The 1957 Season

The seeds for the 1957 Playoffs...

#6 seed-Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
Last Playoff Appearance...1955, won NFL Championship
Playoff Record...8-8, 1955 NFL Champions
Pro Bowl-LH Tommy Wilson, LG Duane Putnam, MG Les Richter, RLB Dick Daugherty, KR Jon Arnett

Los Angeles needed wins in their last 2 games to qualify for the postseason. The Rams had the top offense and running game in the NFL. Norm Van Brocklin threw for 2,105 yards and 20 TD. Elroy Hirsch led the Rams with 32 catches and 6 TD. Tommy Wilson led all rushers with 616 yards.

#5 seed-New York Giants (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...1956, lost NFL Semifinal
Playoff Record...13-7, 3 NFL Championships (1950-51, 1954)
Pro Bowl-LH Frank Gifford, LT Rosey Brown, C Ray Wietecha, RDE Andy Robustelli, LS Emlen Tunnell, G/T Jack Stroud

The Giants are struggling as the 1957 postseason arrives. They have lost their last 3 games and their defense has struggled to stop the run. Frank Gifford led New York in both running and receiving, finishing the 1957 season with 1,116 yards and 9 TD.

#4 seed-Baltimore Colts (7-5)
Last Playoff Appearance...first playoff appearance in franchise history
Pro Bowl-QB Johnny Unitas, FB Alan Ameche, RE Jim Mutscheller, LDE Gino Marchetti, LDT Art Donovan, K/PR/RS Bert Rechichar

The Colts are in the postseason, mostly thanks to the top passing attack in the NFL. Johnny Unitas threw for 2,550 yards and 24 TD in his first full season as the starter. Raymond Berry led all Baltimore receivers with 47 catches and 800 yards. Lenny Moore gained 1,175 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 TD.

#3 seed-San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1956, lost NFL Quarterfinal
Playoff Record...4-9
Pro Bowl-QB Y.A. Tittle, LH Hugh McElhenny, RE Billy Wilson, LDT Leo Nomellini, RLB Marv Matuszak

San Francisco won 3 straight to enter the postseason on a roll. The 49ers had the worst defense in the NFL, and it was a constant struggle to get off the field. Y.A. Tittle threw for 2,157 yards and accounted for 19 TD. Billy Wilson led the receiving corps with 52 catches and 757 yards.

#2 seed-Detroit Lions (8-4)
Last Playoff Appearance...1956, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Record...5-5, 1952 NFL Champions
Pro Bowl-LT Lou Creekmur, LG Harley Sewell, LDE Darris McCord, MLB Joe Schmidt, LDH Jim David, RS Jack Christiansen, LS/P/PR Yale Lary

Detroit closed with 3 straight wins to earn the bye week through point differential over San Francisco. Tobin Rote took over the starting job after Bobby Layne broke his leg in midseason (although Layne may make an appearance per earlier THPF decree). John Henry Johnson led the ground attack with 621 yards.

#1 seed-Cleveland Browns (9-2-1)
Last Playoff Appearance...1955, lost NFL Championship
Playoff Reecord...12-7, 3 NFL Championships (1946, 1948, 1953)
Pro Bowl-QB Tommy O'Connell, FB Jim Brown, LH Ray Renfro, RT Mike McCormack, LDT Bob Gain, RLB Walt Michaels, RDH Don R. Paul, K/LT Lou Groza

After a one year absence from the playoffs, the Browns are back with home field throughout. Cleveland allowed the fewest points in the NFL. Tommy O'Connell took most of the snaps at QB and took advantage by completing 57 percent of his passes and going 7-1-1 as a starter. Rookie sensation Jim Brown ran for 942 yards and 9 TD.

1957 Playoffs

December 29, 1957
New York Giants at Baltimore Colts, 3 pm
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 pm

January 5, 1958
lowest seed at Cleveland Browns, 3 pm
highest seed at Detroit Lions, 6:30 pm

January 12, 1958
NFL Championship, 6:30 pm