Marion Motley rushed for 118 yards and scored 4 TDs to help Cleveland capture the 1949 AAFC Championship.

1949 AAFC Season: 

Unplayed Games: 
None

Week 18 Recap:  Championship Game

18 San Francisco 28 at Cleveland 34  OT
The Cleveland Browns are champions of the AAFC after a thrilling 34-28 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers. Marion Motley rushed for 53 yards in the overtime period and scored the game winning touchdown to walk away with the MVP honors. The game started out good for Cleveland as they forced a fumble at the SF 36, but it quickly turned when Otto Graham's first pass was picked off by Lowell Wagner and run back to the Brown's 7. That setup a 3yd pass to Alyn Beals and a 7-0 lead for 49ers. Later in the period, a short punt gave SF the ball at the Cleveland 43. It took only 4 plays to reach the endzone on an 11yd pass from Frankie Albert to Paul Salata. Down 14-0, the Browns finally woke up and drove 67 yards in just 5 plays to cut the lead in half. Graham connected on 2 passes to Mac Speedie for 48yds and scrambled the final 11yds himself. Late in the 2nd quarter, SF threatened again at the 35, but Warren Lahr intercepted Albert's pass at the 25. Graham only needed 2 plays this time as he hit Dante Lavelli for 47 and Motley for a 28yd score to tie the game.

Neither team had a scoring opportunity in the 3rd quarter, but the fireworks started in the 4th. Cleveland took a 21-14 lead after Motley capped a 67 yard drive with a 6yd run. Minutes later, San Francisco tied the game on an 11yd Albert to Perry connection which was setup by a 31yd punt return from Sammy Cathcart. The Browns responded to that score with an 84yd drive that ended with Graham hitting Motley from 12yds out. With just over 2:00 minutes remaining, Albert took the Niners straight down the field where he connected with Cathcart on a 13yd scoring strike at the 0:18 mark to send the game into overtime. But that was as close as the 49ers would get. Cleveland won the toss in overtime and after Graham hit Speedie for 24yds to their own 47, Motley covered the final 53yds on 3 runs to end the game.

Marion Motley was the unanimous choice for the hero's mantel. He carried 16 times for 118yds and 2tds and caught 2 passes for 40yds and 2tds. Other notable performances for Cleveland were Otto Graham (18 of 34 for 341yds, 1int and 2tds), Mac Speedie (5 catches for 102yds), and Dante Lavelli (4 catches for 88yds). For San Francisco, Frankie Albert (4 touchdown passes) and Sammy Cathcart (3 punt returns for 74yds, 1 receiving touchdown) had outstanding games in a losing cause. The goat horns were difficult to hand out after such a great game, but the sportswriters finally decided to give them to the 49ers #2 ranked defense which surrendered 544 yards or 246 yards more than their season average.

Bill Dudley led the Steelers to their 2nd win of the season by downing an undermanned Brooklyn team, 14-3.

1942 NFL Season: 

CURRENTLY UNPLAYED: Week 5

5 Cleveland @ Washington

Week 5 Recap:  

5 Pittsburgh 14 @ Brooklyn 3

5 Chicago C 3 @ Chicago B 27

5 Detroit 3 @ Green Bay 35

5 Philadelphia 35 @ New York (N) 14

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Commish Chad Weyenberg:  cweyenberg@comcast.net

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Last updated: 7/4/10

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