1965 NFL playoffs
Dates | December 26, 1965-January 2, 1966 | ||||
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Season | 1965 | ||||
Teams | 3 | ||||
Games played | 2 | ||||
NFL Championship Gamesite | |||||
Defending champions | Cleveland Browns | ||||
Champions | Green Bay Packers | ||||
Runners-up | Cleveland Browns | ||||
Conference runners-up | |||||
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The1965NFL playoffsdetermined the champion of theNational Football Leaguein professionalAmerican footballfor its1965season. Although a single championship game between conference winners was the current format for the league, a tie in the Western Conference standings between theGreen Bay PackersandBaltimore Coltsnecessitated a raretiebreaker playoff,the first in the league inseven yearsand the first in the Western conference since1957.A coin flip decided the home team.[1] The teams had played twice during the regular season and Green Bay had won both: 20–17 inMilwaukeeon September 26,[2]and 42–27 inBaltimoreon December 12.[3]
Both teams were hampered on offense without their starting quarterbacks. ColtsJohnny UnitasandGary Cuozzowere both sidelined with injuries, and newly signed replacementsEd BrownandGeorge Haffnerwere ruled ineligible by the league owners,[4]so fifth-year running backTom Matte,a quarterback incollegeatOhio State,was thrust into service behind center.[1][5][6]Defensive backBobby Boyd,a one-timeOklahomaquarterback, assumed the back-up role.[4]Packers QBBart Starrwas injured (ribs) on the first play, so veteranZeke Bratkowskiplayed the rest of the game,[6]backed up by halfbackPaul Hornungand safetyWillie Wood.Tied at 10 points at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime for over 13 minutes. At the time, it was the longest game in NFL history.[6][7][8][9]Green Bay kickerDon Chandlermade a controversial field goal late in regulation (22 yards) to tie the game at ten. He then booted the winning 25-yarder in overtime.[8]
Although thechampionship gamewas played in 1966 on January 2, it is recognized as part of the 1965 NFL season. It was the latest date for an NFL Championship Game to that point, and the first time in league history that the game was held after all of thecollegebowl games.
ThePlayoff Bowl(a consolation game between the conference runners-up) for the 1965 season took place inMiamion January 9, 1966, the Sunday following the NFL championship game. With Matte at quarterback, the Colts defeated theDallas Cowboys35–3;[10][11]the rusty Cowboys' previous game was three weeks earlier, on December 19. This capped a season where the Western Conference won 15 out of 16 interconference games against the Eastern Conference, including the championship game and Playoff Bowl.
The tiebreaker playoff between Green Bay and Baltimore was the last for the NFL; the league expanded to sixteen teams in four divisions in1967and a point differential was introducedto break ties.It was used that year in the Coastal Division, whereBaltimore(11–1–2) tied withLos Angelesfor thebest overall recordin the league, but was left out of thepostseason,which consisted of the four division winners only; thewild cardteam was introduced in1970with the realignment of theAFL–NFL merger.TheAmerican Football League(AFL) hadtwo tiebreaker playoff games,the last in1968.
Tournament bracket
[edit]Western Conference playoff December 26 | NFL Championship January 2, 1966 | ||||||||
E | Cleveland | 12 | |||||||
W | Baltimore | 10 | W | Green Bay | 23 | ||||
W | Green Bay | 13 |
- Both games were atLambeau FieldinGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Western Conference playoff
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Packers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
atLambeau Field,Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date:December 26, 1965
- Game time:1:05 p.m.CST
- Game attendance:50,484
- Referee:Norm Schachter
Game information |
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Scoring |
NFL Championship Game
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Packers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
atLambeau Field,Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date:January 2, 1966
- Game time:1:05 p.m.CST
- Game attendance:50,852
- Referee:George Rennix
Game information |
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Scoring
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References
[edit]- ^ab"Matte hopes for Fran's success".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). Associated Press. December 23, 1965. p. 2B.
- ^Lea, Bud(September 27, 1965)."Packers ride 'taxi' to 20-17 win".Milwaukee Sentinel.p. 2, part 2.
- ^Johnson, Chuck (December 13, 1965)."Hornung scores 5 touchdowns as Packers break Colts, 42-27".Milwaukee Journal.p. 17, part 2.
- ^ab"Rule Brown out of game".Youngstown Vindicator.(Ohio). Associated Press. December 21, 1965. p. 38.
- ^Hartnett, Ken (December 26, 1965)."Packers battle Colts, Chargers meet Bills today".Youngstown Vindicator.(Ohio). Associated Press. p. D1.
- ^abc"Packers edge Colts: injuries mar GB victory".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). Associated Press. December 27, 1965. p. 1C.
- ^ab"Packers win, 13 to 10, for NFL Western title".Milwaukee Sentinel.December 27, 1965. p. 1, part 1.
- ^abcLea, Bud(December 27, 1965)."Chandler 'kicks' Packers to title".Milwaukee Sentinel.p. 2, part 2.
- ^abMaule, Tex(January 3, 1966)."The point of some return".Sports Illustrated.p. 10.
- ^"Baltimore whips Cowboys 35-3 in NFL battle of second-bests".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). Associated Press. January 10, 1966. p. 3B.
- ^"Matte leads Colts to humiliating win".The Bulletin.(Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 10, 1966. p. 9.
- ^Lea, Bud(January 3, 1966)."Packers blast Browns for title".Milwaukee Sentinel.p. 2, part 2.
- ^Hand, John (January 3, 1966)."Green Bay's ball-control tactics beat Browns for title, 23-12".Youngstown Vindicator.(Ohio). Associated Press. p. 18.
- ^Maule, Tex(January 10, 1966)."A cool masterpiece".Sports Illustrated.p. 14.