1963: Big Fourth Down Play Spurs Steelers to Defeat of Cowboys

The Pittsburgh Steelers were fighting to remain in the NFL Eastern Conference race as they faced the Dallas Cowboys on December 8, 1963. Coached by Buddy Parker, the Steelers featured a capable offense led by strong-armed QB Ed Brown (pictured above) throwing primarily to split end Buddy Dial and flanker Gary Ballman and a running game led by FB John Henry Johnson. The defense was particularly strong at linebacker, where MLB Myron Pottios anchored a capable unit. Pittsburgh had gotten off to a 6-3-1 start but was coming off of two straight ties to be at 6-3-3 and in desperate need of a win to have any chance at finishing first in the conference.

Dallas was a struggling fourth-year expansion team under Head Coach Tom Landry.  QB Don Meredith was still in the developmental stage, splitting time with veteran Eddie LeBaron, and other players who would be part of the team’s future success were on the roster. But at 3-9, the Cowboys were not yet a formidable NFL presence.

It was a clear but windy day at the Cotton Bowl with 24,136 fans in attendance. The Cowboys scored the first two times they had the ball. On their first series, QB Eddie LeBaron completed a pass to TE Pettis Norman for 32 yards to the Pittsburgh 45. While a holding penalty hindered the advance, Dallas came away with a 53-yard field goal by Sam Baker (pictured at left), taking advantage of the brisk wind at his back.

The Steelers responded with a promising drive but a fumble by Ed Brown was recovered by DE George Andrie at the Dallas 37. The Cowboys drove 63 yards in ten plays and Don Meredith ran the last two yards for a touchdown. LeBaron fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, thus causing the kick to be aborted, but the home team was ahead by 9-0.

Four plays into the second quarter, Brown went long for Buddy Dial, who made a leaping catch along the right sideline and eluded two defenders to go the distance for a 55-yard touchdown. Lou Michaels converted and the Dallas lead was cut to 9-7.

Late in the period, the Steelers came through with consecutive long passes to score again. Brown threw to Gary Ballman for 32 yards and then hit TE Preston Carpenter in the right corner of the end zone for a 28-yard TD. Michaels added the point after and the visitors were up by 14-9. The Steelers got one more shot with time running down in the first half as Brown connected with Dial for 48 yards and, with two seconds remaining, that set up a 24-yard Michaels field goal that made the score 17-9 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Cowboys got a break when a 15-yard face mask penalty on the Steelers moved them into scoring position. Baker was successful with a field goal from 46 yards to narrow the margin to 17-12. Later in the period, Dallas put together a 76-yard advance in eight plays. The biggest was a Meredith throw to Norman that gained 42 yards to the Pittsburgh five and, two plays later, it was Meredith again carrying around end for a four-yard touchdown. Baker converted and the Cowboys were back in front with a 19-17 lead. As the period was coming to a close, it appeared that the Steelers might score, but CB Don Bishop intercepted a Brown pass at the Dallas two to snuff out the threat.

In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were called for having too many players on the field during a punt by the Steelers, but while the resulting five-yard pickup brought Michaels on to the field to try for a 49-yard field goal, the kick was blocked by Bishop, thus preserving the two-point Dallas lead.

Pittsburgh got the ball back following a punt by the Cowboys, but the situation looked bleak. With the game, and season, on the line, and backed up to his own 16 with four minutes left to play and facing fourth-and-14, Brown passed to end Red Mack (pictured at right) out of punt formation for a gain of 42 yards. Four plays later and facing fourth-and-one, Coach Parker gambled on passing up a field goal attempt and John Henry Johnson picked up the needed yardage. Finally, HB Theron Sapp, in for the injured Dick Hoak, broke away for a 24-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining. Michaels added the field goal and, in a dramatic turn of events, the visitors were in front by five points.

The Cowboys went to the shotgun formation on the ensuing series but flanker Frank Clarke fumbled after catching a pass from Meredith at the Dallas 34 and SS Clendon Thomas recovered to nail down Pittsburgh’s 24-19 win.

The Steelers led in total yards (426 to 263) and first downs (19 to 15). Their attack was balanced, with 211 yards coming on the ground and 219 through the air. Pittsburgh turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the Cowboys. The difference nearly came down to placekicking, as Lou Michaels was one of three on field goals with one blocked and Sam Baker was a perfect two-for-two from long distances.

Ed Brown completed just 8 of 18 passes, but they were good for 219 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception. Theron Sapp, picked up from the Eagles during the season, rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries that included the winning TD while John Henry Johnson contributed 68 yards on 21 attempts. Preston Carpenter had three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown and Buddy Dial caught two passes that were good for 103 yards and a score.

For the Cowboys, Don Meredith saw most of the action at quarterback and was five-of-10 for 105 yards with no TDs or interceptions, and he also ran the ball six times for 18 yards and two touchdowns. HB Amos Bullocks topped the runners with 85 yards on 24 attempts and FB Amos Marsh ran the ball 9 times for 48 yards and had a 35-yard catch. Pettis Norman led the club with two pass receptions for 74 yards.

“We knew it was more important than ever to win this one, but it seemed like we just couldn’t get going,” said Theron Sapp. “The turning point was that pass to Red Mack from punt formation. We found new life from that play.”

Pittsburgh’s win set up a showdown with the New York Giants the following week for the Eastern Conference Title. This was a controversial development because the ties, which were not counted in the won-lost percentage at that time, would potentially allow the 7-3-3 Steelers to finish ahead of the 10-3 Giants. However, it became a moot point when the Giants won handily and Pittsburgh dropped all the way to fourth place at 7-4-3. Dallas finished up fifth with a 4-10 record.

As for the two unlikely heroes in Pittsburgh’s dramatic win at Dallas, Theron Sapp’s 119-yard rushing performance was his career high in what was the most productive of seven NFL seasons. He gained a total of 431 yards in 10 games with the Steelers, giving him 452 on 104 carries on the year when combined with his time with the Eagles. In his remaining two seasons with Pittsburgh, he accumulated a total of just 69 rushing yards. Red Mack also had his best season in 1963, catching 25 passes for 618 yards and three touchdowns. He had caught eight passes apiece in each of his first two years with the Steelers in 1961 and ’62 and, in his remaining three seasons that included stints with Philadelphia, Green Bay, and Atlanta, had a total of 11 more pass receptions.

