1955 NFL Quarterfinal-Chicago Bears-31, Green Bay Packers-23

Casares ran for 110 yards and 2 TD

December 18, 1955

Weather-16 degrees, 10 mph WNW, snow

Chicago was efficient in the red zone, scoring touchdowns where the Packers kicked field goals in a 31-23 victory. The Bears settled for 3 the first time they crossed the Green Bay 20-yard line, but thee next 4 trips inside the 20 produced 4 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Packers had to settle for 3 field goals and a TD out of their 4 trips to the red zone. Green Bay won the yardage battle, 400-370. Chicago trailed entering the 4th quarter, but 2 fourth quarter touchdowns to win going away.

Rick Casares led the Bears attack with 110 yards on 17 carries, scoring twice. Chicago ran for 237 yards and controlled time of possession. Howie Ferguson ran for 185 yards for the Packers in a losing effort.

Green Bay Packers.(6-7)-7-6-7-3-23
Chicago Bears...(9-4)-3-14-0-14-31

Chi-Blanda 16 FG
GB-Knafelc 10 pass from Rote (Cone Kick)
Chi-Casares 2 run (Blanda Kick)
Chi-Watkins 6 run (Blanda Kick)
GB-Cone 15 FG
GB-Cone 31 FG
GB-Ferguson 49 run (Cone Kick)
Chi-Casares 5 run (Blanda Kick)
GB-Cone 16 FG
Chi-Brown 1 run (Blanda Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
GB-Ferguson-17-185-1 (209-1,044-5), Reid-6-30-0 (89-333-2), Rote-4-19-0 (78-351-5), Johnson-2-11-0 (51-221-0)
Chi-Casares-17-110-2 (142-782-6), Watkins-12-63-1 (122-616-9), Hoffman-9-54-0 (103-508-0), Brown-4-8-1 (47-211-3), Jagade-1-2-0 (73-311-2)

Passing
GB-Rote-28-14-166-1-0 (370-171-2,143-18-19)
Chi-Brown-17-9-133-0-0 (181-94-1,440-9-10)

Receiving
GB-Knafelc-4-58-1 (44-671-9), Howton-4-48-0 (48-745-5), Ferguson-3-25-0 (25-178-0), Reid-2-22-0 (15-160-1), Capuzzi-1-13-0 (1-13-0)
Chi-Hill-3-51-0 (45-840-9), McColl-3-40-0 (38-542-4), Schroeder-2-26-0 (19-341-2), Hoffman-1-16-0 (12-169-1)

1955 NFL Quarterfinal-New York Giants-15, Washington Redskins-0

Scudero had 2 INT for Washington

December 18, 1955

Weather-38 degrees, calm, light rain

Rain and cold turned the Griffith Stadium turf into a primordial ooze, and the Giants defense slammed the door on the Redskins attack, 15-0. Washington could only manage 157 yards offense, with just 46 of those yards coming after halftime. New York's ground attack was effective on third down, which allowed the offense to stay on the field and eventually tire the Redskins defense.

Washington QB Eddie LeBaron completed only 7 of 23 throws and was intercepted twice, the 2nd of which set up the only touchdown of the game, a 14-yard run by New York RB Bobby Epps.

New York Giants..(7-5-1)-0-3-3-9-15
Washington Redskins.(8-5)-0-0-0-0-0

NY-Agajanian 34 FG
NY-Agajanian 21 FG
NY-Epps 14 run (Agajanian Kick)
NY-Agajanian 27 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
NY-Webster-16-50-0 (144-684-5), Gifford-12-42-0 (98-393-3), Epps-7-33-1 (102-408-3), Rote-1-3-0 (11-49-0), Conerly-3-(-3)-0 (15-7-0)
Was-Elter-9-25-0 (106-386-3), Zagers-10-22-0 (99-417-2), Janowicz-5-9-0 (98-406-4), LeBaron-3-6-0 (40-196-4)

Passing
NY-Conerly-25-14-134-0-2 (227-112-1,444-13-15), Heinrich-5-3-60-0-0 (72-34-473-2-2)
Was-LeBaron-23-7-98-0-1 (201-86-1,368-9-16), Guglielmi-7-1-17-0-1 (69-21-259-2-5)

Receiving
NY-Rote-4-46-0 (35-626-8), MacAfee-3-58-0 (14-228-1), Schnelker-3-30-0 (28-356-2), Webster-3-6-0 (25-275-1), Gifford-2-40-0 (35-477-4), Long-2-14-0 (8-78-1)
Was-Carson-3-49-0 (26-492-3), Zagers-2-41-0 (16-347-0), Elter-2-20-0 (15-239-1), Cox-1-5-0 (6-76-0)

The 1955 Season

The Playoff Seeds for 1955...

