In Cleveland against the Giants, the Browns won a low-scoring game in freezing conditions on two field goals by placekicker Lou Groza and a late-game safety.
The Rams beat the Bears in 92-degree heat in Los Angeles, thanks largely to a strong performance by quarterback Bob Waterfield, who threw three touchdowns to end Tom Fears.
When the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) folded in late 1949, three of its teams – the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Colts – were absorbed by the NFL.
[6] In the National Conference, the New York Yanks, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were at the top of the standings for most of the season.
[9][10][11] Cleveland won a coin toss to get home-field advantage in its matchup against the Giants on December 17,[12] and Chicago played at Los Angeles on the same day.
[13] Cleveland drove deep into New York's territory in the first quarter, but a stop by the Giants led to a Lou Groza field goal that put the Browns up 3–0.
[13] Bob McChesney then caught a pass from Conerly in the end zone for an apparent touchdown on third down, but it was called back on an offside penalty.
[13] Cleveland's Tommy James intercepted Conerly's pass on the next play, but the Browns were called for holding, negating the turnover.
[15] Cleveland advanced to New York's 22-yard line thanks to 45 yards of rushing by Graham, which set up a 28-yard field goal that gave the Browns a 6–3 lead.
[17] The scoring began with a 43-yard field goal by Los Angeles quarterback Bob Waterfield in the first quarter, putting the Rams ahead 3–0.
[18] Waterfield threw two touchdown passes to end Tom Fears later in the second quarter, putting the Rams ahead 17–7 at halftime.
[16] It featured Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback, Tom Fears and Bob Boyd at end and Elroy Hirsch at halfback.
[16] The team's running unit, led by Dick Hoerner, Vitamin Smith and Dan Towler, averaged more than 140 yards a game.
[21] On the Rams' first play after the opening kickoff, Waterfield passed to Glenn Davis for an 82-yard touchdown, giving Los Angeles an early 7–0 lead.
[20] Graham and the Browns' offense responded with a drive later in the first quarter that evened the score, but the Rams went ahead again by a touchdown on a three-yard Hoerner rush.
[22] Down 28–20 as the fourth quarter began, Cleveland was helped by interceptions by Thompson and Lahr that put its offense in good field position.
[22] After several more defensive stands, the Browns had the ball back and drove toward the Rams' end zone as the game drew to a close.
[23] Cleveland's defense held, and Los Angeles punted, giving the Browns the ball back at their own 31-yard line with 1:49 left in the game.