Evening star., 1950-12-11
Browns at Peak,
Will Be Hard 10
Beat in P|ayoff
Years Biggest Crowd
Here Impressed by
Otto Graham & Co.
By Lewis F. Atchison

Unable to cope with Steve
Owens varied defenses in two pre-
vious games, the Cleveland
Browns, now at their peak, expect
to make the most of their third
chance Sunday when they tangle
with the New York Giants for
the American Conference crown
in a playoff at Cleveland.
The Browns unleashed one of
their most devastating aerial at
tacks to come from behind three
times in a snowstorm and whip
the Redskins. 1921. before 30.706
fans at Griffith Stadium yesterday.
Their performance indicated that
Coach Paul Brown has his squad
primed for the Giants this time.
Brown refused to say whether
he regards the Giants as a "hex"
club for his team on the strength
of New York's 60 and 1913 tri-
umphs over Cleveland earlier this
year. He indicated that prepara-
tions for Sundays game would be
intensive this week, but not ex-
traordinary. It was the first time
the four-tim champions of the
All American Conference lost two
games to the same opponent in
one season.
Did 1t without Motley.
With Otto Graham completing
% of 80 passes for 321 yards, one
of the most impressive per-
formances witnessed here in many
years, the Browns won without
the help of one of their biggest
guns-Marion Motley-who was
elected from the game at the end
of the first half after a melee
with Guard Gene Pepper of the
Redskins on the sideline.
1t was a bitterly fought game,
and from the pressbox fought
appeared to be the proper word,
with both sides using every trick
to get in an extra dig at the
opposition. For two periods and
midway through the third, it was
nip and tuck with the Redskins
surprisingly in the lead and ap-
parently a serious threat to the
Browns championship hopes. With
the Giants beating the Eagles at
Philadelphia the Browns had to
win, and they did it the hard way,
coming from behind like true
champions.
Even Groza SnareS Pass.
Graham threw 21-yard pass
to Dub Jones to tie the score at
TT early in the second period,
then caught the Redskins fat
footed on a 25-yard lob to Rex
Bumgardner to knot the count
again at 14-all with less than
~ minutes to go in the same
period.
Otto hit Jones again with a
29-yard scoring heave to bring
his mates up on even terms for
the third time at 21-21, and as a
parting shot, threw a pass to
Tackle Lou Groza on a trick play,
good for % yards and another
score. Graham, who was fifth in
the league standings going into
Yesterdays game, undoubtedly i'm
proved his position by a great
performance,
The play that broke the Red
skins back was an odd pass in
Perception by Warren Lahr, who
caught the ball lying on the
ground, got up and ran 27 yards
for the touchdown that put the
Browns ahead to stay at 1921.
No Penalty Called.
From the stands it seemed that
Billy Dudley, Harry Gilmer's in
tended target, was clipped on the
play, but no penalty was called
Thereafter the Browns were in
complete control of the situation
The unerring Groza made ii
31-21 with an 11-yard field goal
early in the final period after a
n yard Cleveland drive was
halted on the Redskins 5-yard
line.
The final touch. came on a So
yard punt return by Don Phelps,
one of the days most thrilling
plays.
The Redskins had no pass de-
fense to thwart Graham, who
threw some pop f1ies-and COM
pleted them-to vary his work, but
they had a pretty good offense of
their own in the first half.
Sammy Baugh took the home