NFL Championship Game, 1965
Encyclopedia
The 1965
National Football League
Championship game was the 33rd championship game for the NFL. The game was played on January 2, 1966 at Lambeau Field
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
. The game matched the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Browns
(11-3) who were the defending NFL champions. The Western Conference champions Green Bay Packers
(10-3-1) had defeated the Baltimore Colts
a week earlier in a Western Conference play off
. The Packers were making their first appearance in the championship game since 1962. This was the first NFL championship game televised in color.
With the victory the Packers won their 9th overall NFL title, 6th in the championship game era.
Game Day Preparations
The Packers coached by the irascible Vince Lombardi
, would feature on offense, Bart Starr
, Paul Hornung
, Jim Taylor and Carroll Dale
, along with linemen Jerry Kramer
, Forrest Gregg
and Fuzzy Thurston. Defensively Green Bay showcased Herb Adderly, Ray Nitschke
, Willie Wood and Dave Robinson.
Cleveland, coached by Blanton Collier
, had the implacable Jim Brown
, WR's Gary Collins, Paul Warfield
, guard Gene Hickerson and kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza
on offense. Cleveland's defense however, during the regular season, allowed an average of 23.2 points and twice gave up 40+ points in losses to the lowly Cardinals and Rams.1
Despite a heavy snowstorm that blanketed the field, 50,777 hearty fans showed up in 26ºF weather. A tarp covered the field until shortly before kickoff and a moderated wind of 12 mph blew through Lambeau field.3 4 7
Scoring
Tom Moore returned the opening kickoff to the GB 23-yard line and the Packers wasted no time in moving the ball as Bart Starr mixed Taylor and Hornung on running and short passing plays. After a Taylor 6-yard run up the middle to the Cleveland 47, Starr faked to Hornung and lofted a pass to Carrol Dale at the Cleveland 20. Cleveland's DB Walter Beach slid on the tricky surface while Dale kept his footing and galloped into the end zone amid the frenzied cheers of the Green Bay faithful. Don Chandler's kick put GB in front 7-0.
Cleveland took possession and immediately turned to Jim Brown. However instead of running, Brown circled out of the backfield and turned towards the right sideline where Frank Ryan hit him with a 30 yard pass despite good defense by linebacker Dave Robinson. Ryan continued passing hitting Warfield over the middle for 19 yards and Gary Collins on a square-out pattern near the right corner of the end zone for 17 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay fans responded by pelting Collins with snowballs. On the extra-point attempt, holder Bobby Franklin fumbled the snap, and Cleveland's kicker Lou Groza, who did not miss an extra point all year, pick up the errant ball, passed to Franklin and Green Bay's Willie Wood promptly tackled him, keeping Green Bay ahead, 7-6.
After a short punt gave the Browns possession in Green Bay territory, Ryan passed to Warfield for 11 yards and Jim Brown ran for 5 more. On the play Brown jumped to the outside when he found the middle awash in green and yellow jerseys. Green Bay's strategy throughout the game would be to clog the middle forcing Brown to hesitate while looking for room to run. Brown took extra steps to cut on the wet field thus giving the GB defense time to catch up. On 3rd down and 2, Ryan, instead of handing off to Brown, crossed up the defense and sent Warfield to the Post. Warfield beat safety Tom Brown and CB Doug Hart to the goal line but the ball slid through Warfield's outstretched hands and the Browns had to settle for a field goal. Lou Groza, the 41 year-old 6' 1", 240 lb lineman whose career extended all the way back to the A.A.F.C.
, cooly kicked a 24 yard field goal to put Cleveland in front 9-7.
When the Packers took over on their own 27, Jerry Kramer escorted Paul Hornung around left end on the famous 6 "Green Bay Sweep", picking up 34 yards. Bart Starr passed to Boyd Dowler for 11 yards and Taylor gained 8 up the middle. Another sweep, this time led by Fuzzy Thurston followed by Hornung gave Green Bay a first down at the Cleveland 6 as the 1st qtr ended.
