Playoff Bowl 1963, Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Playoff Bowl

1963

January 6, 1963- Detroit Lions 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 10

In 1962, the Pittsburgh Steelers were led by three former Detroit Lions greats. Former Lions’ head coach, Buddy Parker, was named coach of the Steelers in 1957 and over the next eight years he led the Steelers to five non-losing seasons. Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne (formerly of the Lions) quarterbacked the team through three of those campaigns, leading the Steelers to a 9-5 mark in 1962, which was the best season record in Steelers' 39 year history. In 1962, Layne threw for 1686 yards and Buddy Dial had 981 receiving yards. John Henry Johnson (another former Lion) rushed for 1124 yards. That Pittsburgh single season record stood until Franco Harris eclipsed it in 1975. The Detroit Lions finished second in the West for the third straight year with an 11-3 record. They were paced by Milt Plum’s 2378 passing yards at quarterback.

Appearing in the Runner-Up Bowl for the third consecutive year, the Lions beat Pittsburgh, 17-10. The Sunday contest attracted 36,284 fans at the Orange Bowl. The game was televised nationally by CBS. Three Steelers were injured in the contest, including running back, Johnson. Despite three interceptions and two missed field goals, Detroit held on to win as Milt Plum hit 16 of 29 passes for 274 yards. For Pittsburgh, quarterback Ed Brown was 5 of 12 for 82 yards and old pro Bobby Layne connected on 4 of 8 for 69 yards. The Lions defense sacked Steeler quarterbacks six times, snared two interceptions and blocked a field goal in the win.

The Lions scored first in the opening period on a 27 yard Wayne Walker field goal. The Steelers countered moving 76 yards on 11 plays that ended in a Dick Hoak 6 yard touchdown run. Just before half, the Loins' Carl Brettschneider intercepted a Brown pass a returned it 32 yards to the Steelers 34. Plum then hit Ken Webb for a 20 yard touchdown and the Lions had a 10-7 halftime lead. Half way through the 3^rd quarter, Lou Michaels kicked a 40 yard field goal to tie the score at 10-10. Late in the third quarter, Detroit drove 80 yards on four plays. Plum hit Dan Lewis on a 74 yard pass play and Webb plunged in for the winning score. The final was 17-10.

But, the game is best remembered for a uniform innovation. The Steelers first used their trademark black helmets in this game. In 1962, Republic Steel, located in Cleveland, came to the Steelers and suggested the team use the Steelmark as a helmet logo. The Steelmark is the symbol created by the American steel industry. The Steelers liked the idea presented by Republic Steel even though that company was based in the city of their bitterest rival. The next step was to petition the American Iron and Steel Institute for permission to change the word "Steel" inside the Steelmark to "Steelers." Now, the logo was complete. But when the helmet logos arrived, the Steelers weren't convinced they looked all that good when added to a solid gold helmet. As a result, equipment manager Jack Hart was instructed to put the logo only on one side of the helmet, the right side, for the tenth game of the 1962 season, a home game against the Washington Redskins. Because of the interest generated by having the logo on only one side of their helmets and because of their team's new success, the Steelers decided to leave it that way permanently. The Steelers wanted to do something special for their first postseason game, so they changed the color of their helmets from gold to black, which helped to highlight the new logo. Today's helmet reflects the way the logo was originally applied and it has never been changed.

Long Plum Heave

Sets Up Clincher

Dan James, Daniel, John Henry

All Injured in Bruising Battle

By JACK SELL

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sports Writer

MIAMI, Jan. 6- The long grid season of the Pittsburgh Steelers ended here this cloudy afternoon in the Playoff Bowl just as it began last September 16 in Tiger Stadium. The Gold and Black lost to the Detroit Lions.

Instead of the 45-7 romp of opening day, Coach George Wilson's victors went down to the wire this time before capturing a 17-10 verdict over the Eastern Conference entry.

Despite threatening weather in the morning, the third annual clash of NFL runnerup clubs drew 36,284 fans, largest gathering of the young series.

Milt Plum, voted the game's most valuable player, soured things for Coach Buddy Parker's array here in the Orange Bowl just as he has done in previous regular season frays with the Browns and in 1962 with the Lions.

The former Penn State star set up the winning TD on a two-yard plunge by Fullback Ken Webb in the third quarter with a sensational 73-yard pass connection to Dan Lewis. In the last minute of the first half he had hurled 20 yards to Webb for the other Detroit TD.

Wayne Walker converted, kicked a 27 yard field goal, missed one of the same length and had a 32-yarder partially blocked and ruined.

The Steelers tallied on a six-yard rush by Dick Hoak, Lou Michaels' conversion and a beautiful 40-yard fielder by the top placekicker of the NFL. However, Michaels was wide with a 36-yarder and had a 28-yard try blocked.

