The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. After a 6-game preseason slate, the league's 12 teams played a 12-game league schedule — 72 regular season contests in all.
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 29 – December 22, 1957 |
| East Champions | Cleveland Browns |
| West Champions | Detroit Lions (playoff) |
| Championship Game | |
| Champions | Detroit Lions |
The season ended on Sunday, December 28, with a "World's Championship Playoff" held in the home city of the Western Conference champions,[1] won 59–14 by the Detroit Lions over the Cleveland Browns.
This was followed by the "All Star Pro-Bowl Game" held January 11, 1959, in Los Angeles,[1] a game won by the East, 28–21.
Draft
editThe 1957 NFL draft was held on November 26, 1956, and January 31, 1957, at Philadelphia's Warwick Hotel and The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. With the first pick, the Green Bay Packers selected halfback Paul Hornung from the University of Notre Dame.
Major rule changes
edit- During sudden-death overtime, rules for time outs are the same as in a regular game, including the last two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
- Home teams wore dark jerseys and road team wore white. Previously, NFL teams were allowed to wear whatever uniform color they liked, even if it clashed with the other team, and were not required to have a white jersey.
Division races
editCleveland won its opener, 6–3 over the Giants and led the Eastern Division from wire to wire. A 17–7 loss to the Eagles in Week Four forced the Browns to share the lead with New York, but the Giants lost the following week and spent the rest of the season trying to catch Cleveland.
The Western Division race was more protracted. Baltimore, Detroit, and San Francisco were tied for the lead several times and had identical 7–4 records at the end of the penultimate week.[2] When two teams tied for first place, they would meet in a one-game playoff. The NFL did have a provision for this situation: "If all three teams win, tie, or lose, then a two-week playoff series begins next Sunday with Baltimore drawing a bye, San Francisco playing Detroit, and the winner meeting the Colts at Baltimore December 29."[3] Detroit and San Francisco both won while starting their backup quarterbacks (Tobin Rote and rookie John Brodie, respectively), but the Colts lost, meaning the additional playoff was not required.
| Week | Western | Record | Eastern | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 teams (Bal, GB, LA) | 1–0–0 | 3 teams (Cards, Cle, Pit) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | Baltimore Colts | 2–0–0 | Cleveland Browns | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | Baltimore Colts | 3–0–0 | Cleveland Browns | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) | 3–1–0 | Tie (Cle, NYG) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | San Francisco 49ers | 4–1–0 | Cleveland Browns | 4–1–0 |
| 6 | San Francisco 49ers | 5–1–0 | Cleveland Browns | 5–1–0 |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 5–2–0 | Cleveland Browns | 6–1–0 |
| 8 | 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) | 5–3–0 | Cleveland Browns | 6–1–1 |
| 9 | Baltimore Colts | 6–3–0 | Cleveland Browns | 7–1–1 |
| 10 | Baltimore Colts | 7–3–0 | Cleveland Browns | 8–1–1 |
| 11 | 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) | 7–4–0 | Cleveland Browns | 8–2–1 |
| 12 | (tie) Detroit Lions | 8–4–0 | Cleveland Browns | 9–2–1 |
| 12 | San Francisco 49ers | 8–4–0 |
Final standings
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Playoffs
edit- Home team in capitals
Western Conference Playoff Game
- Detroit 31, SAN FRANCISCO 27
- DETROIT 59, Cleveland 14
Awards
edit| AP NFL Most Valuable Player | Jim Brown, Fullback, Cleveland |
| AP NFL Coach of the Year | George Wilson, Lions |
Coaching changes
edit- Detroit Lions: Buddy Parker was replaced by George Wilson.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Walt Kiesling was replaced by Buddy Parker.
Stadium changes
editThe Green Bay Packers moved from City Stadium to New City Stadium
References
edit- ^ a b Joseph T. Labrum (ed.), The National Football League Record and Rules Manual: 1958, 39th Season. Bala-Cynwyd, PA: National Football League, 1958; back cover.
- ^ Olan, Ben (December 15, 1957). "Frisco, Lions, Colts seek title; Browns at New York". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. D1.
- ^ "Western NFL Championship At Stake Today," The Post-Standard (Syracuse), December 15, 1957, p34
- NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
- NFL History 1951–1960 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)