American Conference 28

National Conference 27

January 14, 1951

The inaugural game of the renewed Pro Bowl was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum before 53, 676 fans. It was a charity event sponsored by the Los Angeles Newspapers Publishers Association. The stars from the NFL’s National and American Conferences faced each other. The coach of the American Conference was Cleveland’s Paul Brown and the National Coach was Los Angeles’ Joe Stydahar. Brown and his Browns had defeated the Rams for the NFL title in their first year in the NFL (having come from the old AAFC).

The score was tied at the end of the first period after Bob Waterfield of the Rams hit LA teammate Tom Fears with a 22 yard scoring pass and Washington’s Bill Dudley returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown. Waterfield kicked a 29 yard field goal in the second period and the Nationals led 10-7. But Otto Graham and the Americans responded with a 49 yard scoring pass from Graham to Bob Shaw of the Chicago Cardinals. Before the half, the Nationals retook the lead on Waterfield’s second field goal and a short touchdown pass from LA’s Norm Van Brocklin to Fears. It was Nationals 20, Americans 14 at the half.

The Nationals appeared to be on the verge of sealing the outcome in the third quarter when Waterfield hit Dan Edwards of the New York Yanks with a 65 yard scoring toss. The score was 27-14. But, before the period expired, Graham carried the ball in on a keeper from 6 yards out and Chuck Bednarik picked off a Van Brocklin pass and returned it deep into National territory. Graham again carried it over, this time from 9 yards out. Pat Harder of the Cardinals kicked the go-ahead extra point. The score was 28-27 and that’s the way it ended as neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Graham just edged out Waterfield in the MVP vote.

Graham scores first of two third period touchdowns

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