Plum did all the Detroit passing, connecting on 16 of 29 for 274 yards. He had three intercepted but Coach Buddy Parker's boys couldn't capitalize on the steals.

Ed Brown went all the way until the last quarter was about half over. Then Bobby Layne came in for a pair of promising aerial assaults which he couldn't quite complete.

Rooney U. actually led for a short time by 7-3 in the first half and worked up to a 10-10 tie in the third stanza.

Two debatable plays will keep the fans talking. First was a pass effort with a bit more than one minute to go in the first half when the losers were leading. It was picked off and Detroit went in for a TD which sent it front by 10-7 at halftime.

The other was a field goal try with a bit more than four minutes to go and fourth down coming up in the last quarter. Most fans thought Parker should have tried for a tying TD. The Michaels boot was blocked.

Because of his one long catch, Lewis led the pass receivers in yardage with 115 followed by the Steelers’ John Burrell with 65. Dick Hoak of the losers paced the rushers with 64 while Webb of Detroit was next with 47.

Three Steelers were hurt. Halfback Willie Daniel was carried off with a possible concussion and a broken jaw, Fullback John Henry Johnson was stunned and Tackle Dan James has a probable leg fracture. After the game Johnson was placed under observation for a possible concussion.

The Lions controlled the scoreless first quarter and gained the only scoring chance on a 27-yard field goal try by Walker from directly in front of the uprights. They had moved into position the first time they got the pigskin on passes by Plum of 20 yards to Cogdill and 14 to Studstill.

Walker's boot sailed to the left of the posts to give the Rooneymen a brief reprieve.

Two plays before the quarter ended Webb got loose around the right side and sped 32 yards before slipping on the Steeler 48. That marked the longest sprint from scrimmage in the three-year history of the Playoff Bowl.

Plum hit Webb on the first of several odd pass plays at the start of the second period. The receiver seemed covered and the ball bounced into the, air but he got the rebound for a first down on the Steeler 18. The Parker defense braced and on last down, Walker had his second try from the 27. With Morrall holding, the Lion booter made good for a 3-0 lead.

The Steelers got started with the aid of a pass interference penalty for a long TD drive soon afterward. Brown had just been smeared for eight yards on a pass try and it was third and 16 on the Pittsburgh 18-yard stripe.

Brown heaved to Dial on the 37 and Maher pushed Buddy in the back. That sent the Black and Gold on their way,

Carpenter nabbed a 19-yard aerial and Dial seized one, shook loose from Lary and went to the Detroit 19.

Two rushes by Hoak and a swan dive by Johnson brought first down on the seven. Hoak picked up one then drove the last six through the right side for the TD. Michaels converted for a 7-3 lead.

Late in the half Plum got his aerial game clicking and reached the Steeler eight. But a fling intended for Lewis was picked off by Bettis on the coal line and carted back to the 16.

Hoak immediately ran for 14 but the 8teelers refused to run out the clock. Brown's pass to Carpenter was nabbed by Brettschneider on the Pittsburgh 44 and returned to the 16.

The Motor City now raced the clock and won. Plum hit Webb on a 20-yard pass in the end zone with only 28 seconds left. Walker converted and the brief Steeler lead was gone with Detroit on top, 10-7.

The Eastern Conference entry evened the ball game midway in the third quarter when Michaels booted a 40-yard field goal. He received a second chance from the 38 following an interception of a Plum pass by Thomas. But Lefty Lou was wide to the left this time.

The Lions immediately broke it open with a four-play, 80-yard TD surge.

Lewis made one, then Plum found Lewis down the left sideline for 73 yards, Keys crossing over to haul down the receiver. Watkins plunged for three and Webb went over. Walker converted and the Lions led by 17-10.

Pittsburgh blew a big chance early in the last stanza. Glass grabbed a Plum pass to Cogdill on his own 37 and ran to the Detroit 35. But, Brown was smeared on pass tries and the Steelers had to pant.

Layne came in with 7:46 left and really scared the Lions.

In his first five plays, Bobby tried three aerials, all to Burrell, and hit the mark for nine, 12 and 34 yards. So it was first down on the Detroit 22.

Ferguson bucked for one. Then came a heart-breaker. Layne heaved to the end zone where Burrell went up to catch the pass only to have Schmidt tip it off at the last second. Now Dial sped into the clear to the right but Bobby was a bit short and Buddy, falling to the ground, got the ball, but couldn't hold it.

With four minutes, 11 seconds left the Steelers decided to try for a fielder and a Merriwell finish later.

The strategy failed when Night Train Lane broke through to block the 28-yard boot by Michaels. Maher picked it up and ran to the Detroit 44.

The Lions moved into position for a 32-yard field goal try by Walker which was partially blocked and went harmlessly into the end zone.

Layne brought the losers up for one dying try but, after reaching the Pittsburgh 49, had a pass to Burrell stolen by Lary and the Florida visit ended in failure.