#6 seed-Green Bay Packers (6-6)
Last Playoff Appearance...1944, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...2-3, 1941 NFL Champions
Pro Bowl-FB Howie Ferguson, RE Billy Howton, LDE John Martinkovic, RS Bobby Dillon, LB/DE Roger Zatkoff

Green Bay is back in the postseason for the first time in 11 years. The Packers were a .500 team in 1955, as they were both outgained and outscored by their opponents. Howie Ferguson led the ground attack for the Packers and Tobin Rote threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 TD.

#5 seed-New York Giants (6-5-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1955, NFL Champions
Playoff Record...11-5, 3 NFL Championships (1950, 1951, 1954)
Pro Bowl-LH Frank Gifford, LT Rosey Brown, RG Jack Stroud, LS/PR Emlen Tunnell, K/LH Kyle Rote

The Giants had a winning record in 1954, but a hot playoff run made them a champion for the 3rd time in 5 years. They are back in 1955, riding a 5-game unbeaten streak. The Giants were 2-5 after 7 games, but are 4-0-1 since then.

#4 seed-Washington Redskins (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...5-3, 2 NFL Championships (1942, 1943)
Pro Bowl-C Harry Ulinski, LDE Gene Brito, LDT Volney Peters, LLB LaVern Torgeson, MLB Chuck Drazenovic, DB/HB Joe Scudero, P/QB Eddie LeBaron

Washington's defense allowed the 2nd fewest points and rushing yards, helping the Redskins close the season with 5 wins in 6 games and a playoff berth. Washington used a running back by committee approach, as 4 different runners gained at least 300 yards rushing.

#3 seed-Chicago Bears (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1954, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...2-11
Pro Bowl-LH John Hoffman, LE Harlon Hill, LT Bill Wightkin, RG Stan Jones, MLB Bill George, FB Rick Casares, P/QB Ed Brown

Chicago features the top ranked offense and running game in the NFL. The Bears got off to an 0-3 start before winning 8 of 9 to close the season. Chicago's top 2 RB, Rick Casares and Bobby Watkins, combined for over 1,200 yards and 12 TD on the ground. Harlon Hill led the receivers with 9 TD catches.

#2 seed-Los Angeles Rams (8-3-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1953, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...6-8
Pro Bowl-FB Tank Younger, LH Ron Waller, LG Duane Putnam, LDE Paul Miller, LDT Bud McFadin, RDE Andy Robustelli, RS Will Sherman, K/RLB Les Richter, P/QB Norm Van Brocklin

The Rams enter the postseason on a 4-game unbeaten streak. The Rams, like the Bears, feature a 2 RB attack, Ron Waller and Tank Younger. QB Norm Van Brocklin has 2 cagey vets at receiver, Tom Fears and Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch.

#1 seed-Cleveland Browns (9-2-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1954, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...11-6, 3 NFL Championships (1946, 1948, 1953)
Pro Bowl-RH Fred Morrison, LE Pete Brewster, LG Abe Gibron, LDE Carlton Massey, RDT Don Colo, RLB Walt Michaels, LS Ken Konz, K/LT Lou Groza

Cleveland was the best team in the regular season, leading the NFL in scoring, fewest points allowed, defense, and rushing defense. Cleveland's offense is led by QB Otto Graham, in his final season as a pro. The Browns have only lost once in their last 11 games.

1955 Playoffs

December 18, 1955
New York Giants at Washington Redskins, 3 pm
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 6:30 pm

December 25, 1955
lowest seed at Cleveland Browns, 3 pm
highest seed at Los Angeles Rams, 6:30 pm

January 1, 1956
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm

1954 NFL Championship-New York Giants-9, Philadelphia Eagles-8

January 9, 1955

Weather-37 degrees, 6 mph WNW, rain

The New York defense was able to keep the Eagles out of the end zone en route to the Giants 3rd world championship in 5 seasons, 9-8. The first time the Giants touched the ball, they used 2 Charlie Conerly passes to reach the end zone, with the scoring pass traveling 19 yards to Bob Schnelker. Conerly completed 12 of 21 passes for 192 yards and a TD to lead the New York offense.

