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} Groza's extra point attempt failed, however, because of a high snap, putting the Browns behind by one point.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}} Waterfield missed a 15-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, leaving the score at 14–13 at halftime.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=178}}

Cleveland took the lead again in the third quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass to Lavelli, his second of the day.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} The Rams responded with a touchdown run by Hoerner and another touchdown quickly thereafter when Motley fumbled and Los Angeles's [[Larry Brink]] took it into the end zone.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} Down 28–20 as the fourth quarter began, Cleveland was helped by interceptions by Thompson and Lahr that put its offense in good field position.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} On a drive with 10 minutes left to play, Cleveland went for fourth down three times and made the necessary yards each time, advancing to the Los Angeles 14-yard line.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} From there, Graham threw a touchdown pass to Bumgardner, who dove to catch it in the corner of the end zone.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} After several more defensive stands, the Browns had the ball back and drove toward the Rams' end zone as the game drew to a close.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=179}} Graham fumbled, however, and the Rams recovered with three minutes left.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=180}} Cleveland's defense held, and Los Angeles punted, giving the Browns the ball back at their own 31-yard line with 1:49 left in the game.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=180}} Graham scrambled up the middle for 16 yards on the first play, and then turned to his receivers.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=180}} A pass to Bumgardner and two to Jones on the sidelines, followed by another to Bumgardner, put the ball at the Los Angeles 11-yard line.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=180}} Graham ran a quarterback sneak on the next play to place the ball at the middle of the field in preparation for a field goal.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=181}} After a time out, Groza came in and kicked the field goal with 0:28 left on the clock to put Cleveland ahead 30–28.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=181}} The Rams fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Browns recovered, appearing to seal the victory.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=181}} The officials ruled that Groza had kicked prematurely, however, and Los Angeles returned his rekick to their 46-yard line.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=181}} An interception by Lahr on a sideline pass stopped the drive and gave Cleveland the win.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}}

After the game, Bert Bell called the Browns "the greatest team ever to play football."{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}} Brown later remembered it as the best game he ever saw, pointing to the success both teams had passing the ball at a time when the emphasis was shifting across the league from running to passing.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}} Cleveland and Los Angeles played again in the [[1951 NFL Championship Game|1951 championship]], which the Rams won, 24–17.<ref name="Browns team encyclopedia">{{cite web|title=Cleveland Browns Franchise Encyclopedia |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/ |publisher=Pro Football Reference |access-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018094523/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/ |archive-date=October 18, 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The Browns went on to appear in each championship game between 1952 and 1955, including a win over the Rams in 1955.<ref name="Browns team encyclopedia" />

==Officials==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
*'''Referee:''' Ronald Gibbs
*'''Umpire:''' Samuel Wilson
*'''Head linesman:''' [[Charlie Berry]]
*'''Back judge:''' Norman Duncan
*'''Field judge:''' Lloyd Brazil <ref name=bwtiftsec/>
<!-- {{col-break|gap=4em}}
*Alternate: Rawson Bowen
*Alternate: Cletus Gardner --> 
{{col-end}}

The NFL added the fifth [[Official (American football)|official]], the back judge, in  {{nfly|1947}}; the line judge arrived in {{nfly|1965}}, and the side judge in {{nfly|1978}}.

==Final statistics==
Lavelli caught 11 passes, which set an NFL championship record that stood for eight years.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}} He had 128 yards and two touchdowns.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}} The Rams' Fears also had a strong game, with nine receptions for 136 yards.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}} While Waterfield threw four interceptions, he otherwise performed well, completing 18 passes for 312 yards and a touchdown.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}} His touchdown pass on the first play of the game to Davis was the longest score ever in a championship at the time.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}} Graham, meanwhile, had 22 completions for 298 yards and four touchdowns.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=182}}

Despite a high score, both defenses played well.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}} Los Angeles was able to hold Motley, Cleveland's most dangerous rusher, completely in check.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}} The Browns had five interceptions, including two by Lahr, and managed to stop the Rams from building a large lead in the fourth quarter, thanks in part to [[Len Ford]]'s disruptive play at defensive end.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=183}}

===Team statistics===
{| class="wikitable" width="500"
! Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195012240cle.htm Pro Football Reference]
!'''Cleveland<br>Browns'''
!'''Los Angeles<br>Rams'''
|-
|First downs||22||22
|-
|Rush attempts–yards||25–116||36–106
|-
|Rushing touchdowns||0||2
|-
|Pass completions–yards||22–298||18–312
|-
|Passing touchdowns||4||1
|-
|Total yards||373||407
|-
|Interceptions–return yards||5–54||1–11
|-
|Fumbles–lost||3–3||0–0
|-
|Turnovers||4||5
|-
|Penalties–yards||3–35||4–48
|-
|Sacked–yards||5–41||1–11
|-
|Punts–average||5–38.4||4–50.8
|-
|}

