1957 NFL Semifinal-Cleveland Browns-31, Los Angeles Rams-3

Cleveland will play for a fourth NFL Championship

January 5, 1958

Weather-29 degrees, 14 mph S

Tommy O'Connell controlled the ball with precision passing and Chet Hanulak scored on 3 short TD runs as the Browns handled Los Angeles, 31-3. O'Connell completed 11 of 14 passes for 178 yards and a TD, a 19-yard strike to Pete Brewster that gave Cleveland an early 7-0 lead. The Rams had problems maintaining possession as Norm Van Brocklin suffered 2 early interceptions and completed only 14 of 29 for the game.

Cleveland will host the NFL Championship Game next Sunday at Municipal Stadium.

Los Angeles Rams......(7-7)-3-0-0-0-3
Cleveland Browns.(10-2-1)-7-3-7-14-31

Cle-Brewster 19 pass from O'Connell (Groza Kick)
LA-Cothren 17 FG
Cle-Groza 14 FG
Cle-Hanulak 3 run (Groza Kick)
Cle-Hanulak 3 run (Groza Kick)
Cle-Hanulak 7 run (Groza Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
LA-Wilson-13-66-0 (157-772-3), Marconi-6-38-0 (115-542-3), Arnett-8-32-0 (105-407-3), Younger-1-8-0 (97-409-3)
Cle-Brown-22-75-0 (224-1,017-9), Hanulak-15-46-3 (140-421-6), L.Carpenter-11-26-0 (94-341-4), O'Connell-4-(-8)-0 (18-(-13)-1)

Passing
LA-Van Brocklin-29-14-141-0-2 (326-164-2,498-21-24)
Cle-O'Connell-14-11-178-1-0 (124-74-1,407-10-8)

Receiving
LA-Hirsch-4-50-0 (38-537-6), Boyd-3-33-0 (36-619-3), Clarke-3-24-0 (30-546-4), Wilson-2-28-0 (10-130-1), Arnett-2-6-0 (22-370-3)
Cle-Renfro-3-54-0 (24-643-6), P.Carpenter-3-50-0 (30-448-2), Brewster-3-48-1 (33-662-3), Clarke-1-15-0 (5-92-0), Hanulak-1-11-0 (4-49-0)

1957 NFL Quarterfinal-Los Angeles Rams-14, San Francisco 49ers-7

Van Brocklin threw for 252 yards

December 29, 1957

Weather-51 degrees, 8 mph NE

The Rams beat the 49ers at Kezar Stadium in a game that didn't seem as close as the 14-7 final score. Los Angeles ran 72 plays to 49 for San Francisco, gaining 374 yards to the Niners total of 215. Norm Van Brocklin completed 18 of 32 for 252 yards. Tommy Wilson ran for 90 yards on 17 carries to lead the Rams ground game.

San Francisco was able to throw the ball consistently during the season, but Y.A. Tittle struggled to make plays on third down, and the Niners offense suffered accordingly. Despite San Francisco's problems, they had the ball with a chance to tie the game in the last 3 minutes, but Tittle missed Billy Wilson on a fourth down conversion, and the Rams killed the clock from there.

Los Angeles Rams..(7-6)-0-14-0-0-14
San Francisco 49ers.(8-5)-0-0-7-0-7

LA-Marconi 6 pass from Van Brocklin (Cothren Kick)
LA-Arnett 10 run (Cothren Kick)
SF-Conner 5 pass from Tittle (Soltau Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
LA-Wilson-17-90-0 (144-706-3), Arnett-11-28-1 (97-375-3), Marconi-5-23-0 (109-504-3), Hirsch-1-3-0 (2-11-0), Van Brocklin-3-(-3)-0 (13-(-7)-4)
SF-McElhenny-11-56-0 (113-534-1), Babb-7-38-0 (109-368-3), Perry-13-29-0 (110-483-3), Tittle-1-3-0 (41-223-6)

Passing
LA-Van Brocklin-32-18-252-1-1 (297-150-2,357-21-22)
SF-Tittle-17-8-89-1-1 (296-184-2,246-14-16)

