Playoff Bowl 1961

January 7, 1961- Detroit Lions 17 Cleveland Browns 16

A disappointing crowd of 34,981 saw Detroit defeat the Cleveland Browns, 17-16, in the first Playoff Bowl. It was the Lions' eighth win in nine games against the Browns. The game was decided on a missed Cleveland PAT in the game's final minutes. Detroit's offense was aided by interceptions from Gary Lowe (3) and Alex Karras (1) as well as a fine day from Nick Pietrosante, who ran for 89 yards on 17 carries.

Cleveland's Milt Plum hit Rich Keitling with a 9 yard touchdown pass and the Lions trailed 7-0 at the half. But, Detroit went ahead on a touchdown run by Pietrosante and a field goal by Jim Martin. The Browns were able to tie it at 10-10 on Sam Baker's 27 yard field goal before Ken Webb scored Cleveland's decisive touchdown on a dive in the final quarter.

In the game's waning moments, Plum hit Bobby Mitchell on an 89 yard touchdown strike and the Browns were poised to tie the game. But, Dick “Night Train” Lane burst through the Cleveland defense to block Baker's extra point attempt and preserve a 17-16 Lions victory in the first ever Playoff Bowl. The win gave the Lions 3^rd place in the NFL, the first time such an honor had been awarded. As it turned out, Detroit might have scored again. Gary Lowe's interception (his third interception of the game) gave Detroit possession at the Cleveland 12, where the Lions ran out the clock in the final minutes.

The Detroit Lions finished second, a game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFL West with a 7-5 record. Jim Ninowski threw for 1599 yards. For the '60 season, Nick Pietrosante had established a new all-time Lions rushing record, rolling for 872 yard on 161 carries, and was voted MVP by his teammates. The Cleveland Browns finished second in the East at 8-3-1. They were led by Jim Brown’s league leading 1257 yards rushing (his third straight 1000+ season) and Milt Plum’s 2297 yards passing.

Lions Nip Browns

MIAMI, Fla. (AP)- Defensive halfback Dick Lane crashed through to block Sam Baker's extra point kick yesterday and saved a 17-16 victory for the underdog Detroit Lions over the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League's first "Playoff Bowl" game.

Trailing by seven points, Cleveland made a sensational strike for a tie on Milt Plum's 89 yard touchdown pass to Bob Mitchell.

The win, fifth straight for the Lions, gave them third place in the NFL, the first time such a consolation prize had been awarded. Detroit finished second in the Western division and Cleveland was runner-up in the East.

As it turned out, Detroit might have scored again. A pass interception by Gary Lowe, his third of the game, gave the Lions possession at the Cleveland 12. But Detroit deliberately let the clock run out.

A shirt-sleeved crowd of 34,931 saw the massive Detroit team continue its domination of Cleveland. The Lions now have beaten the Browns in eight games out of nine.

Trailing 7-0 at the half, Detroit went ahead 10-7 in the third on a five-yard touchdown run by Nick Pietrosante and a field goal and conversion by Jim Martin.

The Browns tied it at 10-10 before Ken Webb scored the decisive touchdown on a one-yard dive in the last quarter and Martin added the extra point.

Both Cleveland touchdowns were scored on passes by Plum, the first going nine yards to Rich Kreitling. Baker hit a 27-yard field goal.

After a scoreless first quarter in which hard-hitting defenses prevailed, Jimmy Brown, the NFL's leading rusher, led Cleveland on an 81-yard touchdown drive in which he personally accounted for 56 yards. As Kreitling took Plum's pass for the score, he was knocked out when Maher hit him and he fell on the back of his neck.

Before halftime, the Browns drove to the Detroit nine, where Bill Glass knocked the ball from Plum's hand on an attempted pass and Alex Karras intercepted at the 12.

Jim Steffen of the Lions almost got away twice on punt returns. On the first, after picking up a screen of blockers, he stumbled and fell. On the second, he sped 48 yards to the Cleveland 28, then attempted to lateral to Jim Martin as a trap closed in. The toss was wild but Martin recovered the ball.

Detroit boomed 76 yards with the second half kickoff to tie the score at 7-7. Nick Pietrosante's running sparked the drive and he scored from the five. Martin converted. Then Gary Lowe intercepted a pass and raced 44 yards to the Cleveland 12 to set up the field goal by Martin that put the Lions ahead 10-7.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Sam Baker booted a 27-yard field goal to tie the count at 10-10 after Cleveland had moved from its own 36 to the Detroit 20 on Plum's sharp passing to Mitchell.

Webb's last quarter touchdown came at the end of a 57-yard drive.

Night Train Lane blocks Baker's extra point

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

CLE- Keitling 9 yard pass from Plum (Baker kick)

Third Quarter

DET- Pietrosante 5 run (Martin kick)

DET- FG Martin 12

Fourth Quarter

DET- Webb 1 run (Martin kick)

CLE- Mitchell 89 yard pass from Plum (kick failed)

Attendance: 34,981

RETURN