The Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions both had 4-1 records and were battling for control of the NFL’s Western Conference as they faced each other on November 1, 1953. The Lions were the reigning league champions, having topped LA in a playoff to win the conference in ’52, but more recently the Rams had beaten them in Detroit two weeks earlier.
Under Head Coach Hamp Pool, Los Angeles had a
high-powered offense that featured the passing of QB Norm Van Brocklin,
primarily to star end Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, and the running of FB “Deacon
Dan” Towler and HB Skeets Quinlan (pictured above). The Lions were coached by Buddy Parker and featured
a rugged defense, with the line anchored by MG Les Bingaman and the
opportunistic backfield led by safety Jack Christiansen. QB Bobby Layne
provided leadership as well as passing ability to the offense and the stable of
backs was a good one.
There was a then-record regular season crowd of 93,761
fans on hand at the Memorial Coliseum. The Lions had the opening possession and
drove 78 yards in 11 plays, culminating in HB Doak Walker’s 38-yard field goal.
The Rams responded by advancing into Detroit territory as Dan Towler had runs
of 21 and 17 yards. But after reaching the 15, Jack Christiansen intercepted a
throw by Norm Van Brocklin and ran it back 92 yards for a touchdown. Walker
added the extra point and, in stunning fashion, the Lions were ahead by 10-0
midway through the opening period.
In the second quarter, the Rams put together a 10-play, 58-yard
series. Van Brocklin completed three passes, two to Crazylegs Hirsch, and Skeets
Quinlan ran effectively, finishing the drive with a five-yard run around end
for a TD. Ben Agajanian’s try for the extra point was blocked, and the score
remained 10-6 in favor of the visitors.
On LA’s next possession, Quinlan broke a 31-yard run to
the Detroit 35, Towler carried for nine, and Van Brocklin threw to end Bob Boyd
for 16 yards to set up an 18-yard field goal by Agajanian that made it a
one-point game. However, HB Jug Girard took the ensuing kickoff and returned it
85 yards to the LA 15 before finally being caught from behind. Four plays
later, Bobby Layne tossed a pass to end Leon Hart for a three-yard touchdown,
Walker converted, and the Lions held a 17-9 lead that they took into halftime.
Los Angeles struck quickly in the early minutes of third
quarter when Quinlan ran around end for a spectacular 74-yard touchdown.
Agajanian’s kick again made it a one-point contest at 17-16. The Lions came
right back with a 65-yard advance to the LA 6. However, Walker was stopped for
a seven-yard loss and Layne, heavily pressured when attempting to pass, was
intercepted by safety Herb Rich, who returned it 36 yards. While Detroit
immediately got the ball back when DHB Jim David picked off Quinlan’s option pass
and returned it 21 yards to the Los Angeles 43, two plays later LB Don Paul
intercepted a Layne throw, returned it 15 yards, and lateraled to DHB Woodley
Lewis who went the remaining 45 yards for a 60-yard TD. In dramatic fashion,
the Rams were ahead by 23-17.
It got worse for the Lions on the next series when Layne
was again picked off, and this time it was DHB Jack Dwyer returning it 31 yards
for another touchdown. LA was in control by a score of 30-17.
Frustrations boiled over in the fourth quarter when the
Lions became enraged due to an altercation between Jim David and LA’s Bob Boyd
that led to David being ejected and, when players and coaches took to the field
in protest, an additional 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Shortly
thereafter, the Rams added to their lead when Van Brocklin connected with HB
Vitamin T. Smith for a 54-yard TD and Agajanian converted. The Lions scored one
more time late in the game with QB Tom Dublinski spelling Layne, driving 63
yards to a one-yard touchdown carry by HB Bob “Hunchy” Hoernschemeyer, but it
was of no consequence as the Rams won by a final score of 37-24.
LA led in total yards (392 to 255) although the Lions had
more first downs (19 to 14). The Rams ran the ball especially well, gaining 222
yards on 33 carries. Both teams turned the ball over four times apiece, with
Detroit’s ultimately proving more costly.
Skeets Quinlan was the rushing star with 130 yards on 12
carries that included two touchdowns. Dan Towler (pictured at left) contributed 79 yards on 14
attempts and also had two pass receptions for 21 yards. Norm Van Brocklin
completed 10 of 18 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted
twice. Crazylegs Hirsch had four catches for 51 yards while Vitamin Smith
gained 63 yards on his two receptions that included a TD.
For the Lions, Bobby Layne, who was harried by the LA
defense, was successful on just five of 17 throws for 50 yards and a TD while
giving up three interceptions. He also ran the ball for a team-leading 65
yards. In relief, Tom Dublinski was five of nine for 68 yards and was picked
off once. Leon Hart topped the receivers with three catches for 29 yards and a
touchdown.
“The turning point came in the third quarter when our
defense really put the pressure on Layne and helped us make interceptions,”
explained LA's Coach Pool.
The win put the Rams a game ahead of Detroit at 5-1, and
seemingly in command in the Western Conference race, but they faltered, winning
only one of their next four games (which included a tie). Detroit didn’t lose
again and topped the conference with a 10-2 record while the Rams ended up
third at 8-3-1 (the 49ers, who swept their season series with Los Angeles,
placed second with a 9-3 tally). The Lions repeated as NFL Champions, defeating
the Browns by a score of 17-16.
Skeets Quinlan ended up rushing for 705 yards on 97
carries, for a gaudy 7.3-yard average gain, and scored four rushing touchdowns.
The yardage total ranked third in the league rushing standards, while Dan
Towler was second with 879 yards on 152 attempts (5.8 avg.) and seven TDs.
