The Baltimore Colts hosted the Buffalo Bills on December
12, 1948 in a playoff to determine the winner of the All-America Football
Conference’s Eastern Division. The Colts had forced the playoff a week earlier
by defeating the Bills soundly by a score of 35-15 in the regular season
finale, with the clubs thus finishing in a dead heat at 7-7. The records were
mediocre, to be sure, and they benefited from the collapse of the New York
Yankees, who dominated the division in the AAFC’s first two seasons. But it
still meant a chance to play in the league championship game – even if that
meant facing off against the powerful, and undefeated, Cleveland Browns.
The Bills, coached by Red Dawson, actually had a better
record in 1947, when they finished second to New York. QB George Ratterman (pictured above) was
the key player on offense and had a productive receiver in end Al Baldwin, who
caught 54 passes during the regular season. HB Chet Mutryn was an outstanding
all-purpose back who led the AAFC with 2288 total yards and 96 points and FB
Lou Tomasetti ran effectively between the tackles.
Baltimore, under Head Coach Cecil Isbell, was the more
surprising participant in the contest. The Colts were coming off a 2-11-1
campaign in ’47. Added to holdover HB Billy Hillenbrand and end Lamar Davis
were a fine rookie crop that included QB Y.A. Tittle, HB Bob Pfohl, DHB Jack
Leight, and FB/PK Rex Grossman. The team had won three of its last four games,
including the convincing win over Buffalo, and appeared to have the momentum
heading into the playoff.
There were 27, 327 fans on hand at Babe Ruth Stadium. The
Colts took the early lead on a 16-yard field goal by Rex Grossman in the first
quarter. George Ratterman tossed a five-yard jump-pass to end Bill O’Connor to
give Buffalo the lead at 7-3, which was the score at halftime as the defenses
controlled the game.
The Colts appeared to take command in the third quarter. A
71-yard drive ended with FB Bus Mertes running for a touchdown from nine yards
out. Baltimore then put together an 88-yard series that also ended with a
Mertes TD, this from a yard. Both were followed by Grossman extra points and the
home team was up by 17-7 heading into the final period.
Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Buffalo’s Ratterman
passed to HB Bill Gompers, who was all alone for a 66-yard touchdown, and with
Graham Armstrong’s PAT, that narrowed the score to 17-14.
A key play occurred with five minutes left on the clock
when Chet Mutryn caught a short pass from Ratterman, but then dropped the ball.
Tackle John Mellus recovered what he – and many of those present – thought was
a fumble for the Colts, but sideline judge Tommy Whelan ruled it an incomplete
pass. Six plays later, with the Baltimore defense reeling following the
disputed incompletion, the Bills scored when Ratterman connected with Al
Baldwin for a 25-yard touchdown. Armstrong tacked on the extra point.
Buffalo’s lead was padded when LB Ed “Buckets” Hirsch
intercepted a Tittle pass and returned it 20 yards for a TD. The final score
was 28-17 as the Bills won the Eastern Division title.
Police had to escort the officials to the locker room
after the game due to the partisan crowd that was angered over the incomplete
pass call. The AAFC’s deputy commissioner, O.O. Kessing, spoke with the
official, Whelan, afterward and quoted him as saying of the disputed call,
“That’s the way I saw it and I’d call it that way seven days a week.”
The Colts outgained Buffalo (393 yards to 297) and had
far more first downs (24 to 11). Both teams were productive on the ground, with
the Colts rushing for 176 yards to Buffalo’s 162. Each team turned the ball
over three times – although a turnover-that-wasn’t was the most discussed play
of the game.
George Ratterman completed 10 of 18 passes for 135 yards
and three touchdowns with one interception, and was at his best with the game
on the line in the late going. Lou Tomasetti led the Bills with 56 rushing
yards on 12 attempts and Chet Mutryn was right behind with 54 yards on 11
carries. Bill Gompers had 52 yards on 14 rushes and, with his 66-yard scoring
catch, led the club in pass receiving yards. Al Baldwin and Bill O’Connor each
caught three passes, for 21 and 20 yards, respectively, and one TD apiece.
For the Colts, Y.A. Tittle was successful on 17 of 36
throws for 217 yards with no TDs and one intercepted. Bus Mertes, who scored
the two third quarter touchdowns, ran for 73 yards on 15 attempts and Bob Pfohl
contributed 63 yards on 16 carries. Billy Hillenbrand, who ran six times for
five yards, was the top receiver with 7 catches for 75 yards. Lamar Davis had
73 yards on his 5 pass receptions.
The come-from-behind win over the Colts did not translate
into an upset in the AAFC Championship game for Buffalo. As expected, the Bills
were routed by the Browns, 49-7, who won their third consecutive league title.
Buffalo went 5-5-2 in 1949 and made the postseason again in the restructured
league’s final season, again falling to the Browns in the first playoff round.
Baltimore, however, dropped to the cellar with a 1-11 record.
