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1969 NFL Championship Game

Coordinates:44°51′14″N93°14′31″W/ 44.854°N 93.242°W/44.854; -93.242
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See also:1969–70 NFL playoffs

1969 NFL Championship Game
DateJanuary 4, 1970
StadiumMetropolitan Stadium,Bloomington, Minnesota
MVPJoe Kapp(Quarterback; Minnesota)
Attendance47,900
TV in the United States
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersRay Scott,Paul Christman,
and Bruce Roberts
Radio in the United States
NetworkCBS
Metropolitan Stadium is located in the United States
Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium
class=notpageimage|
Location in theUnited States
Metropolitan Stadium is located in Minnesota
Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium
class=notpageimage|
Location inMinnesota

The1969 NFL Championship Gamewas the 37th and final championship game prior to theAFL–NFL merger,played January 4, 1970, atMetropolitan StadiuminBloomington, Minnesota,a suburb south ofMinneapolis.The winner of the game earned a berth inSuper Bowl IVinNew Orleansagainst the champion of theAmerican Football League.[1][2]

TheMinnesota Vikingsof the Western Conference hosted theCleveland Brownsof the Eastern Conference. It was the Vikings' first appearance in the title game, while the Browns were making their second straight appearance and fourth of the 1960s.

Minnesota had a regular season record of 12–2, including a 51–3 defeat of the Browns eight weeks earlier on November 9.[3][4]The Vikings defeated theLos Angeles Rams23–20 in theWestern Conference championshipa week earlier at Met Stadium. They were coached byBud Grantand led on offense by quarterbackJoe Kappand wide receiverGene Washington.The defense allowed only 133 points (9½ per game) during the regular season and their four defensive linemen were known as the "Purple People Eaters."

Cleveland was 10–3–1 during the regular season and had upset theDallas Cowboys38–14 at theCotton Bowlfor theEastern Conference title.[5][6]The Browns were coached byBlanton Collier;Bill Nelsenwas the starting quarterback andGary CollinsandPaul Warfieldwere star wide receivers for the team.

Although not as severe as the "Ice Bowl"of1967,the weather conditions were bitterly cold at 8 °F (−13 °C), with a sub-zerowind chillfactor. Cleveland linebackerJim Houstonsufferedfrostbiteduring the game and was hospitalized.

Minnesota was favored by nine points to win the title game at home,[1][7]and they won, 27–7.[2][8][9]

Of the four NFL teams that joined the league during the AFL era (1960s), Minnesota was the sole winner of a pre-mergerNFL championship. TheDallas Cowboysentered the league in1960and lost two NFL title games to theGreen Bay Packers,in1966and1967.The expansionAtlanta Falcons(1966) andNew Orleans Saints(1967) did not qualify for the postseason until1978and1987,respectively.

The Vikings would go on to lose Super Bowl IV 23–7 to the AFL championKansas City Chiefs.Starting with the1970season, the NFL champion was determined in the Super Bowl, beginning withSuper Bowl V.

This was also the final broadcasting assignment forPaul Christman,who died less than two months later on March 2.

Game summary

[edit]

Cleveland had lost theprevious season's NFL title game34–0 at home, and this time fared little better. The Vikings dominated the game, racking up 381 yards with no turnovers, while Cleveland gained just 268 yards and turned the ball over three times.

The Vikings took a lead just four minutes into the first quarter, driving 70 yards for a touchdown in 8 plays. The key play of the drive was a pass fromJoe Kappto receiverGene Washingtonthat was nearly 5 yards short of the mark. Despite the short throw, Washington was able to come back and haul it in for a 33-yard gain to the Browns' 24-yard line. Two plays later,Dave Osborn's 12-yard run moved the ball to the 7. Then two plays after that,Bill Brownaccidentally slipped and bumped into Kapp while moving up to take a handoff, but Kapp simply kept the ball himself and ran it 7 yards for a touchdown.

