They were 9–2–1 in the regular season and won the Eastern Conference title, but lost the championship game to the Detroit Lions, 59–14.
[1][2][3][4] The Browns missed the playoffs the previous season, ending ten straight years of league championship game appearances.
The Browns came storming back in 1957 to finish 9–2–1 and win the Eastern Conference title by a relatively healthy margin over the defending world champion New York Giants (7–5).
The future Hall of Famer was outstanding, rushing for 942 yards and nine TDs, but he was the only real standout that year.
Tommy O'Connell, who had taken over for retired Hall of Famer Otto Graham in 1956 and was the quarterback during the 5–7 finish that year, had the job for most of the way in 1957 as well.