Cleveland won its opener, 6–3 over the Giants, and led the Eastern Conference from wire to wire. A 17–7 loss to the Eagles in Week Four forced the Browns to share the lead with New York, but the Giants lost the following week, and spent the rest of the season trying to catch Cleveland. The Western Conference race however, was much more competitive. Baltimore, Detroit and San Francisco were tied for the lead several times, and had identical 7–4 records, with one week remaining. When two teams tied for first place, they would meet in a one-game playoff. The NFL did have a provision for that: "If all three teams win, tie, or lose, then a two-week playoff series begins next Sunday with Baltimore drawing a bye, San Francisco playing Detroit, and the winner meeting the Colts at Baltimore Dec. 29." Detroit and San Francisco both won, but the Colts lost, so the additional playoff never took place. The 1957 NFL championship game was held on December 29, 1957 at Briggs Stadium, in Detroit, Michigan. The game was the fourth pairing of the
Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns in the championship game. The Lions, who beat the Browns in 3 of those 4 title games, have not appeared in or won an NFL championship game (including the Super Bowl) since. While the Lions were without injured starting quarterback Bobby Layne, backup QB Tobin Rote filled in admirably, throwing four touchdown passes, completing 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards, and running in for another touchdown. O'Connell and Plum, on the other hand hit on a combined total of 9 of 22 passes for 112 yards. Taking full advantage of a pass interception and a fumble, Detroit ran up a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Jim Brown gave the Cleveland rooters some hope with a 30-yard touchdown swing at the start of the second period. Then, things went from bad to worse for the Browns, hampered by injuries to quarterbacks Tommy O'Connell and Milt Plum. The Lions romped for 14 points in each of the last three quarters, for a final score of 59-14, and thus laying claim to the 1957 NFL Championship.