Playoff Bowl 1962, Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Playoff Bowl

1962

January 6, 1962- Detroit Lions 38, Philadelphia Eagles 10

The Eagles had won the NFL in 1960 and finished just a half-game behind the New York Giants for first place in the Eastern Conference in the '61 standings with a 10-4 record. Eagles’ quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen, threw for a league record 3723 yards and 32 touchdowns. Tommy McDonald led the league in receiving with 1144 yards. The Lions were the second best team in the West. Unfortunately, Vince Lombardi's Packers came to dominate the division and the NFL. Detroit was led by quarterback Jim Ninowski who threw for 1921 yards. His primary receiver was Gail Cogdill who caught passes for 956 yards. Nick Pietrosante led the Lions in rushing with 841 yards. The Lions lost any chance of catching the Packers in the West with a 17-9 loss on Thanksgiving Day.

Detroit avenged their season-ending 27-24 loss to the Eagles in the Runner Up Bowl by trouncing Philadelphia, 38-10. The game was viewed with much concern by NFL management as only 25,612 fans showed up for the Saturday contest in the Orange Bowl. Also, injuries to Eagles' stars Sonny Jurgensen and J.D. Smith had fans and officials questioning the need for the game. The Lions took a commanding 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back. They turned two interceptions by Yale Lary and Dick Lane and a fumble into first half points. Jim Ninowski and Earl Morrall shared quarterbacking duties, each throwing for two TD's while Morrall ran in a third from 5 yards. Terry Barr caught both Ninowski passes for 69 and 14 yard scores. Pat Studstill (18 yards) and Sam Williams (19 yards on a fake field goal) accounted for Morrall's. Jim Martin added an 18 yard field goal for the Lions. The Eagles scored their points in the third period on a 9 yard pass from King Hill to Pete Retzlaff and a 22 yard field goal by Bobby Walston.

Lions Jar Eagles,

Jurgensen Hurt

MIAMI, Fla. (UPI)- Jim Ninowski and Earl Morrall alternated in the heroics as the Detroit Lions knocked passing star Sonny Jurgensen out of action Saturday and scored a 38-10 National Football League playoff bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Morrall scored once and he and Ninowski each passed for a pair of touchdowns in a playoff between the N.F.L.'s two runner-up teams which attracted a crowd of 25,612 in 81-degree heat that blanketed the Orange Bowl.

It was a satisfying win for Detroit, which avenged a 27-24 defeat at the hands of the Eagles in their final regular season game. And it also was the Lions' second straight win in this strictly-for-money bowl game inaugurated last year.

It also was a costly defeat for the Eagles as Jurgensen, the All-N.F.L. quarterback, suffered a shoulder separation in the second quarter. Team physician Mike Mandarine called it "one of the worst I've ever seen, with all the ligaments torn."

He said Jurgensen would be operated on Tuesday in Philadelphia and that he "hoped" the 27-year-old former Duke star would be all right next season.

Adding to the Eagles woes, tackle J. D. Smith was taken to the hospital with a twisted knee. Both he and Jurgensen thus were knocked out of the N.F.L. All-Star game at Los Angeles, Jan. 14.

The Lions had a host of stars as they trampled the 2 1/2 point favorites. They held Jurgensen to 8 completions and 62 yards in 17 passes before Wayne Walker threw the block which made Jurgensen's future a question mark after one year of stardom.

Terry Barr scored twice on passes from Ninowski while Pat Studstill and Sam Williams caught scoring tosses by Morrall. Jim Martin kicked an 18-yard field goal and five extra points.

Philadelphia's lone touchdown came on King Hill's 9-yard end zone throw to Pete Retzlaff while Bobby Walston booted a 23-yard field goal in addition to the lone Eagles' extra point.

Detroit left no doubt from the beginning that it was high and ready. Gary Lowe started it off when he intercepted a Jurgensen pass on the Eagles' 47 and returned it 13 yards to the Philadelphia 34. Fullback Nick Pietrosante carried the load to the 11 and, when the Eagles held, Martin broke the ice with his 18-yard field goal.

Detroit stopped the Eagles cold and then blasted 80 yards in three plays to run up a 10-0 lead. Ninowski hit Pietrosante for 9 yards, the big fullback plunged for 2 and Ninowski hit Barr on a 69-yard touchdown pass.

Jim Carr gave the Eagles momentary hope with a deep second - quarter interception and Philadelphia hammered to the Detroit 10. But that's where the Lions broke up the Eagles- and Jurgensen.

Yale Lary intercepted Jurgensen's pass and raced 66 yards to the Eagles 19, where Dick Lucas finally hauled him down. Jurgensen was stretched on the turf and had to leave the game.

Detroit smashed to the 5 and then Morrall took it around for the score.

Detroit kicked off to the Eagles’ 26 and Hill, Jurgensen's substitute, fumbled the ball on the first play and Roger Brown recovered for Detroit on the Philadelphia 18. Morrall missed one pass and then hit Studstill in the end zone.

The Eagles tried gamely to get back into the game. After the start of the third quarter, they marched 57 yards for a touchdown. Hill passed to Rctzlaff to the 23, Bill Barnes powered to the 9 and Hill hit Retzlaff for the touchdown.

Given a lift, the Eagles rammed 74 yards to the Detroit 10 the next time they got the ball, but then the Lions stiffened and Walston booted one from the 23.

But Detroit wasn't finished. The Lions flashed 68 yards off Ninowski’s passes for another touchdown capped by Barr's catch for another score.

They capped this one with a fake field goal from the 19-yard line. Morrall whipping upright and lobbing the ball to Williams who stood alone in the end zone.