1963: Bears Shut Down Packers to Win Season-Opening Game

The Chicago Bears faced a formidable task as they took on their arch-rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in a season-opening game on September 15, 1963. The Packers were coming off of two consecutive NFL Championships, going a combined 24-4 during the regular season in so doing, and had beaten Chicago in five straight contests. The defending champs were two-touchdown favorites to keep the streak going at home.

Head Coach Vince Lombardi was commencing his fifth year with Green Bay and the club was as formidable on both sides of the ball as their record would imply. QB Bart Starr was highly efficient and FB Jim Taylor had unseated Cleveland’s Jim Brown as the rushing leader in ’62 while also scoring a record 19 touchdowns. The receivers were good and the line excellent. If there was a major concern, it was over the loss of HB/PK Paul Hornung for the year due to a gambling suspension. Likewise on defense, the Packers had five returning players who had received at least some first-team All-NFL recognition and Lombardi felt secure enough to trade two aging veterans, DE Bill Quinlan and CB Johnny Symank, during the offseason.

The Bears, under the direction of 68-year-old owner and Head Coach George Halas, were coming off of a 9-5 record and looked to be a potential challenger in the Western Conference. QB Bill Wade (pictured above) was an able passer, there were good receivers in flanker Johnny Morris and TE Mike Ditka, and a fair stable of running backs. However, the defense, under the guidance of assistant coach George Allen, was especially impressive and contained stalwarts in DE Doug Atkins, MLB Bill George, and safeties Roosevelt Taylor and Richie Petitbon. 

There were 42,327 fans in attendance at Green Bay’s City Stadium. The Packers had to punt following the game’s first series and the Bears nearly provided some excitement when Johnny Morris returned the kick 44 yards to the Green Bay 38, but it was all for naught when Chicago was flagged for clipping. Now starting from their 13, the visitors made one first down before having to punt in return.

Jim Taylor ran for eight yards but LB Larry Morris managed to force a fumble and SS Richie Petitbon recovered at the Green Bay 33. Carries by HB Ronnie Bull and FB Rick Casares picked up 11 yards before the defense was able to halt the advance. Bob Jencks came on to kick a 32-yard field goal and Chicago had a 3-0 lead.

CB Herb Adderley nearly broke the ensuing kickoff return but was tripped up by FB Joe Marconi. Taylor and HB Tom Moore ran for a total of 17 yards and Bart Starr completed passes to TE Ron Kramer and Moore to get to the Chicago 34. The drive halted there and Jerry Kramer tied the score with a 41-yard field goal.

The teams exchanged punts as the game entered the second quarter. The Bears then mounted a drive that covered 66 yards in 14 plays that included Wade running for 10 yards and passing to Bull for 22 to the Green Bay four. However, on second down Wade fumbled when hit hard by DT Dave Hanner and DT Henry Jordan recovered to end the threat. Each team came up with an interception before the first half ended as CB Jesse Whittenton picked off a Wade pass and Petitbon grabbed one for the Bears, and the score remained tied at the intermission.

Following a short series by the Bears to start the third quarter, Green Bay commenced a drive in which Taylor gained 15 yards on two carries and Starr threw to Moore for 18 to the Chicago 47. But following two short running plays, Starr’s pass intended for flanker Boyd Dowler bounced off the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by FS Roosevelt Taylor.

The Bears proceeded to put together a 68-yard drive in 10 plays. Wade completed passes to Bull for 21 yards and Marconi for 16 to the Green Bay 18 and, two plays later, he connected with split end Bo Farrington to the two. From there, Marconi (pictured at left) ran off-tackle for a touchdown and Jencks converted to put Chicago ahead by seven with less than four minutes remaining in the period.

Following an exchange of punts, the Packers began to move the ball again early in the fourth quarter. Starr made throws to Ron Kramer for 11 yards and split end Max McGee for 10 to reach the Chicago 36, but the drive halted there and, facing fourth-and-one, they punted.

The Bears were able to hold onto the ball with the help of a roughing-the-kicker penalty and the clock was down to 6:59 when Green Bay finally regained possession. CB Dave Whitsell intercepted a Starr throw and Chicago advanced into scoring position, but a Jencks field goal try was wide with 1:56 remaining to play. However, any lingering hopes for the Packers ended when Bill George picked off a short pass by Starr and Chicago pulled off the upset by a final score of 10-3.

Chicago’s domination was total as the Bears led in total yards (231 to 150) and first downs (15 to 9) and ran 59 plays to Green Bay’s 43. The point total was the lowest for the Packers since 1959, Lombardi’s first season, and they turned the ball over five times, to two by Chicago.

Bill Wade kept the passes short and completed an efficient 18 of 24 for 129 yards while giving up one interception. He also ran the ball 8 times for 26 yards, placing just behind Rick Casares, who gained 27 yards on five carries, as Chicago’s leading rusher. In addition to gaining 23 yards on 12 rushing attempts, Ronnie Bull (pictured below) led the team by pulling in 6 catches for 48 yards.

For the Packers, Bart Starr had an uncharacteristically rough outing as he succeeded on 11 of 22 throws for 83 yards and was intercepted four times. Jim Taylor was held to 53 yards on 12 carries and Tom Moore, who ran 9 times for 24 yards, gained 32 yards on a team-leading four pass receptions. Ron Kramer picked up 35 yards on his three catches. Jerry Norton, the team’s new punter obtained from the Cowboys, boomed five punts for a 48.6-yard average.

“We had nothing going,” summed up Vince Lombardi in defeat. “We couldn’t even get our hands on the ball. We were lucky to get away 10-3.”

The first week battle set up a tight race between the Bears and Packers that lasted the entire season. Chicago swept the series between the clubs and that was the difference as the Bears finished first in the Western Conference at 11-1-2 and Green Bay in second with an 11-2-1 record. The Bears came away with the NFL Championship, their first since 1946, by defeating the New York Giants.  

Chicago’s defense remained stifling and led the league in ten categories, including fewest points allowed (144) and fewest total yards (3176) which included both the lowest rushing (1442) and passing (1734) yards allowed. Fittingly, five members of the defensive unit were consensus first-team All-NFL selections, including Doug Atkins, Bill George, OLB Joe Fortunato, Roosevelt Taylor, and Richie Petitbon.