2nd Qtr
Cleveland's defense stiffened and Chandler kicked a 15 yard field goal, making it 10-9, GB.
With 7:42 left in the 2nd period, and Jim Brown unable to make headway, Cleveland's Frank Ryan again attempted to go deep to Warfield. The speedy Warfield, who caught only 3 passes all year, was now covered by GB defensive back Bob Jeter, replacing Doug Hart. Jeter's speed enabled him to keep up with Warfield and he batted down Ryan's pass at midfield. On 3rd down and 10, Ryan threw a quick pass to Leroy Kelly who was streaking up the right sideline. The ball was underthrown and GB's Willie Wood made a spectacular play tipping the ball to himself and returning the interception to the Cleveland 9 yard-line. Again Cleveland's defense rose to the occasion and held the Packers to a 23-yard field goal by Chandler, extending the Packer lead to 13-9.
With the clock winding down, Cleveland took over on their own 16 yard line. Field conditions were rapidly deteriorating, and Frank Ryan sent Jim Brown around left end on Cleveland's own version of the sweep and Brown tip-toed his way for 9 yards. Ryan then sent Brown sweeping around the right end. Cleveland's HOF
guard Gene Hickerson led the way giving Brown room to find good footing and sprint down the sideline for 15 yards. After an incomplete pass and the middle of the field turning into a quagmire, Ryan sent Brown around left end. Brown found good traction near the sideline and picked 8 more yards. On 3rd down, Brown again tried sweeping around the right, but the Green Bay defense swarmed over him, forcing Cleveland to punt.
Green Bay took over deep in their own territory where Bart Starr committed one of the few mistakes of a Lombardi coached team. On 3rd down, Starr overthrew Hornung in the left flat and Jim Beach intercepted, toe tapping the sideline to give Cleveland the ball at the Green Bay 30 yard line.
Frank Ryan looked down field but threw incomplete to Collins at the goal line. Ryan's next pass attempt went awry as Ray Nitschke charged up the middle on a delayed blitz forcing a sack. Ryan then completed a pass to Brown on the left flat and Brown angled towards the sideline but was stopped at the Green Bay 21, 1 yard short of the first down. Groza's field goal sent the teams into halftime at 13-12, GB.
3rd Qtr
The 2nd half was all Green Bay as the weather brought more snow, fog, mud and less wide open play.
When Green Bay's Elijah Pitts carried a Cleveland punt backwards for -10 yards, the Packers were forced to start from their own 10-yard line. The Packers methodically marched down field as Forrest Gregg, Fuzzy Thurston, Ken Bowman and Jerry Kramer all made room for Taylor and Hornung to run. Hornung for 6 yards, Taylor for 8, Taylor left for 7 yards, Taylor for a 1st down to the Cleveland 46. A screen pass to Taylor for 10 yards, Hornung outside the right tackle for 20 yards. The 11 play, 90 yard drive culminated as Paul Hornung followed Jerry Kramer on a 13 yard TD sweep around left end. The play captured from an end zone ground level camera is on what seems like every Packer highlight reel.6 Chandler's point made the score 20-12, GB.
Fog rolled in as Cleveland looked to get even. With a 1st down on their own 31, Ryan scrambled for 8 yards and the Packers LeRoy Caffey was flagged for a 15 yard face mask penalty, one of only three penalties on the day for the Packers. Jim Brown however was unable to find any running room and Ryan continued to pass, hitting Collins for 11 yards, then looked for Brown in the end zone. The pass to Brown was slightly underthrown and Ray Nitschke was able to stretch and knock the ball out of Brown's hands. Cleveland would not get that close to the goal line the rest of the day. Ryan's next pass slipped out of his hand and Groza was brought in for the field goal attempt. Forrest Gregg however, broke through the Cleveland line and deflected Groza's kick.