Receiving
LA-Clarke-4-80-0 (27-522-4), Boyd-4-52-0 (33-586-3), Marconi-3-20-1 (19-191-2), Arnett-2-42-0 (20-364-3), Lundy-2-41-0 (8-155-3), Hirsch-2-10-0 (34-487-6), Wilson-1-7-0 (8-102-1)
SF-McElhenny-3-36-0 (40-494-2), Owens-2-31-0 (29-426-5), Wilson-1-9-0 (53-766-6), Babb-1-8-0 (21-149-0), Conner-1-5-1 (31-417-5)

1957 NFL Quarterfinal-New York Giants-17, Baltimore Colts-14

Gifford gained 140 yards from scrimmage
 

December 29, 1957

Weather-45 degrees, 12 mph NW

The Giants got off to a quick start against Baltimore, then held on for the win, 17-14. Charley Conerly completed 14 of 24 for 215 yards for New York, keeping the prodigious Colts offense off the field with big third down conversions. Frank Gifford ran for 76 yards and caught 5 passes for 64 yards. Gifford's 8-yard TD run around left end gave the Giants a first quarter lead that they would never relinquish.

Baltimore attempted a comeback, scoring on a pass from Johnny Unitas to Raymond Berry to cut the lead to 3, but New York recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the deal.

New York Giants.(8-5)-7-10-0-0-17
Baltimore Colts..(7-6)-0-7-0-7-14

NY-Gifford 8 run (Agajanian Kick)
NY-Webster 3 run (Agajanian Kick)
Bal-Dupre 3 pass from Unitas (Rechichar Kick)
NY-Agajanian 16 FG
Bal-Berry 8 pass from Unitas (Rechichar Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
NY-Gifford-15-76-1 (151-604-6), Webster-13-17-1 (148-495-6), Rote-1-1-0 (2-14-0), Epps-4-0-0 (67-286-0), Conerly-4-(-4)-0 (19-20-1)
Bal-Moore-13-94-0 (111-582-3), Dupre-9-50-0 (110-425-2), Ameche-6-30-0 (150-523-5), Unitas-4-28-0 (46-199-1), Call-1-0-0 (34-145-0)

Passing
NY-Conerly-24-14-215-0-0 (256-142-1,927-11-11)
Bal-Unitas-21-10-103-2-0 (322-182-2,653-26-17)

Receiving
NY-Gifford-5-64-0 (46-652-4), Rote-3-55-0 (28-413-3), MacAfee-2-45-0 (18-274-2), Webster-2-33-0 (32-363-1), Schnelker-2-18-0 (22-468-5)
Bal-Dupre-3-16-1 (35-355-3), Moore-2-25-0 (42-712-7), Ameche-2-20-0 (17-157-2), Berry-2-10-1 (49-810-7), Mutscheller-1-32-0 (33-590-8)

2012 After Week 12

Five weeks to go in the regular season. Here are the standings.

Week 12

Team...Record...Point Differential

1. Houston Texans.......(10-1)...(+116)
2. Atlanta Falcons.......(10-1)...(+78)
3. Baltimore Ravens.......(9-2)...(+64)
4. San Francisco 49ers.(8-2-1)...(+121)
5. New England Patriots..(8-3)...(+163)
6. Chicago Bears.........(8-3)...(+102)
7. Denver Broncos.........(8-3)...(+97)
8. New York Giants........(7-4)...(+79)
9. Green Bay Packers......(7-4)...(+28)
10. Indianapolis Colts....(7-4)...(-43)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers..(6-5)...(+56)
12. Cincinnati Bengals....(6-5)...(+35)

------------------------------------------------

out Seattle Seahawks......(6-5)...(+34)
out Pittsburgh Steelers...(6-5)...(+21)

After the Week 12 results, Seattle and Pittsburgh have dropped out of the top 12 and Cincinnati and Indianapolis have moved into playoff position. The top 5 seeds remain unchanged. The only game involving playoff seeds in Week 13 is #11 Tampa Bay at #7 Denver. If the season ended today (which it doesn't), we would have an Indy at Denver matchup in the wild card round, as well as a rematch of last night's Green Bay at New York tilt.