1963: Giants Trade Rosey Grier to Rams

On July 8, 1963 the New York Giants traded away one of the stalwart members of their defensive line by dealing DT Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier to the Los Angeles Rams for DT John LoVetere and a future draft pick.

The 6’5”, 290-pound Grier had been chosen by the Giants in the third round of the 1955 NFL draft out of Penn State. Except for the 1957 season, which he missed due to military service, Grier was part of an outstanding unit that included DT Dick Modzelewski and ends Andy Robustelli and Jim Katcavage. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, received consensus first-team All-NFL honors in 1956, and gained at least some first- or second-team recognition after four other seasons. In 1962 Grier was an All-Eastern Conference choice by The Sporting News. Over the same course of time, the Giants consistently contended and won a NFL Championship while topping the Eastern Conference on five occasions. The tough and cohesive defense played a significant role in the club’s success.

However, there were concerns about age and the need for retooling. “At 31, Grier is about four years older than LoVetere,” explained New York’s Head Coach Allie Sherman. Sherman also expressed the desire to use the draft choice obtained from the Rams in dealing for a veteran running back, which failed to materialize (it ended up being a fourth-round choice in 1964 that was used to take Ohio State FB Matt Snell, who chose to sign with New York’s AFL club, the Jets).

In Los Angeles, Grier was reunited with a former Giants teammate, Harland Svare, who was now commencing his first full season as head coach of the Rams. He moved directly into the starting lineup alongside second-year DT Merlin Olsen and flanked by ends Dave “Deacon” Jones, in his third season, and Lamar Lundy, a 28-year-old veteran, putting Grier as the senior member in the midst of another formidable unit. But the remainder of the defense, while containing some good young players, was not so impressive, nor was the offense, and the team as a whole was coming off of a miserable 1-12-1 record in 1962, its fourth straight under .500. Svare had been promoted to head coach during the season.

The club improved to 5-9 in ’63 and the line, now containing Grier, remained the best part of the defense and led the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards in 1964, although the Rams finished once more with a losing record. Yet another disappointing year in ’65, in which Grier was beginning to show his age at 33 but was also still tough against the run, led to the dismissal of Svare and the hiring of George Allen, who had been an outstanding defensive coach with the Bears.

Under Allen’s guidance, the Rams improved to 8-6 in 1966 and were poised for further improvement. However, Grier went down with a torn Achilles tendon in the preseason that cost him the entire year and DT Roger Brown was obtained from Detroit to fill his place. LA went on to reach the postseason for the first time since 1955 with a gaudy 11-1-2 mark in ’67, and the “Fearsome Foursome” of Jones, Olsen, Brown, and Lundy played a key role in the success.

While it was anticipated that Grier would return to the Rams in 1968, he announced his retirement in July, moving on to a full-time entertainment career. Over the course of 11 seasons in the NFL, four with the Rams, he appeared in 141 regular season games and was a solid contributor to excellent defensive lines with two clubs. While sacks were not yet an officially-compiled statistic, Grier has been unofficially credited with 21 during his four active years with the Rams, with a high of seven in 1966.

As for the player the Giants obtained for Grier, the 27-year-old LoVetere (pictured at left), who was 6’4” and weighed 285 pounds, attended Compton Junior College but didn’t play football collegiately although he did play with distinction in the service for two years and was signed by the Rams in 1959. An early proponent of weight training, he was both strong and fast. LoVetere performed well, and in 1960 blocked five kicks, but ran afoul of Svare’s predecessor, Bob Waterfield, and lost his starting job.

LoVetere settled into Grier’s spot in the defensive line (he even wore the same number 76) and was named to the Pro Bowl as the Giants won a third consecutive Eastern Conference title in 1963. However, time finally caught up with the club and the bottom dropped out in ’64. It caught up to LoVetere as well, who appeared in just 12 games combined in 1964 and ’65 due to, first, a broken leg and then a knee injury that required surgery and proved to be career-ending.

Highlighted Year: Bobby Joe Conrad, 1963

Flanker, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 28 (Nov. 17)

6^th season in pro football & with Cardinals

College: Texas A & M

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

The versatile Conrad played at quarterback, halfback, and fullback in addition to end in college and was part of the 1956 Texas A & M team that won the Southwest Conference title. He also starred in the 1958 College All-Star Game upset of the Detroit Lions, kicking four field goals and intercepting a pass. Conrad was chosen by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the ’58 NFL draft but was traded to the Cards prior to the season and was used in the defensive backfield as a rookie, intercepting four passes, as well as for returning punts and placekicking. He was shifted to offense in 1959 and backed up at halfback for two seasons, rushing for a career-high 328 yards in ’59, before being moved to flanker in 1961, where he broke out with 30 catches for 499 yards (16.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. Conrad had a bigger year in 1962, hauling in 62 pass receptions for 954 yards (15.4) avg. and four TDs as part of a productive tandem with split end Sonny Randle.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 73 [1] 

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 112 yds.) vs. Green Bay 10/20

Yards – 967 [6]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 6 catches) vs. Philadelphia 12/8

Average gain – 13.2

TDs – 10 [4, tied with Gail Cogdill & Frank Clarke]

100-yard receiving games – 2

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 1

Average per return – 1.0

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 10 [6, tied with four others]

Points – 60 [15, tied with four others]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NY Daily News

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

Cardinals went 9-5 to finish third in the NFL Eastern Conference.

Aftermath:

Conrad followed up with 61 catches for 780 yards (12.8 avg.) and six touchdowns in 1964 and achieved Pro Bowl recognition. Consistent if not especially fast or flashy, he remained a capable possession receiver for the Cards through 1968, a total of 11 seasons, before finishing up with the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. Overall, he caught 422 passes for 5902 yards (14.0 avg.) and 38 TDs, with 418 of those catches for 5828 yards and all of the TDs coming with the Cardinals. Conrad also returned 33 kickoffs for a 24.6-yard average and 51 punts for an average of 9.1 yards and two TDs. As a placekicker he booted 14 field goals out of 33 attempts and made good on 95 of 99 extra points which, combined with his 42 touchdowns, accounted for a total of 389 points. Conrad received first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors after one other season, and was selected to one Pro Bowl.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Gary Collins, 1963

Flanker/Punter, Cleveland Browns

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Browns

College: Maryland

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 208

Prelude:

