Page "Cleveland Browns" Paragraph 21

The Browns came into 1954 as one of the most powerful teams in the NFL, having reached the championship in each of their first four years in the league.

But the future was far from certain.

Graham, whose leadership and throwing skills had been instrumental in the Browns ' championship runs, said he planned to retire after the season.

Motley, the team's best rusher and blocker in its early years, retired at the beginning of the season with a bad knee.

Star defensive lineman Bill Willis also retired before the season.

Still, Cleveland finished the regular season 9 – 3 as Graham and Lavelli excelled on offense and linemen Len Ford and Don Colo held up the defense.

The Browns met Detroit on December 26 in the championship game for a third consecutive time.

And this time the Browns dominated on both sides of the ball, intercepting Bobby Layne six times and forcing three fumbles while Graham threw three touchdowns and ran for three more.

The Browns, who lost the last game of the regular season to the Lions only a week before, won their second NFL crown 56 – 10.

" I saw it, but still hardly can believe it ," Lions coach Buddy Parker said after the game.

" It has me dazed.