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

2012 After Week 11

Six weeks to go in the season. Here are the standings...

Week 11

Team...Record...Point Differential

1. Houston Texans........(9-1)...(+113)
2. Atlanta Falcons........(9-1)...(+77)
3. Baltimore Ravens.......(8-2)...(+61)
4. San Francisco 49ers.(7-2-1)...(+111)
5. New England Patriots..(7-3)...(+133)
6. Denver Broncos.........(7-3)...(+89)
7. Chicago Bears..........(7-3)...(+84)
8. Green Bay Packers......(7-3)...(+56)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers...(6-4)...(+57)
10. New York Giants.......(6-4)...(+51)
11. Seattle Seahawks......(6-4)...(+37)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers...(6-4)...(+27)

------------------------------------------------

out Minnesota Vikings.....(6-4)...(+17)
out Indianapolis Colts....(6-4)...(-50)

Two games this week involving current playoff teams: #2 Atlanta at #9 Tampa Bay and #8 Green Bay at #10 New York Giants. Chicago's loss to the Niners moves the Niners into the bye week position, replacing Chicago.

1956 NFL Championship-Chicago Bears-27, Detroit Lions-24

Ed Brown drove the Bears to the winning FG

January 13, 1957

Weather-4 degrees, 8 mph NNW

George Blanda kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bears to their first NFL Title, 27-24. Chicago trailed at the half, 17-3, but would take advantage of a pair of Detroit turnovers to get back in the game in the third quarter. Bears QB Ed Brown scrambled 7 yards early in the fourth quarter to give Chicago a 24-17 lead, but Detroit drove the length of the field on the ensuing drive to tie the game.

After exchanging punts, Chicago took possession on their 20-yard line with 87 seconds remaining and their full complement of timeouts. Brown had a key pair of completions to Harlon Hill; the first came on the first play of the drive for 23 yards, the second on a third and nine for 24 yards gave the Bears the ball on the Detroit 32. Two plays later, Blanda's FG clinched the title for Chicago.

Detroit Lions....(10-4)-7-10-0-7-24
Chicago Bears.(11-2-1)-3-0-14-10-27

Det-Middleton 21 pass from Layne (Layne Kick)
Chi-Blanda 14 FG
Det-Hart 8 run (Layne Kick)
Det-Layne 12 FG
Chi-Jeter 9 pass from Brown (Blanda Kick)
Chi-Casares 15 run (Blanda Kick)
Chi-Brown 7 run (Blanda Kick)
Det-Cassady 1 run (Layne Kick)
Chi-Blanda 32 FG

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Det-Hart-7-60-1 (93-457-8), Gedman-15-27-0 (165-633-7), McIlhenny-1-11-0 (92-408-3), Cassady-10-6-1 (118-432-1), Layne-4-3-0 (54-175-5), Middleton-1-1-0 (5-28-0)
Chi-Casares-18-72-1 (272-1,306-14), Jeter-7-8-0 (78-424-3), Brown-2-8-1 (47-172-3), Hoffman-3-4-0 (63-286-2)

Passing
Det-Layne-19-12-170-1-1 (280-150-2,228-10-19)
Chi-Brown-24-14-223-1-0 (210-124-2,137-16-13)

Receiving
Det-Middleton-3-49-1 (45-701-6), Dibble-3-49-0 (37-703-2), Doran-2-36-0 (29-514-0), Gedman-2-23-0 (17-165-1), Reichow-1-13-0 (5-76-1), Hart-1-0-0 (7-132-1)
Chi-Hill-6-130-0 (57-1,360-13), Schroeder-3-48-0 (26-384-1), Casares-3-37-0 (29-339-3), Dooley-3-19-0 (9-76-1), McColl-2-17-0 (27-347-4), Jeter-2-7-1 (8-66-1), Hoffman-1-9-0 (8-94-0)