Collins caught 74 passes for 1182 yards and 12 touchdowns in college and was a consensus first-team All-American in 1961, placing eighth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. The Browns chose him in the first round of the 1962 NFL draft (fourth overall; the Boston Patriots picked him sixth overall in the AFL draft) and he did more punting than pass receiving during his rookie season. He caught 11 passes for 153 yards (13.9 avg.) and two TDs as backup to flanker Ray Renfro and punted 45 times for a 42.8-yard average.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 43 [17, tied with Frank Clarke]     

Most receptions, game – 5 on five occasions

Yards – 674

Most yards, game – 100 (on 4 catches) at St. Louis 12/1

Average gain – 15.7

TDs – 13 [1, tied with Terry Barr]

100-yard receiving games – 1

Punting

Punts – 54 [10]

Most punts, game – 8 at Pittsburgh 11/10

Yards – 2160 [13]

Average – 40.0 [12]

Best average, game – 48.3 (on 4 punts) at Washington 12/15

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 73 yards

Scoring

TDs – 13 [2, tied with Terry Barr]

Points – 78 [7, tied with Terry Barr]

Browns went 10-4 to finish second in the NFL Eastern Conference while leading the league in rushing (2639 yards).

Aftermath:

Collins followed his breakout season by catching 35 passes for 544 yards (15.5 avg.) and eight touchdowns in 1964, and had a noteworthy performance in the NFL Championship game win over the Colts with his three TD receptions. He continued to be a reliable clutch receiver and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in ’65 and received some first-team All-NFL recognition as he caught 50 passes for 884 yards (17.7 avg.) and 10 TDs and also led the league with a 46.7-yard punting average. Collins achieved career highs in receptions (56) and yards (946) in 1966 and was again selected to the Pro Bowl, as well as garnering second-team All-NFL honors. A shoulder injury limited him to five games in 1968, but he bounced back with 54 catches for 786 yards (14.6 avg.) and 11 touchdowns in ’69, when he again received first-team All-NFL honors from NEA and the New York Daily News. He ended up playing 10 seasons through 1971, all with the Browns, and totaled 331 catches for 5299 yards (16.0 avg.) and 70 TDs. He added another 19 receptions for 275 yards (14.5 avg.) and five more touchdowns in the postseason. Collins also punted 336 times for a 41.0 average. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl, received at least some first-team All-NFL honors after two seasons and either second-team All-NFL or All-conference recognition after two others.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1963: Vikings Rally in Fourth Quarter to Defeat 49ers

A third-year expansion team met up with a club hoping to bounce back from a disappointing season as the Minnesota Vikings took on the 49ers in San Francisco on September 15, 1963.

Minnesota went 5-22-1 in its first two seasons in the NFL, including 2-11-1 in 1962, and was looking to advance. Head Coach Norm Van Brocklin’s team was still very much an erratic work in progress, with a promising offense and problematic defense. QB Fran Tarkenton used his scrambling ability to good effect and HB Tommy Mason (pictured above) emerged as a star in his second year. It was hoped that FB Bill Brown, obtained from the Bears the previous year, would add inside power and blocking and that rookie split end Paul Flatley would improve the receiving corps. There was talent on defense, most notably DE Jim Marshall, LB Rip Hawkins, and CB Ed Sharockman, but the loss of the club’s first two draft choices, DT Jim Dunaway and LB Bobby Bell, to the rival AFL was a huge disappointment.

The 49ers had dropped to 6-8 the previous year, down from three straight seven-win seasons, and all under innovative Head Coach Red Hickey. Injuries had been a big part of the problem, and thus improvement was anticipated. However QB John Brodie, who was erratic but talented, had been injured in an offseason auto accident and appeared to be slow in recovering, while FB J.D. Smith, a capable runner, was weakened by illness. Still, flanker Bernie Casey led a good corps of receivers and CB Abe Woodson provided an additional weapon with his excellence on kickoff returns, in addition to being a solid defensive back.

The level of discontent with the team was reflected in the attendance of 30,781 fans at Kezar Stadium, the lowest for a San Francisco home-opener since 1950. Nevertheless, things started off in electrifying fashion for the home team when Abe Woodson (pictured at left) took the opening kickoff and returned it 103 yards for a touchdown. Tommy Davis added the extra point and the 49ers were up by 7-0 at just 17 seconds into the game.

The Vikings responded by driving 76 yards in 12 plays. Fran Tarkenton converted a third-and-eight situation with a completion to Paul Flatley for 32 yards to the San Francisco 20, and while an offensive pass interference penalty and loss of seven yards on a running play by HB Bill Butler moved the visitors back, Tarkenton fired long on a third-and-31 play to Tommy Mason, who caught the ball at the 15 and, shaking off a defender, ran the rest of the way for a 41-yard TD. Cox converted to tie the score.

The 49ers came right back with a scoring drive. FB Lloyd Winston had a 26-yard run and John Brodie scrambled for 12 yards to set up a 35-yard Davis field goal. The Niners were back in front by 10-7. Butler returned the ensuing short kickoff 26 yards to the Minnesota 40. Bill Brown picked up 25 yards on five running plays and Tarkenton threw to TE Jerry Reichow for five yards, but another pass intended for Reichow at the goal line was broken up by CB Kermit Alexander at the goal line. On the first play of the second quarter, Cox kicked a 37-yard field goal to again even the score.

The teams exchanged punts before the 49ers, starting from their 23, immediately picked up 38 yards on a run by Winston. Brodie threw a screen pass to J.D. Smith that gained 40 yards to the Minnesota five, and the six-play, 77-yard possession ended with Brodie rolling out and passing to Bernie Casey in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Davis added the point after and the Niners were back in front by 17-10.

The Vikings again had to punt and Brodie passed the 49ers to the Minnesota 49 with time running out in the first half, but Davis was short on a 54-yard field goal try and the score remained unchanged at halftime.

Minnesota started off the third quarter with a promising drive highlighted by two plays by Bill Brown (pictured at right). First the fullback ran off tackle for a 21-yard gain and then he gained 14 yards on a screen pass. But after reaching the San Francisco 29, Tarkenton threw a pass that was intercepted by Woodson. The 49ers advanced into Minnesota territory on a series highlighted by a pass to TE Monty Stickles for 17 yards and Brodie rolling out to his right and carrying 24 yards to the Vikings’ 41. After reaching the 38, Brodie threw twice for the end zone with both passes falling incomplete and Davis kicked a 45-yard field goal to give the home team a ten-point lead of 20-10.

