In their third year under head coach Buddy Parker, the 1952 Lions compiled a 9–3 record during the regular season, finished in a tie with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFL's National Conference, defeated the Rams in a tiebreaker game, and defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17–7, in the 1952 NFL Championship Game at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.
Six players from the 1952 Lions team, Layne, Christiansen, halfback Doak Walker, defensive back Yale Lary, and offensive linemen Lou Creekmur and Dick Stanfel, were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bobby Layne threw two touchdown passes to Cloyce Box, the first set up by a Les Bingaman interception.
The Lions did not convert a first down in the first half, totaled only 114 yards of offense in the game, and were shut out for the first time since October 1948.
The game was played at Briggs Stadium in front of the largest home crowd (56,822) in Lions history to that point.
On defense, the Lions forced four turnovers, including three interceptions, and held the Browns to two Lou Groza field goals.
Defensive end Jim Doran at one point sacked Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham on consecutive plays for losses totaling 36 yards.
Defensive halfback Bob Smith recovered a fumbled lateral that set up a field goal in the first quarter and returned an interception 90 yards late in the game.
In the first half, the Lions took a 29-0 lead on two Pat Harder field goals, a 58-yard punt return by Yale Lary, an eight-yard run by Bobby Layne, a 55-yard touchdown pass from Layne to Cloyce Box, and a safety when defensive end Sonny Gandee tackled Pittsburgh quarterback Frank Tripucka in the end zone.
In the fourth quarter, Harder kicked his third field goal, and fullback Ollie Cline scored on a two-yard run.
Bob Hoernschemeyer scored two rushing touchdowns, and Pat Harder also kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Lions.
The Lions led, 16–10, at halftime, but the Bears took the lead in the third quarter on a 59-yard touchdown pass from George Blanda to Billy Stone.
The Lions retook the lead, 23–17, when Jack Christiansen returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
With nine seconds left in the game, Blanda threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Ed Sprinkle for the winning score.
[29][30] On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 48–24, before a crowd of 39,101 at Briggs Stadium.
In the Thanksgiving game, the Lions scored on five touchdown passes – three thrown by Bobby Layne and three caught by Cloyce Box.
"[35][36] Bobby Layne led the Lions to a 14–0 lead in the first half on touchdown passes of 18 yards (a flea flicker with Layne passing to Cloyce Box who immediately lateraled the ball to Pat Harder) and 77 yards to Cloyce Box.
Jim Hardy took over at quarterback and led the Lions to 27 points in the second half, including two touchdown passes to Box of 40 and 41 yards.
Jack Christiansen also ran 65 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Lions' longest rushing play of the season.
The Rams double-teamed and sometimes triple-teamed Cloyce Box, which opened the running game and allowed Leon Hart to have one of his best receiving days.
The Lions' defense mounted four goal-line stands against the Browns' offense led by Otto Graham, and Lou Groza missed three field goal attempts.
[49] The following six Lions players won All-NFL honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI) and/or the New York Daily News: (1st team AP, 2nd team DN) The following seven Lions players were selected to play in the 1953 Pro Bowl:[50] Several Lions players were also among the NFL leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:[51] Six members of the team were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.