1959 NFL Championship Game

The 1959 National Football League Championship Game was the 27th NFL championship game, played on December 27 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.[1][2][3][4]

1959 NFL Championship Game
New York Giants Baltimore Colts
16 31
1234 Total
NYG 3337 16
BAL 70024 31
DateDecember 27, 1959
StadiumMemorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance57,545
TV in the United States
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersChuck Thompson, Chris Schenkel
Radio in the United States
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersVan Patrick
Baltimore 
Location in the United States

It was a rematch of the 1958 championship game that went into overtime. The defending champion Baltimore Colts (9–3) again won the Western Conference, while the New York Giants (10–2) repeated as Eastern Conference champions. The Colts were favored to repeat as champions by 3½ points.[1][5][6]

This game also went down to the last quarter, but the Colts did not need any heroics in overtime. Trailing 9–7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Baltimore scored 24 straight points and won, 31–16.[2][3][7][8]

This was the only NFL championship game played in Baltimore.

Scoring summary

Sunday, December 27, 1959
Kickoff: 2:05 p.m. EST[1][5]

  • First quarter
  • Second quarter
    • NYG   – FG Summerall 37, BAL 7–6
  • Third quarter
    • NYG   – FG Summerall 22, NYG 9–7
  • Fourth quarter
    • BAL – Unitas 4 yard run (Myhra kick), BAL 14–9
    • BAL – Jerry Richardson 12 yard pass from Unitas (Myhra kick), BAL 21–9
    • BAL – Johnny Sample 42 yard interception return (Myhra kick), BAL 28–9
    • BAL – FG Myhra 25, BAL 31–9
    • NYG   – Bob Schnelker 32 yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Summerall kick), BAL 31–16

Officials

The NFL had five game officials in 1959; the line judge was added in 1965 and the side judge in 1978.

Players' shares

The gross receipts for the game, including radio and television rights, were just over $666,000, slightly below the previous year. Each player on the winning Colts team received $4,674, while Giants players made $3,083 each.[7]

References
  1. "Pick Colts to retain pro crown". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. December 27, 1959. p. 1C.
  2. Sell, Jack (December 28, 1959). "Colts destroy Giants for pro crown 31-16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20.
  3. "Colts' 24 pt. rally sinks Giants". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 28, 1959. p. 2, part 2.
  4. Maule, Tex (January 4, 1960). "The best team you ever saw". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
  5. "Pro football epic will unfold today". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 27, 1959. p. 2, sports.
  6. Strickler, George (December 27, 1959). "Colts, Giants battle for title today". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  7. Bowen, George (December 28, 1959). "Baltimore explodes for 24 points in final period to rout New York, 31-16". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. 20.
  8. Strickler, George (December 28, 1959). "Colts retain title; beat Giants, 31-16". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, part 2.

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