4th Qtr
The Packers continued to run Taylor (27 carries on the day for 96 yds) and Hornung (18 carries for 105 yds) to chew up the clock. Chandler kicked his third field goal bringing Lombardi and the Packers one step closer to their 3rd championship as a unit.
Cleveland had one last chance when Leroy Kelly took Chandler's ensuing kickoff and promptly angled towards the right sideline. At midfield, Chandler, the kicker, was the last player in Kelly's path. Kelly, with 10 more yards of room to his right, eschewed the sideline, cut back and into Chandler's path. Chandler held his ground and dropped Kelly on the frozen tundra. Cleveland could not move the ball and punted again.
The Packers also failed to move the ball, but Chandler was hit as he attempted to punt from the end zone giving the ball, and another opportunity to run down the clock, back to Green Bay. A last minute interception by Herb Adderly sealed Cleveland's fate.
This would be Jim Brown's last NFL game as he left at the top of his game to pursue a career in Hollywood.9 Brown, who had carried his team to an NFL title in 1964, would have no regrets, despite the fact that he was still a month shy of 30 years old.
1965 NFL season
The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the...
National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Championship game was the 33rd championship game for the NFL. The game was played on January 2, 1966 at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. The game matched the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(11-3) who were the defending NFL champions. The Western Conference champions Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(10-3-1) had defeated the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
a week earlier in a Western Conference play off
NFL playoffs, 1965
The 1965 NFL playoffs determined the champion of the National Football League. Although a single championship game between conference winners was the current format for the league, a tie in the Western Conference standings between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts necessitated a divisional...
. The Packers were making their first appearance in the championship game since 1962. This was the first NFL championship game televised in color.
With the victory the Packers won their 9th overall NFL title, 6th in the championship game era.
Game Day Preparations
The Packers coached by the irascible Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
, would feature on offense, Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
, Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
, Jim Taylor and Carroll Dale
Carroll Dale
Carroll Wayne Dale is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Virginia Tech from 1956–59. Dale was named second-team All American in 1958 and 1959....
, along with linemen Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
, Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
and Fuzzy Thurston. Defensively Green Bay showcased Herb Adderly, Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke
Raymond Ernest "Ray" Nitschke was a professional football player who played his entire career as a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Wearing #66, he played fifteen seasons, from 1958-72....
, Willie Wood and Dave Robinson.
Cleveland, coached by Blanton Collier
Blanton Collier
Blanton Long Collier was an American football coach who led the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns...
, had the implacable Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, WR's Gary Collins, Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
, guard Gene Hickerson and kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza
Lou Groza
Louis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
on offense. Cleveland's defense however, during the regular season, allowed an average of 23.2 points and twice gave up 40+ points in losses to the lowly Cardinals and Rams.1
Despite a heavy snowstorm that blanketed the field, 50,777 hearty fans showed up in 26ºF weather. A tarp covered the field until shortly before kickoff and a moderated wind of 12 mph blew through Lambeau field.3 4 7
Scoring
- 1st Quarter
- GB - DaleCarroll DaleCarroll Wayne Dale is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Virginia Tech from 1956–59. Dale was named second-team All American in 1958 and 1959....
47 pass from StarrBart StarrBryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
(ChandlerDon ChandlerDonald Gene "Don" Chandler was an American college and professional football player who was a punter and placekicker in the National Football League for twelve seasons in the 1950s and 1960s...
kick) 7-0 GB - CLE - Collins 17 pass from RyanFrank Ryan (American football)Frank Beall Ryan is a retired American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Los Angeles Rams , Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins . Although he led the Browns to their last National Football League title in 1964, Ryan is best remembered for being perhaps...
