Playoff Bowl 1967

January 8, 1967- Baltimore Colts 21 Philadelphia Eagles 14

For the second straight year during the Packer Dynasty era, the Baltimore Colts had to settle for a post-season appearance in the Playoff Bowl. The Colts finished 9-5-0 in 1966, second to the Packers in the NFL West. John Unitas finished with 2748 passing yards. Great things were expected of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1966, but at 9-5, they managed only a second place finish in the East to the Dallas Cowboys. They were led by quarterback, Norman Snead and running back, Timmy Brown.

In the 1967 Playoff Bowl, All-Pro quarterback John Unitas was healthy. Tom Matte, the surprise hero of Baltimore's season and Playoff Bowl victory the previous year, was the hero again. With Unitas throwing for 199 yards on 19 completions, Matte rushed for 74 yards and the winning touchdown on a one yard run with :14 left in the fourth quarter in a come from behind performance for the Colts (video). Lou Michaels also kicked two field goals. The Eagles led 14-10 at the half and 14-13 in the fourth quarter. Eagle quarterback Jack Concannon threw nine completions for 71 yards, but the Eagles were held to 194 offensive yards.

Lou Michaels started the scoring on a field goal in the first quarter. In the second quarter the lead seesawed back and forth (video). The Eagles scored on a King Hill one yard run. The Colts came back with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Unitas to Raymond Berry. With 3:11 to play in the first half, Israel Lang scored on a 2 yard touchdown run to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Eagles at the half. The only scoring of the 3^rd period was a Lou Michaels field goal of from 14 yards. With 3:21 remaining in the game and the Eagles driving, Jerry Logan intercepted a King Hill pass and returned it to the Philadelphia 35. The Colts ate up the clock as they drove for the winning score. Lang was voted the game's MVP.

It was coach Joe Kuharich's only winning season and postseason appearance with the Eagles. It was for the 1967 Playoff Bowl that Kuharich became the first coach to wear a wireless microphone for NFL Films. Portions of his wiring and the Playoff Bowl itself, were used at the end of an NFL Films' 1967 special They Call It Pro Football (video).

MIAMI, Fla. (AP)- Tom Matte burst one yard for a touchdown with 14 seconds left Sunday, lifting the Baltimore Colts to a 20-14 victory over Philadelphia in the National Football League’s Playoff Bowl.

Jerry Logan's interception of a pass by Jack Concannon put the Colts in business on the Eagle 35 and enabled them to pull the game out of the fire. Johnny Unitas broke the game record with 19 pass completions, but the great Colt quarterback uncorked only one touchdown shot- a 14-yard throw to Ray Berry in the second quarter. And that was Baltimore's only touchdown until the game saving plays by Logan and Matte.

King Hill and Concannon had directed Philadelphia to two second quarter touchdowns, and as Unitas failed to come up with the bomb, the Eagles appeared on the way to an upset until Baltimore's big break came.

Despite a record advance ticket sales, attendance at this seventh game in the National Football League series was only 58,088- more than 7,000 below last year. The Baltimore victory was the second in a row in the Orange Bowl for the Colts and the sixth for the NFL Western Conference runner-up.

Baltimore opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal by Lou Michaels, but Hill, aided by a crucial break, took the underdog Eagles 66 yards to a touchdown and a 7-3 lead early in the second period.

Mike Curtis' interception of a Hill pass that would have given the Colts possession deep in Eagle territory was nullified by a pass interference penalty, and Philadelphia moved on to score

Ben Goodwin, surrounded by three defenders, made a great catch of a 12 yard pass from Hill at the five and Hill smashed over from the one.

The Colts bounced right back into the lead with a 65 yard drive climaxed by Unitas’ pass to Berry, his fifth completion in a row.

But, with Concannon coming in for Hill, the Eagles retaliated with a 60-yard march that put them in front at halftime, 14-10. Concannon completed four passes, including one for 11 yards to Israel Lang at the four. Lang, voted the game's most valuable player, crossed over from the two for the score.

Unitas hit five straight passes in a third period drive- the only one launched by cither team in that quarter. But with fourth down and five at the Eagle seven, the Colls settled for a 14-yard field goal by Michaels and still traded 14-13.

After Logan's late interception, Unitas hit Willie Richardson with a 13-yard pass to the Eagle 18, and Matte picked up 10 in a running play to the eight. A penalty set the Colts back to the 13, but they got a first down at the six when Jim Nettles interfered with Berry on a pass.

Raymond Berry (82) hauls in 14 yard TD pass

Ron Goodwin (81) is hammered by Maike Curtis

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

BALT- FG Michaels 22

Second Quarter

PHIL- Hill 1 run (Baker kick)

BALT- Berry 14 yard pass from Unitas (Michaels kick)

PHIL- Lang 2 run (Baker kick)

Third Quarter

BALT- FG Michaels 14

Fourth Quarter

BALT- Matte 1 run (Michaels kick)

Attendance: 58,088

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