The Vikings responded with another promising drive featuring four completions by Tarkenton, but again they came up empty when Mason fumbled and Alexander recovered at the San Francisco 16. A short series by the Niners ended with a punt and, in a possession that extended into the fourth quarter, Minnesota advanced 67 yards in nine plays and did not fail to score. Tarkenton started off with consecutive completions to Mason, for 15 and 11 yards, and a throw to flanker Leon Clarke gained 13 yards. A second-down pass to Flatley was good for 10 yards and moved the Vikings inside the ten, and two carries by Brown picked up the remaining yardage, including the last four for a touchdown. Cox’s extra point made it a three-point game.

Once again the 49ers were held to a short series and punted and the Vikings responded by driving 71 yards in 13 plays. Brown continued to run effectively and Tarkenton completed a pass to Reichow for 19 yards and two to Flatley for seven and 16 yards. Mason ran for the last two yards and a TD and, with Cox adding the point after, the visitors were up by four points.

In the remaining four minutes, San Francisco had the ball twice more, but the home team couldn’t get out of its own territory. An interception by CB Ed Sharockman sealed Minnesota’s 24-20 win.

The Vikings easily led in total yards (418 to 246) and first downs (27 to 10). They topped San Francisco in both on the ground (156 to 126) and through the air (262 to 120). Minnesota also turned the ball over two times, to one by the 49ers.

Fran Tarkenton (pictured below) completed 20 of 29 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown, giving up one interception. Bill Brown rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries that included a TD and Tommy Mason contributed 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and also topped the Vikings with 6 catches for 94 yards and another score. Paul Flatley and Jerry Reichow each had five pass receptions apiece, for 72 and 61 yards, respectively.

For the 49ers, John Brodie was successful on 11 of 23 throws for 125 yards and a TD as well as an interception, and also ran for 42 yards on four carries. Lloyd Winston gained 81 yards on 10 rushing attempts. Bernie Casey caught four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, although J.D. Smith had the most receiving yards on his one reception for 40 yards. As a runner from scrimmage, he was held to minus one yard on five carries. Thanks to his touchdown return on the opening kickoff, Abe Woodson averaged 60.0 yards on his two returns and also intercepted a pass.

The Vikings lost to the Bears the next week, thrashed the 49ers in their rematch in Minnesota, but then lost four straight games on the way to a 5-8-1 record and tie for fourth with Detroit in the Western Conference. They continued to improve on offense, with Tommy Mason again going to the Pro Bowl and garnering consensus first-team All-NFL recognition as he rushed for 763 yards on 166 carries (4.6 avg.) and caught 40 passes for another 365 yards (9.1 avg.) and scored a team-leading total of nine touchdowns. Bill Brown ran for 445 yards while Paul Flatley received caught 51 passes for 867 yards (17.0 avg.) and was named Rookie of the Year by UPI and The Sporting News. Fran Tarkenton also continued his steady development, completing 57.2 percent of his passes for 2311 yards and 15 touchdowns, but was being pressed by rookie Ron VanderKelen by season’s end.

San Francisco sank all the way to the bottom of the conference at 2-12 and Coach Hickey was gone after three games. John Brodie was lost at that point as well with a broken arm, J.D. Smith failed to play up to his usual level, and key injuries weakened the defense, particularly the midseason loss of DT Charlie Krueger. Abe Woodson remained a bright spot as he led the NFL in kickoff returning for the second straight season (and third overall) with a 32.2-yard average that included three touchdowns. He was named to a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl.

1963: Giants Obtain Hugh McElhenny from Vikings

In his prime, HB Hugh McElhenny was arguably the most electrifying open field runner in the NFL. He was fast, elusive, and with outstanding cutting ability that made his breakaway runs, in which he often crisscrossed the field, highlight favorites. But by the time he was acquired by the New York Giants on July 17, 1963 he had played for 11 seasons and the cartilage had worn out in his left knee.

Obtaining the 34-year-old McElhenny from the Minnesota Vikings for two future draft picks (fourth round in 1964, second round in ’65) was thus considered a gamble, but one the Giants were willing to take to add depth to their corps of running backs. While the passing game directed by QB Y.A. Tittle had been outstanding as the club topped the Eastern Conference in 1961 and ’62, the running attack was less formidable. The starting halfback was Phil King, a workmanlike fifth-year pro with a history of injury problems. FB Alex Webster was 32 and, while a proven power runner, was on the downside of his career. Backing up was the versatile but unexciting Joe Morrison, and no younger prospects had shown staying power. Head Coach Allie Sherman was especially interested in finding someone with outside speed, and there was hope that McElhenny still had something left in that regard.

The 6’1”, 195-pound halfback was reunited with his ex-49er teammate Tittle with the Giants. “The King” was a first-round draft choice out of the University of Washington when he joined San Francisco in 1952, and made an immediate impression when he averaged seven yards a carry and scored a total of ten touchdowns as a rookie. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in each of his first two seasons. An excellent complement to FB Joe Perry, McElhenny was at his best on draw plays and screen passes. Over the course of nine years with the 49ers, was chosen to five Pro Bowls as he rushed for 4288 yards on 877 carries, for a 4.9-yard average with 35 TDs, caught 195 passes for 2666 yards (13.7 avg.) and 15 scores, averaged 6.5 yards on 99 punt returns that included another touchdown and 23.0 yards on 65 kickoff returns. Overall, that was a total of 9100 all-purpose yards and 51 TDs.

With the 49ers on a youth movement, McElhenny joined the expansion Vikings in 1961. There he gained 570 yards on the ground, tied his career high with 37 pass receptions, and returned a punt for a touchdown. He was named to one last Pro Bowl, but advancing age and bad knees took their toll the following year.

As a backup for the Giants, McElhenny was often unable to practice due to his knee problems, but he proved useful off the bench. In the opening-week win over the Colts, McElhenny caught a touchdown pass and he had his biggest performance in a midseason showdown with the Browns at Cleveland. He ran the ball 13 times for 53 yards, both season highs, caught one pass for a six-yard TD, and returned a kickoff 51 yards as the Giants won decisively. Meanwhile, Webster managed to play in just half of the games, with Morrison forced to thus fill in at fullback.

