1957 NFL playoffs

The 1957 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the Western Conference championship between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers. Both finished at 8–4 and had split their two games during the regular season in November, with the home team winning each.

The tie thus required a one-game playoff to be held between the two clubs. This conference championship game was played on December 22 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, and Detroit won, 31–27.[1]

The Lions moved on to host the Cleveland Browns on December 29 in the championship game, and won in a 59–14 rout at Briggs Stadium for their third title in six years.[2][3][4][5] Through 2018, it is Detroit's most recent league title, and second-most recent victory in a postseason game.

Tournament bracket

Western Conference playoff			NFL Championship

			E	Cleveland Browns	14
W	San Francisco 49ers	27	W	Detroit Lions	59
W	Detroit Lions	31

Western Conference championship

Detroit Lions 31, San Francisco 49ers 27

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	7	14	10	31
49ers	14	10	3	0	27

at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco

Date: December 22, 1957
Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
Game attendance: 60,118

Game information

First Quarter
- SF – Owens 34 pass from Tittle (Soltau kick), SF 7–0
- SF – McElhenny 47 pass from Tittle (Soltau kick), SF 14–0
Second Quarter
- DET – Junker 4 pass from Rote (Martin kick), SF 14–7
- SF – Wilson 12 pass from Tittle (Soltau kick), SF 21–7
- SF – field goal Soltau 25, SF 24–7
Third Quarter
- SF – field goal Soltau 10, SF 27–7
- DET – Tracy 1 run (Martin kick), SF 27–14
- DET – Tracy 58 run (Martin kick), SF 27–21
Fourth Quarter
- DET – Gedman 2 run (Martin kick), DET 28–27
- DET – field goal Martin 13, DET 31–27

The Lions trailed the 49ers 24–7 at halftime, and were down twenty points in the third quarter. Quarterback Bobby Layne had been lost for the season two weeks earlier,[6] and backup Tobin Rote lead the Lions' rally, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to win, 31–27.[1] The game was featured on NFL Top 10 as #2 on Top Ten Comebacks.[7]

NFL Championship game

References

"Lions thrilling rally wins playoff, 31-27". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. p. 20.
Johnson, Chuck (December 30, 1957). "Rote's passes, play calling smash Cleveland, 59 to 14". Milwaukee Journal. p. 7, part 2.
Sell, Jack (December 30, 1957). "Lions crush Browns, 59 to 14, to win title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
Jones, Eddie T. (December 30, 1957). "Browns show off collapsing defense". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 11.
Maule, Tex (January 6, 1958). "All hail the lusty Lions". Sports Illustrated. p. 8.
"Lions lose Layne but win, 20-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 9, 1957. p. 26.
"Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2013-01-03.

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[ltrwpo-1] "Lions thrilling rally wins playoff, 31-27". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. p. 20.

[rppcscl-2] Johnson, Chuck (December 30, 1957). "Rote's passes, play calling smash Cleveland, 59 to 14". Milwaukee Journal. p. 7, part 2.

[lcbtwt-3] Sell, Jack (December 30, 1957). "Lions crush Browns, 59 to 14, to win title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.

[bsofcdef-4] Jones, Eddie T. (December 30, 1957). "Browns show off collapsing defense". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 11.

[sivahll-5] Maule, Tex (January 6, 1958). "All hail the lusty Lions". Sports Illustrated. p. 8.

[apppgdce-6] "Lions lose Layne but win, 20-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 9, 1957. p. 26.

[7] "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2013-01-03.

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