By Ron Griffitts
Contributing columnist
On Dec. 27, 1964 the Cleveland Browns (10-3-1) coached by Blanton Collier, confronted the Baltimore Colts (12-2) coached by Don Shula in Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland within the NFL Championship Sport which featured two of the best and hottest gamers of that day in Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas.
Collier, the previous coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, had changed Paul Brown in 1963 after proprietor Artwork Modell fired him. In one other Brown connection, Don Shula was a former Browns’ participant underneath Paul Brown within the 1950’s.
The Colts had been led by quarterback Johnny Unitas (2824 YDS, 19 TDS), operating backs Lenny Moore (584 YDS, 16 TDS), Tony Lorick (513 YDS, 4 TDS) and Jerry Hill (384 YDS, 5 TDS), and receivers Jimmy Orr (867 YDS, 6 TDS), Raymond Berry (663 YDS, 6 TDS), Lenny Moore (472 YDS, 3 TDS) and John Mackey (406 YDS, 2 TDS).
Their place kicker was Lou Michaels who made 17 of 35 discipline aim makes an attempt. They had been led on protection by Gino Marchetti, who recovered two fumbles and had 11.5 sacks, Billy Ray Smith with three fumble recoveries and 9.5 sacks, Fred Miller with one fumble restoration and 10 sacks, Bobby Boyd with 9 interceptions and Billy Logan with six.
The Browns had been led on offense by quarterback Frank Ryan (2404 YDS, 24 TDS), operating backs Jim Brown (1446 YDS, 7 TDS) and Ernie Inexperienced (491 YDS, 6 TDS), and receivers Paul Warfield (920 YDS, 9 TDS), Gary Collins (544 YDs, 8 TDS), Jim Brown (340 YDS, 2 TDS), Johnny Brewer (338 YDS, 3 TDS) and Ernie Inexperienced (283 YDS, 4 TDS).
The place kicker was 40-year outdated Lou Groza who made 22 of 33 discipline aim makes an attempt.
They had been led on protection by Paul Wiggin with 8.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries, Invoice Glass with one fumble restoration and eight.5 sacks and Walter Seashore, Larry Benz and Bernie Parrish who every had 4 interceptions.
Additionally they had 22-year outdated Leroy Kelly as a kick and punt returner who returned one punt 68 yards for a landing, and later in his profession could be a star operating again for the Browns.
Municipal Stadium was on the lake and it was commonplace for wind and snow to blow in off the lake throughout a sport. On this sport, that did occur as the primary half was scoreless.
Within the second half, the wind favored the Browns and Dr. Frank Ryan (he had a arithmetic PhD from Rice) accomplished landing passes of 18, 42 and 51 yards to Gary Collins, Jim Brown rushed for 131 yards and Lou Groza kicked discipline objectives of 10 and 43 yards because the Browns gained their final soccer championship 27-0.
The Browns had been again the subsequent yr within the NFL Championship Sport whereas Baltimore was again in 1969 towards the New York Jets in Tremendous Bowl III.
Statistics for this text are from pro-football-reference.com and Youtube.com.
Originally posted 2024-01-13 13:00:00.