The Eagles were led by QB Adrian Burk, who completed 16 of 25 for 233 yards, including 7 for 94 to Pete Pihos. The Eagles had a chance to win with 56 seconds left when Bobby Walston had a 35-yard FG attempt to take the lead, but his kick sailed wide left.

New York Giants......(10-5)-9-0-0-0-9
Philadelphia Eagles.(9-5-1)-0-3-3-2-8

NY-Schnelker 19 pass from Conerly (Agajanian Kick)
NY-Safety, Carroccio sacks Burk in end zone
Phi-Walston 27 FG
Phi-Walston 18 FG
Phi-Safety, Richardson sacks Conerly in end zone

Rushing (season totals in end zone)
NY-Price-12-24-0 (180-751-5), Gifford-11-21-0 (96-517-3), Rote-4-5-0 (50-170-0), Conerly-3-(-4)-0 (36-128-1)
Phi-Parmer-14-14-0 (165-519-2), Giancanelli-7-4-0 (50-61-0), Williams-7-3-0 (72-237-2), Burk-1-0-0 (21-18-0)

Passing
NY-Conerly-21-12-192-1-0 (283-140-1,982-21-12)
Phi-Burk-25-16-233-0-0 (306-163-2,275-25-18)

Receiving
NY-Schnelker-3-45-1 (38-679-9), MacAfee-3-34-0 (32-527-9), Topp-2-61-0 (10-188-4), Price-2-21-0 (35-423-3), Rote-1-24-0 (36-658-2), Gifford-1-7-0 (17-203-2)
Phi-Pihos-7-94-0 (78-1,101-11), Walston-4-74-0 (41-754-12), Giancanelli-3-35-0 (21-260-4), Luft-1-22-0 (5-104-0), Willey-1-8-0 (3-58-0)

1954 NFL Semifinal-New York Giants-26, Detroit Lions-10

Giants QB Charley Conerly

January 2, 1955

Weather-37 degrees, 10 mph WNW

The Giants offense controlled the action throughout as the top-seeded Lions were eliminated, 26-10. New York QB Charley Conerly was solid, completing 13 of 23 for 191 yards and 2 TD. Matinee idol and all-around threat Frank Gifford made his presence felt by generating 110 yards from scrimmage, including a 32-yard catch and run for a touchdown that broke open the game in the third quarter.

Detroit found success running the ball, but Giants defensive coordinator and safety standout Tom Landry made the focus of the gameplan limiting Bobby Layne and the Lions' passing attack. Layne completed only 11 of 27, and Landry made his tenth interception of the year to seal the game.

In a season of playoff upsets, the Eagles will host the Giants next Sunday for the NFL Championship.

New York Giants.(9-5)-0-13-10-3-26
Detroit Lions...(9-3-1)-0-7-0-3-10

NY-Agajanian 13 FG
Det-Walker 63 run (Walker Kick)
NY-MacAfee 13 pass from Conerly (Agajanian Kick)
NY-Agajanian 35 FG
NY-Agajanian 34 FG
NY-Gifford 32 pass from Conerly (Agajanian Kick)
Det-Walker 12 FG
NY-Agajanian 32 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
NY-Price-16-80-0 (168-727-5), Gifford-9-68-0 (85-496-3), Rote-9-54-0 (46-165-0), Conerly-3-20-0 (33-132-1)
Det-Walker-7-77-1 (39-317-2), Carpenter-4-64-0 (108-540-3), Bowman-11-32-0 (107-429-2), Layne-2-0-0 (32-119-2), Hoernschemeyer-1-(-2)-0 (95-240-2)

Passing
NY-Conerly-23-13-191-2-0 (262-128-1,790-20-12)
Det-Layne-27-11-108-0-1 (273-146-1,926-14-13), Dublinski-2-1-1-0-0 (140-78-1,074-8-7)

Receiving
NY-Rote-3-36-0 (35-634-2), Price-3-24-0 (33-402-2), Schnelker-2-50-0 (35-634-8), Gifford-2-42-1 (16-196-2), MacAfee-2-21-1 (29-493-9), Topp-1-18-0 (8-127-4)
Det-Dibble-4-24-0 (50-792-6), Bowman-3-34-0 (37-322-2), Walker-2-23-0 (34-587-3), Hart-2-14-0 (26-391-0), Doran-1-14-0 (11-217-4)