Steelers BYE 1960 We saw a great game

[LeonardRachiele]

Week 10 Pittsburgh BYE Week

At the year's end, the Colts and the Lions were going in opposite directions. Detroit at 3-5 won their last four games to finish at 7-5, good for second place in the NFL Western Division. The Colts were 6-2 and lost their four final games with a. 500 record or 6-6. There was no third consecutive title for Baltimore. The Lions won the previous game at Tiger Stadium 30 to 17.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drew a BYE in Week 10. As a result, pro football fans saw the Detroit Lions go to Baltimore on NBC. This game was exciting and improbable. In the first quarter, Le Bron Shield blocked Yale Lary's punt deep in Detroit territory. The ball flew over the end line for a safety giving Baltimore a 2 to 0 lead.

Very quickly Jim Martin for the Lions booted a chip shot field goal for a 3 to 2 lead after one period. The second quarter saw Johnny Unitas throw an 80 yard touchdown pass to Lenny Moore. After the a missed extra point, Baltimore lead 8 to 3 at halftime. While the third quarter was scoreless, the final period was almost a riot.

Lion Coach Jim Wilson put Earl Morrall at quarterback in place of Jim Ninowski who was having an awful day. He completed just eight of 22 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions. Morrall threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. The next drive saw Jim Martin kick a 47 yard field goal and now Detroit led 13 to 8.

Baltimore late in the game started moving the ball. Unitas was an expert at the two minute drill. The fans began circling around the field and cheering. They sensed a victory, another NFL Title, and the noise level was deafening. From the Lion 37 Johnny Unitas, behind perfect protection, threw a touchdown pass to Lenny Moore. Moore made a fantastic catch pulling it in while parallel to the ground. Memorial Stadium was a madhouse.

On the second play after the kickoff, Morrall threw a 65 yard touchdown pass to Jim Gibbons stunning the crowd. The silence was shocking. Detroit won their final two games to finish 7-5 while Baltimore ended at 6-6.

For the game, Lenny Moore caught four passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Raymond Berry caught 10 passes for 117 yards. Three interceptions for Detroit from Yale Lary, Dick Lebeau, and Wayne Walker. Bobby Boyd for the Colts had two pass interceptions for 84 yards in returns.

Passing-Earl Morrall was five of six for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Unitas was 22 of 40 for 357 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Total yards 387 for Baltimore and 302 for Detroit.