In their fourth year under head coach Buddy Parker, the Lions compiled a 10–2 record during the regular season, outscored opponents 271 to 205, finished in first place in the NFL's Western Division, and defeated the Cleveland Browns 17–16 in the NFL Championship Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

For the fourth year in a row, Bob Hoernschemeyer was the team's leading rusher, contributed 764 yards from scrimmage (482 rushing, 282 receiving) and scored nine touchdowns.

Seven members of the team, Christiansen, Creekmur, safety Yale Lary, Layne, linebacker Joe Schmidt, guard Dick Stanfel, and Walker, were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lew Carpenter intercepted a Jim Finks pass and returned it 73 yards for the Lions' first touchdown in the first quarter.

In his first regular season NFL game, rookie linebacker Joe Schmidt was, according to the Detroit Free Press, "making tackles all over the field" and a key in holding the Steelers to 96 rushing yards.

Bobby Layne threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Leon Hart in the third quarter, but the 49ers closed the Lions' lead to three points on a short run by Y.

Late in the second quarter, the Lions cut the 49ers lead to three points on 47-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Layne to Dorne Dibble.

The winning touchdown was set up by a fake punt on fourth down, with Yale Lary carrying the ball 21 yards to the San Francisco 24-yard line.

A. Tittle, who fractured his cheekbone two weeks earlier against the Lions, appeared briefly in the game and was intercepted on both of his passes.

The Lions took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter on 38-yard field goal by Doak Walker and a 92-yard interception return by Jack Christiansen.

Bobby Layne threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Leon Hart in the second quarter, and the Lions led, 17–9, at halftime.

The Rams scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter on a 74-yard run by Skeets Quinlan and two interception returns for touchdown.

Norm Van Brocklin extended the Rams' lead to 37–17 with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Vitamin Smith early in the fourth quarter.

The Detroit defense forced six turnovers, five interceptions of quarterback Fred Enke's passes (including three by Jack Christiansen) and a recovery of a John Huzvar fumble by Jim Cain.

Walker kicked his second field goal late in the third quarter, and the Lions took the lead in the fourth quarter after a long field goal attempt by Walker fell short, and Detroit center Vince Banonis downed the ball at the one-yard line.

Blanda threw a pass from deep in Chicago territory, and Bob Smith recovered the ball and returned it to the six-yard line.

[23][24] On Thursday, November 26, 1953, in the annual Thanksgiving Day game at Briggs Stadium, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 34–15, before a crowd of 52,607.

The Lions took a 13–0 lead in the first half as Doak Walker kicked field goals of 41 and 36 yards, and Bobby Layne threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dorne Dibble.

The Detroit Free Press credited the "sparkling play" of Lions' defensive halfbacks with the victory, as they intercepted five of George Blanda's passes.

The Giants threatened three more times in the fourth quarter, but the defense intercepted two passes and stopped Frank Gifford on a fourth-down play at the one-yard line.

[29][30] On December 27, 1953, the Lions played the Cleveland Browns in the 1953 NFL Championship Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The Lions drove 80 yards for a touchdown, capped by a 33-yard pass from Bobby Layne to Jim Doran with two minutes left in the game.