The 1958 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the Eastern Conference championship between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, both at 9–3, requiring a one-game playoff. The Giants swept both games during the regular season, including a 13–10 win on December 14 at Yankee Stadium. Injured kicker Pat Summerall made a 49-yard field goal late in the game in a snowstorm to break the tie and force the playoff.[1][2][3]
| Dates | December 21-28, 1958 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 1958 | ||||
| Teams | 3 | ||||
| Games played | 2 | ||||
| NFL Championship Game site | |||||
| Defending champions | Detroit Lions (did not qualify) | ||||
| Champions | Baltimore Colts | ||||
| Runners-up | New York Giants | ||||
| Conference runners-up | |||||
| |||||
This conference championship game was played on December 21 at Yankee Stadium; the winner then hosted the idle Baltimore Colts (9–3), champions of the Western Conference, in the NFL Championship Game on December 28.
Tournament bracket
edit| Eastern Conference playoff December 21 | NFL Championship December 28 | ||||||||
| W | Baltimore | 23* | |||||||
| E | Cleveland | 0 | E | New York | 17 | ||||
| E | New York | 10 | |||||||
- * Overtime period
- Both games were at Yankee Stadium in New York City
Eastern Conference championship
edit| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Giants | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
- Date: December 21, 1958
- Game attendance: 61,274
| Game information |
|---|
First Quarter Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Both teams turned the ball over four times, with three Browns interceptions (one from Jim Ninowski and two from Milt Plum) and a fumble matching the Giants throwing two of their own from Don Heinrich to go with two lost fumbles. The Giants outgained Cleveland 317 to 86 in total yards. [4]
NFL Championship game
editReferences
edit- ^ "Giants force playoff, jolt Browns, 13–10". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 15, 1958. p. 26.
- ^ "Summerall believes kick sailed 59-yards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 15, 1958. p. 26.
- ^ Schell, Bill (December 15, 1958). "Summerall's kick gives Giants 13–10 win, forces playoff with Browns". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). p. 14.
- ^ "Divisional Round - Cleveland Browns at New York Giants - December 21st, 1958". Pro-Football-Reference.com.