(kick failed) 7-6 GB - CLE - FG GrozaLou GrozaLouis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
24 9-7 CLE
- GB - Dale
- 2nd Quarter
- GB - FG Chandler 15 10-9 GB
- GB - FG Chandler 23 13-9 GB
- CLE - FG Groza 28 13-12 GB
- 3rd Quarter
- GB - HornungPaul HornungPaul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
13 run (Chandler kick) 20-12 GB
- GB - Hornung
- 4th Quarter
- GB - FG Chandler 29 23-12 GB
THE GAME
1st QtrTom Moore returned the opening kickoff to the GB 23-yard line and the Packers wasted no time in moving the ball as Bart Starr mixed Taylor and Hornung on running and short passing plays. After a Taylor 6-yard run up the middle to the Cleveland 47, Starr faked to Hornung and lofted a pass to Carrol Dale at the Cleveland 20. Cleveland's DB Walter Beach slid on the tricky surface while Dale kept his footing and galloped into the end zone amid the frenzied cheers of the Green Bay faithful. Don Chandler's kick put GB in front 7-0.
Cleveland took possession and immediately turned to Jim Brown. However instead of running, Brown circled out of the backfield and turned towards the right sideline where Frank Ryan hit him with a 30 yard pass despite good defense by linebacker Dave Robinson. Ryan continued passing hitting Warfield over the middle for 19 yards and Gary Collins on a square-out pattern near the right corner of the end zone for 17 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay fans responded by pelting Collins with snowballs. On the extra-point attempt, holder Bobby Franklin fumbled the snap, and Cleveland's kicker Lou Groza, who did not miss an extra point all year, pick up the errant ball, passed to Franklin and Green Bay's Willie Wood promptly tackled him, keeping Green Bay ahead, 7-6.
After a short punt gave the Browns possession in Green Bay territory, Ryan passed to Warfield for 11 yards and Jim Brown ran for 5 more. On the play Brown jumped to the outside when he found the middle awash in green and yellow jerseys. Green Bay's strategy throughout the game would be to clog the middle forcing Brown to hesitate while looking for room to run. Brown took extra steps to cut on the wet field thus giving the GB defense time to catch up. On 3rd down and 2, Ryan, instead of handing off to Brown, crossed up the defense and sent Warfield to the Post. Warfield beat safety Tom Brown and CB Doug Hart to the goal line but the ball slid through Warfield's outstretched hands and the Browns had to settle for a field goal. Lou Groza, the 41 year-old 6' 1", 240 lb lineman whose career extended all the way back to the A.A.F.C.
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
, cooly kicked a 24 yard field goal to put Cleveland in front 9-7.
When the Packers took over on their own 27, Jerry Kramer escorted Paul Hornung around left end on the famous 6 "Green Bay Sweep", picking up 34 yards. Bart Starr passed to Boyd Dowler for 11 yards and Taylor gained 8 up the middle. Another sweep, this time led by Fuzzy Thurston followed by Hornung gave Green Bay a first down at the Cleveland 6 as the 1st qtr ended.
2nd Qtr
Cleveland's defense stiffened and Chandler kicked a 15 yard field goal, making it 10-9, GB.
With 7:42 left in the 2nd period, and Jim Brown unable to make headway, Cleveland's Frank Ryan again attempted to go deep to Warfield. The speedy Warfield, who caught only 3 passes all year, was now covered by GB defensive back Bob Jeter, replacing Doug Hart. Jeter's speed enabled him to keep up with Warfield and he batted down Ryan's pass at midfield. On 3rd down and 10, Ryan threw a quick pass to Leroy Kelly who was streaking up the right sideline. The ball was underthrown and GB's Willie Wood made a spectacular play tipping the ball to himself and returning the interception to the Cleveland 9 yard-line. Again Cleveland's defense rose to the occasion and held the Packers to a 23-yard field goal by Chandler, extending the Packer lead to 13-9.
With the clock winding down, Cleveland took over on their own 16 yard line. Field conditions were rapidly deteriorating, and Frank Ryan sent Jim Brown around left end on Cleveland's own version of the sweep and Brown tip-toed his way for 9 yards. Ryan then sent Brown sweeping around the right end. Cleveland's HOF
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
guard Gene Hickerson led the way giving Brown room to find good footing and sprint down the sideline for 15 yards. After an incomplete pass and the middle of the field turning into a quagmire, Ryan sent Brown around left end. Brown found good traction near the sideline and picked 8 more yards. On 3rd down, Brown again tried sweeping around the right, but the Green Bay defense swarmed over him, forcing Cleveland to punt.