===Individual statistics===

{| cellpadding="8"
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" width="300"| '''Passing'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Cmp'''
| '''Att'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
| '''INT'''
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Otto Graham]]
| 22
| 33
| 298
| 4
| 1
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| [[Bob Waterfield]]
| 18
| 31
| 312
| 1
| 4
|-
| [[Norm Van Brocklin]]
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" width="300"| '''Rushing'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Att'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| Otto Graham
| 12
| 99
| 0
|-
| [[Marion Motley]]
| 6
| 9
| 0
|-
| [[Dub Jones (American football)|Dub Jones]]
| 2
| 4
| 0
|-
| [[Rex Bumgardner]]
| 5
| 2
| 0
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| [[Dick Hoerner]]
| 24
| 86
| 2
|-
| [[Vitamin Smith]]
| 4
| 11
| 0
|-
| [[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]]
| 6
| 6
| 0
|-
| Bob Waterfield
| 1
| 2
| 0
|-
| [[Ralph Pasquariello]]
| 1
| 1
| 0
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" width="300"| '''Receiving'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Rec'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Dante Lavelli]]
| 11
| 128
| 2
|-
| Dub Jones
| 4
| 80
| 1
|-
| Rex Bumgardner
| 4
| 46
| 1
|-
| [[Horace Gillom]]
| 1
| 29
| 0
|-
| [[Mac Speedie]]
| 1
| 17
| 0
|-
| Marion Motley
| 1
| −2
| 0
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| [[Tom Fears]]
| 9
| 136
| 0
|-
| Glenn Davis
| 2
| 88
| 1
|-
| Vitamin Smith
| 3
| 46
| 0
|-
| [[Elroy Hirsch]]
| 4
| 42
| 0
|-
|}
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" width="300"| '''Defense'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Int'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''FumR'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Warren Lahr]]
| 2
| 14
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
| [[Ken Gorgal]]
| 1
| 33
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
| [[Hal Herring]]
| 1
| 7
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
| [[Tommy Thompson (linebacker)|Tommy Thompson]]
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| [[Fred Naumetz]]
| 1
| 11
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
| [[Larry Brink]]
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 6
| 1
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="5" width="300"| '''Kick returns'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Ret'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
| '''Lng'''
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Ken Carpenter (American football)|Ken Carpenter]]
| 3
| 58
| 0
| 28
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| Vitamin Smith
| 3
| 59
| 0
| 28
|-
| [[Jerry Williams (American football)|Jerry Williams]]
| 1
| 35
| 0
| 35
|-
| [[Tommy Kalmanir]]
| 1
| 32
| 0
| 32
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="5" width="300"| '''Punt returns'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''Ret'''
| '''Yds'''
| '''TD'''
| '''Lng'''
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Cliff Lewis (quarterback)|Cliff Lewis]]
| 2
| 22
| 0
| 16
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| Glenn Davis
| 1
| 14
| 0
| 14
|-
| Tony Kalmanir
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="7" width="300"| '''Kicking'''
|-
| '''Player'''
| '''FG'''
| '''FG Att'''
| '''XP'''
| '''XP Att'''
| '''Punts'''
| '''Yds'''
|-
! colspan="7" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Browns 46thru14}};" | Cleveland Browns
|-
| [[Lou Groza]]
| 1
| 1
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 0
|-
| [[Horace Gillom]]
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 5
| 192
|-
| [[Tommy James (American football)|Tommy James]]
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
|-
! colspan="7" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams 46thru63}};" | Los Angeles Rams
|-
| Bob Waterfield
| 0
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 203
|-
|}
|-
|}

==Players' shares==
The gross receipts for the game, including about $45,000 for radio and television rights, was under [[United States dollar|$]]158,000. Each player on the winning Browns team received $1,113, while Rams players made $686 each.<ref name=fscretb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nmFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KQAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2759%2C4292692 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |title=Financial score |date=December 25, 1950 |page=26}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[1950 NFL playoffs]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Piascik|first=Andy|year=2007|title=The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns|publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing|location=Lanham, MD|isbn=978-1-58979-571-6}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195012240cle.htm 1950 NFL Championship Game] at [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]
* Curt Gowdy (narrator), [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C73Xggk-vgA ''The Way It Was: 1950 NFL Championship Game.''] Broadcast date: July 9, 1975. <small>(Video.)</small>

{{coord|41.506|-81.700|type:event|display=title}}

{{1950 NFL season by team}}
{{1950 Cleveland Browns}}
{{Cleveland Browns}}
{{St. Louis Rams}}
{{NFL pre-sb}}
{{NFL on ABC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1950 Nfl Championship Game}}
[[Category:1950 NFL season|Championship Game, 1950]]
[[Category:NFL Championship games]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns postseason]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams postseason]]
[[Category:December 1950 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:1950 in sports in Ohio]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Cleveland]]