1947 Cleveland Browns season

1947 Cleveland Browns season
Head coach	Paul Brown
Owner	Arthur B. McBride
Home field	Cleveland Stadium
Local radio	WGAR
Results
Record	12–1–1
Division place	1st AAFC Western
Playoff finish	Won AAFC Championship (2)
AP All-Pros	Otto Graham Mac Speedie
← 1946 Browns seasons 1948 →

1 2 3 4 Total Colts 0 0 0 0 0 • Browns 0 7 7 14 28 Date: August 29 Location: Rubber Bowl, Akron, Ohio Game attendance: 33,106 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Scoring summary 2 CLE Mac Speedie 25-yard pass from Otto Graham CLE 7–0 3 CLE Dante Lavelli 36-yard pass from Otto Graham CLE 14–0 4 CLE Edgar Jones 2-yard rush CLE 21–0 4 CLE Bob Cowan 62-yard pass from Ermal Allen CLE 28–0

Scoring summary
2		CLE	Mac Speedie 25-yard pass from Otto Graham	CLE 7–0
3		CLE	Dante Lavelli 36-yard pass from Otto Graham	CLE 14–0
4		CLE	Edgar Jones 2-yard rush	CLE 21–0
4		CLE	Bob Cowan 62-yard pass from Ermal Allen	CLE 28–0

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 0 14 0 14 • Browns 13 14 0 3 30 Date: September 5 Location: Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio Game attendance: 63,263 Source: Pro Football Reference

Scoring summary 1 CLE Edgar Jones 11-yard rush (kick failed) CLE 6–0 1 CLE Marion Motley 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 13–0 2 CLE Marion Motley 48-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 20–0 2 CLE Dante Lavelli 51-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 27–0 3 BUF Lou Tomasetti 3-yard rush (Steve Juzwik kick) CLE 27–7 3 BUF Al Coppage 3-yard pass from George Ratterman (Steve Juzwik kick) CLE 27–14 4 CLE Lou Groza 17-yard field goal CLE 30–14

Scoring summary
1		CLE	Edgar Jones 11-yard rush (kick failed)	CLE 6–0
1		CLE	Marion Motley 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 13–0
2		CLE	Marion Motley 48-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 20–0
2		CLE	Dante Lavelli 51-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 27–0
3		BUF	Lou Tomasetti 3-yard rush (Steve Juzwik kick)	CLE 27–7
3		BUF	Al Coppage 3-yard pass from George Ratterman (Steve Juzwik kick)	CLE 27–14
4		CLE	Lou Groza 17-yard field goal	CLE 30–14

1 2 3 4 Total • Browns 20 0 21 14 55 Dodgers 0 7 0 0 7 Date: September 12 Location: Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York Game attendance: 18,876 Source: Pro Football Reference

Scoring summary 1 CLE Marion Motley 13-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Tommy Colella 82-yard punt return (kick failed) CLE 13–0 1 CLE Dante Lavelli 53-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 20–0 2 BKD Bob Hoernschemeyer 6-yard rush (Phil Martinovich kick) CLE 20–7 3 CLE Marion Motley 51-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 27–7 3 CLE Mac Speedie 19-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 34–7 3 CLE Bill Lund 28-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 41–7 4 CLE Bill Boedeker 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 48–7 4 CLE Bill Boedeker 8-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 55–7

Scoring summary
1		CLE	Marion Motley 13-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 7–0
1		CLE	Tommy Colella 82-yard punt return (kick failed)	CLE 13–0
1		CLE	Dante Lavelli 53-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 20–0
2		BKD	Bob Hoernschemeyer 6-yard rush (Phil Martinovich kick)	CLE 20–7
3		CLE	Marion Motley 51-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 27–7
3		CLE	Mac Speedie 19-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 34–7
3		CLE	Bill Lund 28-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 41–7
4		CLE	Bill Boedeker 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 48–7
4		CLE	Bill Boedeker 8-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 55–7

1 2 3 4 Total Colts 0 0 0 0 0 • Browns 21 7 0 0 28 Date: September 21 Location: Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio Game attendance: 44,257 Source: Pro Football Reference

Scoring summary 1 CLE Marion Motley 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 7–0 1 CLE Tommy Colella 23-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 14–0 1 CLE Bill Boedeker 6-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 21–0 2 CLE Bob Cowan 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 28–0

Scoring summary
1		CLE	Marion Motley 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 7–0
1		CLE	Tommy Colella 23-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 14–0
1		CLE	Bill Boedeker 6-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 21–0
2		CLE	Bob Cowan 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)	CLE 28–0

1 2 3 4 Total • Browns 10 17 0 14 41 Rockets 0 0 14 7 21 Date: September 26 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago Game attendance: 23,067 Source: Pro Football Reference

Scoring summary 1 CLE Lou Groza 32-yard field goal CLE 3–0 1 CLE Mac Speedie 70-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 10–0 2 CLE John Yonakor 8-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) CLE 17–0 2 CLE Bob Cowan 3-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 24–0 2 CLE Lou Groza 20-yard field goal CLE 27–0 3 CHR Frank Quillen 23-yard pass from Sam Vacanti (John Rokisky kick) CLE 27–7 3 CLE Bob Dove 14-yard pass from Sam Vacanti (John Rokisky kick) CLE 27–14 4 CLE Bill Boedeker 14-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) CLE 34–14 4 CLE Spiro Dellerba 10-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick) CLE 41–14 4 CHR Bill Bass pass from Sam Vacanti (John Rokisky kick) CLE 41–21

The 1947 Cleveland Browns season was the team's second in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Coached by Paul Brown, Cleveland finished with a 12–1–1 win–loss–tie record, winning the western division and the AAFC championship for the second straight year. As in 1946, quarterback Otto Graham led an offensive attack that featured fullback Marion Motley and ends Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie.

After a number of coaching changes and roster moves in the offseason, including signing punter Horace Gillom and fullback Tony Adamle, the Browns began with a 30–14 win over the Buffalo Bills, the first of a string of five victories. The team lost its only game of the season to the Los Angeles Dons in October. Five more wins followed before a come-from-behind tie in November with the New York Yankees, the team Cleveland defeated in the 1946 AAFC championship. The Browns won their last two games, including a 42–0 shutout against the Baltimore Colts in the finale, to set up a championship game rematch with the Yankees in December. Cleveland beat the Yankees 14–3 in New York on an icy field to win its second championship in a row.

Graham was named the AAFC's most valuable player after leading the league in passing yards, with 2,753, and passing touchdowns, with 25. Speedie led the league in receiving, and several other Cleveland players were named to sportswriters' All-Pro lists. Brown was named the league's coach of the year by Pro Football Illustrated. The Browns played all their home games in Cleveland Stadium, attracting an average crowd of 55,848, the best home attendance record in both the AAFC and the competing National Football League (NFL).

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