Green Bay took over deep in their own territory where Bart Starr committed one of the few mistakes of a Lombardi coached team. On 3rd down, Starr overthrew Hornung in the left flat and Jim Beach intercepted, toe tapping the sideline to give Cleveland the ball at the Green Bay 30 yard line.
Frank Ryan looked down field but threw incomplete to Collins at the goal line. Ryan's next pass attempt went awry as Ray Nitschke charged up the middle on a delayed blitz forcing a sack. Ryan then completed a pass to Brown on the left flat and Brown angled towards the sideline but was stopped at the Green Bay 21, 1 yard short of the first down. Groza's field goal sent the teams into halftime at 13-12, GB.
3rd Qtr
The 2nd half was all Green Bay as the weather brought more snow, fog, mud and less wide open play.
When Green Bay's Elijah Pitts carried a Cleveland punt backwards for -10 yards, the Packers were forced to start from their own 10-yard line. The Packers methodically marched down field as Forrest Gregg, Fuzzy Thurston, Ken Bowman and Jerry Kramer all made room for Taylor and Hornung to run. Hornung for 6 yards, Taylor for 8, Taylor left for 7 yards, Taylor for a 1st down to the Cleveland 46. A screen pass to Taylor for 10 yards, Hornung outside the right tackle for 20 yards. The 11 play, 90 yard drive culminated as Paul Hornung followed Jerry Kramer on a 13 yard TD sweep around left end. The play captured from an end zone ground level camera is on what seems like every Packer highlight reel.6 Chandler's point made the score 20-12, GB.
Fog rolled in as Cleveland looked to get even. With a 1st down on their own 31, Ryan scrambled for 8 yards and the Packers LeRoy Caffey was flagged for a 15 yard face mask penalty, one of only three penalties on the day for the Packers. Jim Brown however was unable to find any running room and Ryan continued to pass, hitting Collins for 11 yards, then looked for Brown in the end zone. The pass to Brown was slightly underthrown and Ray Nitschke was able to stretch and knock the ball out of Brown's hands. Cleveland would not get that close to the goal line the rest of the day. Ryan's next pass slipped out of his hand and Groza was brought in for the field goal attempt. Forrest Gregg however, broke through the Cleveland line and deflected Groza's kick.
4th Qtr
The Packers continued to run Taylor (27 carries on the day for 96 yds) and Hornung (18 carries for 105 yds) to chew up the clock. Chandler kicked his third field goal bringing Lombardi and the Packers one step closer to their 3rd championship as a unit.
Cleveland had one last chance when Leroy Kelly took Chandler's ensuing kickoff and promptly angled towards the right sideline. At midfield, Chandler, the kicker, was the last player in Kelly's path. Kelly, with 10 more yards of room to his right, eschewed the sideline, cut back and into Chandler's path. Chandler held his ground and dropped Kelly on the frozen tundra. Cleveland could not move the ball and punted again.
The Packers also failed to move the ball, but Chandler was hit as he attempted to punt from the end zone giving the ball, and another opportunity to run down the clock, back to Green Bay. A last minute interception by Herb Adderly sealed Cleveland's fate.
VInce Lombardi-Jim Brown
Vince Lombardi proved to be a master tactician by stressing a ball control offense, assigning Nitschke to shadow Brown all day, and switching defensive assignments when Warfield was getting open early in the game. The Packers ran the ball 47 times for 204 yards 7 on the day while holding Cleveland to just 38 total offensive plays. Lombardi coached the team to stop Jim Brown and force Cleveland's other players to step up and try and win the game 6This would be Jim Brown's last NFL game as he left at the top of his game to pursue a career in Hollywood.9 Brown, who had carried his team to an NFL title in 1964, would have no regrets, despite the fact that he was still a month shy of 30 years old.