Overall, McElhenny rushed for 175 yards on 55 carries (3.2 avg.), had 11 pass receptions for 91 yards and two TDs, and had an additional 210 yards returning kicks. The Giants won the Eastern Conference for a third straight year before bowing to the Bears in the NFL Championship game. McElhenny provided one highlight in that contest by returning a kickoff 47 yards, in addition to gaining 19 yards on seven rushing attempts and catching two passes for 20 yards.

“The King” returned in 1964 but failed to make the team, and caught on with the Detroit Lions in what was his final year.  He retired after having gained 11,369 all-purpose yards, one of only three players up to that time to have crossed the 11,000-yard threshold. McElhenny was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

As for the draft choices the Vikings obtained for McElhenny, the fourth round pick in 1964 was used to take tackle Tom Keating from Michigan, who joined Buffalo of the AFL instead and had his best years as a DT with the Oakland Raiders. The 1965 second-round selection brought Illinois OT Archie Sutton, who lasted for three seasons as a backup with the Vikings and appeared in a total of 19 games.

Highlighted Year: Terry Barr, 1963

Flanker, Detroit Lions

Age: 28

7^th season in pro football & with Lions

College: Michigan

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Following a successful college career, Barr was chosen by the Lions in the third round of the 1957 NFL draft. He played at defensive halfback and returned an interception for a touchdown in Detroit’s NFL Championship victory over Cleveland. Barr performed capably in the defensive backfield, receiving second-team All-NFL honors from the New York Daily News in ’58, until being shifted over to flanker on offense in 1959. He shared the position with Howard “Hopalong” Cassady and posted modest numbers, but broke out with 40 catches for 630 yards (15.8 avg.) and six touchdowns in 1961. However, Barr was limited to six games in ’62 due to a knee injury that required surgery and there were concerns regarding his health heading into the 1963 season.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 66 [3] 

Most receptions, game – 10 (for 135 yds.) at San Francisco 11/3

Yards – 1086 [4]

Most yards, game – 135 (on 10 catches) at San Francisco 11/3

Average gain – 16.5 [17]

TDs – 13 [1, tied with Gary Collins]

100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 9

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 13 [2, tied with Gary Collins]

Points – 78 [7, tied with Gary Collins]

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, NEA

1^st team All-Western Conference: Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Lions went 5-8-1 to finish tied for fourth with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL Western Conference.

Aftermath:

Barr followed up with another Pro Bowl year in 1964, catching 57 passes for 1030 yards (18.1 avg.) and nine TDs. However, another knee injury cost him half the season in ’65 and he retired. Overall, in nine seasons all spent with the Lions, Barr had 227 catches for 3810 yards (16.8 avg.) and 35 touchdowns. He ran the ball for 151 yards and another two TDs and returned 26 kickoffs for a 25.2-yard average and a TD and 50 punts for a 5.2-yard average. On defense, he intercepted five passes. Barr was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

MVP Profile: Y.A. Tittle, 1963

Quarterback, New York Giants

Age:  37 (Oct. 24)

16^th season in pro football, 14^th in NFL and 3^rd with Giants

College: LSU

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

While drafted by the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 1948, Tittle instead signed with the Baltimore Colts of the AAFC. He had an immediate impact, leading the league in yards per attempt (8.7) and throwing for 16 TDs against 9 interceptions. After another year in the AAFC, Tittle and the Colts joined the NFL in 1950, and he led the league in pass completions (161) although the team went a dismal 1-11 and folded. Picked up by the 49ers in ’51, he gradually took over from Frankie Albert as the starting quarterback and was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1953, ’54, and ‘57 seasons. In 1957 the 49ers tied for first in the Western Conference and Tittle also received MVP consideration. He suffered through an injury-plagued season in 1958 and, and while he bounced back with a Pro Bowl year in ’59, by ’60 found himself in competition with the up-and-coming John Brodie. With Head Coach Red Hickey committing to a shotgun offense for 1961, Tittle was dealt to the New York Giants in the preseason and revived his career as he threw for 2272 yards and 17 TDs. The Giants topped the Eastern Conference and Tittle was selected for the Pro Bowl and received MVP recognition from the Newspaper Enterprise Association. He followed up with a bigger year in 1962, throwing for 3224 yards and a league-leading 33 touchdowns and receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors, plus being selected league MVP by UPI. The Giants again finished first in the Eastern Conference, although they fell short in the NFL title game.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 13 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 367 [3]

Most attempts, game – 38 vs. St. Louis 11/24

Completions – 221 [3]

Most completions, game – 22 vs. St. Louis 11/24

Yards – 3145 [3]

Most yards, game – 324 at Washington 10/6

Completion percentage – 60.2 [1]

Yards per attempt – 8.6 [1]

TD passes – 36 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. Dallas 10/20, at St. Louis 11/3, vs. San Francisco 11/17

Interceptions – 14 [7, tied with Earl Morrall]

Most interceptions, game – 4 vs. Washington 12/8

Passer rating – 104.8 [1]

300-yard passing games – 2

200-yard passing games – 10

Rushing

Attempts – 18

Most attempts, game – 5 (for 24 yds.) at Baltimore 9/15

Yards – 99

Most yards, game – 45 (on 4 att.) vs. St. Louis 11/24

Yards per attempt – 5.5

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs - 2

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Chicago)

Pass attempts – 29

Pass completions – 11

Passing yards – 147

TD passes – 1

Interceptions – 5

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – 2

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: AP, NEA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NEA, NY Daily News

1^st team All-Eastern Conference: Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Giants went 11-3 to finish first in the Eastern Conference while leading the NFL in total yards (5024), scoring (448 points), and touchdowns (57). Lost NFL Championship to Chicago Bears (14-10).

Aftermath:

The team collapsed in 1964, Tittle’s last season, and he threw for just 1798 yards with 10 TDs and 22 interceptions while splitting time with rookie Gary Wood. He retired as NFL career leader in pass attempts (3817), completions (2118), and yards (28,339). The Giants retired his #14, and Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1971.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

1963: Giants Dominate Browns in Key Eastern Showdown

The Cleveland Browns seemed poised to take control of the NFL Eastern Conference race as they hosted the New York Giants on October 27, 1963. The Browns were undefeated at 6-0 and had looked very good in defeating the Giants at Yankee Stadium two weeks earlier. Under first-year Head Coach Blanton Collier, they had the league’s top rusher in FB Jim Brown, who was leading the NFL with 931 yards on the ground and had compiled 209 yards from scrimmage in the previous meeting with the Giants. QB Frank Ryan was also leading the NFL with a completion percentage of 62.1.