The situation never improved for Cleveland. The next time Minnesota took possession of the ball, defensive backErich Barnesslipped while in one-on-one coverage with Washington, enabling him to catch a pass from Kapp and run to the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown completion. Barnes had been knocked down by linebackerJim Houston,his teammate; the score was 14–0 after just over 7 minutes of play.[10]Near the end of the first quarter, Browns running backLeroy Kellylost a fumble that was recovered by linebackerWally Hilgenbergon the Cleveland 43. Kapp then completed a 12-yard pass to Washington beforeFred Coxfinished the drive with a 30-yard field goal, putting the Vikings up 17–0. Later in the second period, Hilgenberg snuffed out a Cleveland scoring threat by intercepting a pass fromBill Nelsenon the Vikings' 33-yard line. Minnesota subsequently drove 67 yards in 8 plays. Kapp started the drive with a pair of completions toJohn Hendersonfor 17 total yards, while Osborn broke off a 16-yard run and ended up finishing the drive with a 20-yard touchdown burst, giving the Vikings a 24–0 lead with 4:46 left in the first half. Cleveland responded with a drive to the Vikings' 17, but turned the ball over on downs when Nelsen overthrew receiverGary Collinsin the end zone on 4th and 3.

The third quarter was mostly uneventful, with the exception of Fred Cox's 32-yard field goal that gave Minnesota a 27–0 lead after an 11-play, 80-yard drive. The most noteworthy play was a 13-yard scramble by Kapp in which he plowed into 240-pound Browns linebackerJim Houstonso hard that Houston was knocked out of the game. In the 4th quarter, Cleveland finally got on the board when a diving 18-yard reception byPaul Warfield(playing his final game in his first stint with the Cleveland Browns; Warfield would be traded to Miami in 1970 and wouldn't return to Cleveland until 1976) set up Nelsen's 3-yard touchdown pass to Collins. There were still 13 minutes on the clock at this point, but there would be no more scoring. The Vikings had a drive to the Cleveland 2-yard line, but decided to let the clock run out instead of go for another score.[11]

Kapp completed 7 of 13 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 57 yards and another score. Osborn rushed 18 times for 108 yards and a touchdown. Washington had 120 yards and a touchdown on just 3 receptions. Kelly was the Browns' top rusher with 80 yards, while also catching two passes for 17. Nelsen completed 17 of 33 passes for 181 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.[2][8][9]The Browns had trouble on the frozen turf ofMetropolitan Stadiumeven though many players worebroomballshoes.[10]

Scoring summary

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 0 077
Vikings 14 10 3027

atMetropolitan Stadium,Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

Officials

[edit]
  • Referee:Tommy Bell(7)
  • Umpire:Joe Connell (57)
  • Head linesman:George Murphy (30)
  • Line judge:Jack Fette (39)
  • Back judge:Ralph Vandenberg (47)
  • Field judge:Fritz Graf(34)[11]

The NFL had six game officials in1969.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abLivingston, Pat (January 4, 1970)."Vikings, Browns clash for NFL title".Pittsburgh Press.p. 1, section 4.
  2. ^abc"Minnesota, Chiefs will meet on Super Sunday".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 5, 1970. p. 10.
  3. ^"Browns routed by Vikings, 51-3".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Associated Press. November 10, 1969. p. 28.
  4. ^"Browns crushed by Vikings, 51-3".Milwaukee Journal.press dispatches. November 10, 1969. p. 13, part 2.
  5. ^"Nelsen leads Browns to 38-14 victory".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Associated Press. December 29, 1969. p. 26.
  6. ^"Browns baffle Dallas again".Milwaukee Journal.press dispatches. December 29, 1969. p. 9, part 2.
  7. ^"It's cold - of course - in Minnesota".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 4, 1970. p. 1, sports.
  8. ^abLea, Bud(January 5, 1970)."Vikings, Chiefs gain Super Bowl".Milwaukee Sentinel.p. 1, part 2.
  9. ^abLivingston, Pat (January 5, 1970)."Vikings' supermen hurdle Browns".Pittsburgh Press.p. 25.
  10. ^ab"Kapping the Browns".Sports Illustrated. January 12, 1970.
  11. ^abRollow, Cooper (January 5, 1970)."Minnesotans beat Browns, 27-7; 1st title".Chicago Tribune.p. 1, section 3A.
  12. ^"The Bryan Times - Google News Archive Search".news.google.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
  13. ^"Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search".news.google.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
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44°51′14″N93°14′31″W/ 44.854°N 93.242°W/44.854; -93.242

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