The Giants, coached by Allie Sherman, had topped the Eastern Conference in each of the last two years but, at 4-2, were in danger of falling out of contention unless they could derail Cleveland. 37-year-old QB Y.A. Tittle (pictured above) had been a sensation since arriving from San Francisco in 1961 and had a fine receiving corps led by split end Del Shofner. The veteran group of running backs included FB Alex Webster and HB Hugh McElhenny. The defense also had a well-seasoned core that was anchored by MLB Sam Huff and included such stalwarts as DEs Andy Robustelli and Jim Katcavage, DT Dick Modzelewski, cornerbacks Dick Lynch and Erich Barnes, and FS Jim Patton.

There were 84,213 fans at Municipal Stadium, the second-largest crowd for a regular season game to date in the history of the huge venue. The tone was set on the second play from scrimmage when Jim Brown fumbled after picking up seven yards and Sam Huff recovered for the Giants at the Cleveland 30. Four plays later, Don Chandler kicked a 29-yard field goal to give New York the early lead.

On the next play following the kickoff, Frank Ryan threw a pass that was intercepted by Jim Patton and the Giants again took possession in Cleveland territory. They immediately capitalized when Y.A. Tittle threw to Del Shofner for a 23-yard touchdown. Chandler added the extra point and less than three minutes into the game, the visitors were ahead by 10-0. Cleveland had run only three offensive plays.

The Browns went three-and-out on their next series and were forced to punt. The Giants, taking over at their 14, put together an 86-yard drive in 15 plays. Tittle completed seven passes along the way, two of which converted third downs, including one to TE Aaron Thomas for 19 yards in a third-and-10 situation and another to TE Joe Walton for 13 yards on a third-and-six play. Hugh McElhenny and Alex Webster ran effectively and Tittle finished the series off with a six-yard scoring pass to McElhenny. New York’s lead was 17-0 after a quarter of play.

The Browns again had to punt and once more New York responded by putting points on the board. This time the Giants moved the ball 34 yards in eight plays capped by Chandler booting a 34-yard field goal. Tittle again came through with a third down completion to keep the drive going, connecting with Shofner for 16 yards to the Cleveland 31 on a third-and-seven play.

Another short series by the Browns was followed by another New York scoring drive. Tittle completed four more passes, Cleveland was flagged for pass interference on one he didn’t complete, and Chandler kicked another field goal, this time from 33 yards. The Giants had scored on every first half possession and took a commanding 23-0 lead into halftime. The statistics were as lopsided as the score - New York had outgained the Browns by 195 yards to 35 and Cleveland had run just 20 plays.

The Giants kept pouring it on as the third quarter began. McElhenny took the second half kickoff 51 yards and they ended up with a fourth Chandler field goal, of 42 yards. The Browns still remained stymied on offense and punted, and New York remained unstoppable. The offense put together another methodical scoring drive that ended with Webster running the last two yards for a TD.

The outcome was not in doubt in the fourth quarter as the Giants finally failed to score on a possession. After reaching the Cleveland 37, Tittle’s deflected pass was intercepted. Jim Ninowski was now at quarterback for the Browns, but had no better luck at moving the team until his second series, after Chandler missed on a 44-yard field goal attempt. Ninowski threw to split end Tom Hutchinson for 70 yards and two plays later finally got the Browns on the board with a 10-yard touchdown pass to end Rich Kreitling. However, Groza’s extra point attempt was blocked by Huff. The final score was a resounding 33-6 win for the Giants.

New York had a huge lead in total yards (387 to 142) and first downs (26 to 6). The Giants sacked Cleveland’s quarterbacks four times and Cleveland turned the ball over on three occasions, to just the one late and insignificant turnover suffered by New York. The Giants only punted twice, both coming in the final period.

Y.A. Tittle completed 21 of 31 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns with one intercepted. Del Shofner (pictured at left) had 7 catches for 108 yards and a TD. Alex Webster rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and Hugh McElhenny also ran for 53 yards, on 13 attempts, while contributing a TD on his lone pass reception. Don Chandler helped out with his four field goals in five attempts.

For the Browns, Frank Ryan was successful on only one of 9 throws for a startling minus six passing yards and was intercepted once. Jim Ninowski hit on 4 of 11 passes for 120 yards and a TD with one picked off. Jim Brown was held to just 40 yards on 9 carries and had the critical early fumble. He was also ejected after getting into an altercation with New York LB Tom Scott, who was also tossed, in the game’s last minute. Tom Hutchinson, thanks to the long reception in the fourth quarter, had two catches for 97 yards to lead the club.

The Giants continued on to win their next four games and lost only once more on the way to once again topping the Eastern Conference with an 11-3 record. However, they lost to the Bears in the NFL title game, falling short for the third straight time. Cleveland won the next week at Philadelphia but then lost two straight, faltering down the stretch and ending up in second place at 10-4.

Y.A. Tittle broke his own NFL record with 36 touchdown passes and also led the league in overall passing (104.8 rating in current system), completion percentage (60.2), yards per attempt (8.6), and percentage of TD passes (9.8, tied with Frank Ryan). Del Shofner ranked third in pass receiving yards (1181) and fourth in pass receptions (64). Don Chandler led the NFL in scoring (106 points) and was third in field goals (18) and first in extra points (52).

1963: Steelers Rally But Missed Extra Points Cause Tie with Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off their 1963 NFL season against the cross-state rival Eagles in Philadelphia on September 15. Coming off a promising 9-5 record in ’62, Steelers Head Coach Buddy Parker had agreed to stay on for another year. While Hall of Fame-bound QB Bobby Layne, who was showing a great deal of wear, had retired, the Steelers had ex-Bears QB Ed Brown available to direct the offense. FB John Henry Johnson was coming off his finest pro season, having rushed for 1141 yards, and there was an excellent deep receiver available in split end Buddy Dial. Tragically, the defense lost DT Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb to an offseason drug overdose, but overall the unit was a good one. DE Lou Michaels (pictured above) doubled at the team’s placekicker and was coming off a season in which he had set a NFL record with 26 field goals – his ups and downs would play a significant role in the opening contest.

For Head Coach Nick Skorich’s Eagles, 1962 had been an injury-plagued disaster. Just two years removed from a NFL title, Philadelphia went 3-10-1 to drop to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Following a record-breaking season in 1961, QB Sonny Jurgensen still led the NFL in passing yards with 3261 but also in interceptions with 26. Nevertheless, the offense contained formidable weapons in flanker Tommy McDonald, TE Pete Retzlaff, and HB Timmy Brown, who had broken out in ’62 to set a league record for all-purpose yards with 2306.  

It was an overcast and raw day at Franklin Field with 58,205 fans in attendance. The Steelers gained a pair of first downs on their initial series of the game, both on runs by HB Dick Hoak, but eventually had to punt after reaching the Philadelphia 45.  

The Eagles responded with a 10-play, 87-yard drive that started with Sonny Jurgensen connecting with Tommy McDonald (pictured below) for a 43-yard gain and ended with another Jurgensen to McDonald throw for a 13-yard touchdown. In between, Jurgensen kept the drive going with a 27-yard completion to Pete Retzlaff in a third-and-10 situation and a quarterback sneak that converted a fourth down.

On their next possession, following a punt by the Steelers, the Eagles again moved into Pittsburgh territory but CB Dick Haley intercepted a Jurgensen pass at the 38. Still, the Steelers couldn’t move effectively on offense and punted. While Timmy Brown took off for a 21-yard gain to start the series, the Eagles punted early in the second quarter.

The Steelers came alive on offense as Ed Brown completed passes to TE Preston Carpenter, Buddy Dial, and HB Tom Tracy. The drive stalled and Lou Michaels kicked a 38-yard field goal to reduce Philadelphia’s margin to 7-3.

The teams traded turnovers. Pittsburgh CB Brady Keys mishandled a punt and rookie LB Lee Roy Caffey recovered for the Eagles at the Steelers’ 44. But on the next play, Timmy Brown fumbled a handoff and LB George Tarasovic got the ball back for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went eight yards in three plays and Michaels kicked a club-record 50-yard field goal to make it a one-point contest. Michaels had a chance to put the Steelers in front at the end of the half but his try, again from 50 yards, fell short. Philadelphia took the slender 7-6 lead into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, John Henry Johnson fumbled and LB Maxie Baughan recovered for the Eagles at the Pittsburgh 41. The home team made the most of the break, driving to a six-yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen to TE Ralph “Catfish” Smith.

Late in the period the Steelers tried another field goal but Michaels was wide to the left from 37 yards out. Pittsburgh got the ball back on a turnover and advanced to the Philadelphia 10 as the period ended and started off the fourth quarter with a 17-yard Michaels field goal. The margin for the Eagles was cut to 14-9.

Pinned deep in their own territory following the kickoff, the Eagles were forced to punt and King Hill booted the ball 62 yards, which Keys again muffed when he tried to pull it in over his shoulder. However, this time he picked up his own fumble and ran 71 yards down the right sideline before being dropped at the Philadelphia three yard line. Two plays later, Johnson dove for a one-yard TD but CB Irv Cross blocked the extra point attempt. Still, Pittsburgh was ahead by a score of 15-14.

Safety Clendon Thomas picked off a Jurgensen pass on the next series, but the Eagles came back to score again. On a third-and-five play at their own 25, Jurgensen tossed a bomb to McDonald for a 75-yard touchdown and, with rookie Mike Clark’s third successful extra point added, regained the lead at 21-15.

Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to give the Steelers good field position at the 50. Seven plays later, Ed Brown threw to Johnson for an 11-yard TD. However, once again the extra point attempt went awry as the kick by Michaels hit the right upright and bounced back.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the time remaining. The game ended with the Steelers at the Philadelphia 25 following a pass from Ed Brown to Dial. Time ran out with the score tied at 21-21.

The Eagles outgained the Steelers (353 yards to 315) although Pittsburgh accumulated more first downs (21 to 14). Philadelphia had difficulty running the ball, gaining just 58 yards on the ground to 109 for the Steelers, and the Eagles also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by Pittsburgh.

Ed Brown completed 18 of 34 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Buddy Dial (pictured at right) caught 7 of those throws for 116 yards. Dick Hoak led the Steelers in rushing with 55 yards on 15 carries while John Henry Johnson contributed 40 yards on 13 attempts and caught three passes for 16 yards and a TD via each. Lou Michaels was successful on three of five field goal attempts, but his two failures in three tries for extra points doomed the Steelers to a tie rather than a win.

For the Eagles, Sonny Jurgensen was successful on 16 of 26 passes for 322 yards and three TDs with two intercepted. Tommy McDonald had a huge performance with 7 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Timmy Brown paced the running attack with a modest 24 yards on 7 carries but, indicative of his all-around skills, gained 79 yards on four pass receptions.

“We got a bad game out of our system, and we got away with it,” said Buddy Parker.

There was additional drama – and nearly a tragedy – during the game that most were unaware of until it was reported afterward. Pittsburgh LB John Reger was knocked unconscious when making a tackle at the end of the first quarter and swallowed his tongue. Swift action by the team doctors saved him from choking.

The Steelers would go on to tie three games, and it would play a role in the race for the Eastern Conference title. Pittsburgh was 7-3-3 going into the last game of the season against the 10-3 Giants in New York and, with ties not affecting a team’s winning percentage at that time, the Steelers could have finished first in the Eastern Conference with a win. They lost to the Giants to end up fourth at 7-4-3.

Lou Michaels went on to kick 21 field goals on 41 attempts and missed only one more extra point in the remaining games. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Buddy Dial also had a Pro Bowl year, catching 60 passes for 1295 yards (21.6 avg.) and nine touchdowns.

The Eagles endured another disappointing and injury-marred season, with Sonny Jurgensen missing five games. They again ended up at the bottom of the conference with a 2-10-2 record.

Tommy McDonald caught 41 passes for 731 yards (17.8 avg.) and eight TDs. It was not one of his most productive years in Philadelphia, no doubt affected by Jurgensen missing significant time. Timmy Brown broke his record for all-purpose yards as he rolled up a total of 2428 (841 rushing, 487 pass receiving, 945 on kickoff returns, 152 returning punts).