The Roaring Comeback

The 1957 NFL season culminated in one of the most improbable and dominant championship victories in league history, as the Detroit Lions, against all odds, triumphed over the Cleveland Browns. This season was a rollercoaster of unexpected turns, demonstrating the resilience of a team that had to overcome internal turmoil, a challenging schedule, and the loss of its star quarterback to hoist the NFL Championship trophy.

In this edition of our pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship series, we are joined by Randy Snow of the World of Football Kalamazoo Podcast. Randy meticulously recounts the historical significance of the Lions' championship game against the Cleveland Browns

The Lions and Browns had a fierce rivalry throughout the 1950s, with their 1957 championship clash being their fourth meeting for the title in six years. Detroit had claimed victories in 1952 (17-7 in Cleveland) and 1953 (17-16 in Detroit), while Cleveland had delivered a decisive 56-10 defeat in 1954. The stage was set for another epic showdown, but the Lions' path to the championship game was anything but smooth.

The season began with a stunning development when Head Coach Buddy Parker, who had led the Lions since 1951, abruptly resigned at a pre-season banquet. Parker, citing a belief that the team was "the worst he had ever seen" during training camp and that he had lost control of the players and ownership, walked away just weeks before the season opener. His departure left assistant offensive coach George Wilson to take the reins. Interestingly, Parker would immediately sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his first preseason game as Steelers coach was against his former Lions team, a contest Pittsburgh won 20-14.

Despite the chaotic start, the Lions, with an 8-4 regular season record, began to find their stride. They rebounded from an opening loss to the Baltimore Colts (34-14), defeating formidable opponents like the Packers and Rams. A significant blow occurred on December 8th when star quarterback Bobby Layne broke his right leg and dislocated his right ankle in a game against the Browns. Layne was replaced by Tobin Rote, a quarterback acquired from the Packers just before the start of the season. Rote seamlessly stepped in, leading the Lions to a season-ending victory over the Bears, which forced a playoff against the San Francisco 49ers, as both teams finished with identical 8-4 records.

The Western Conference playoff game against the 49ers at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco proved to be one of the most thrilling comebacks in Lions history. Trailing 24-7 at halftime and 27-7 early in the third quarter after a 49ers field goal, Detroit staged a furious rally. The Lions scored three touchdowns in a blistering four-and-a-half-minute span, with runs by Tom Tracy and Gene Getman, to take a 28-27 lead. A late 13-yard field goal by Jim Martin sealed a remarkable 31-27 victory, propelling them into the NFL Championship game. Tobin Rote's performance was crucial, completing 16 of 30 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown, despite an interception and a fumble. Meanwhile, 49ers quarterback Y.A. Tittle, despite throwing for three touchdowns, was plagued by three interceptions and three fumbles, turnovers that ultimately cost San Francisco the game.

The 1957 NFL Championship game, held at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, pitted the Lions against the heavily favored Cleveland Browns, who had dominated their division throughout the season. Despite being 3-point underdogs, the Lions asserted their dominance early, jumping to a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Browns, led by rookie sensation Jim Brown, scored their first touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter with a 29-yard run by Brown, making it 17-7.

However, the Lions responded emphatically. In a moment that perhaps underscored Buddy Parker's earlier concerns about team control, Tobin Rote audaciously called a fake field goal in the huddle against Coach George Wilson's direct instructions to kick. The audacious play worked perfectly, with Rote connecting with Steve Junker for a 26-yard touchdown, extending Detroit's lead to 24-7. Rookie defensive back Terry Barr then added a 19-yard pick-six, pushing the score to 31-7 and prompting the Browns to replace starting quarterback Tommy O'Connell with rookie Milt Plum.

While the Browns scored a touchdown to open the second half, bringing the score to 31-14, it was all Detroit from there. Tobin Rote continued his masterful performance, throwing for three more touchdowns, including a 78-yard strike to Jim Doran and a 23-yard pass to Steve Junker. Even backup quarterback Jerry Reichow got in on the action, throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy. The final score, a staggering 59-14, avenged their 1954 championship loss to the Browns and secured the Lions' last NFL Championship to date.

Tobin Rote's statistics in the championship game were stellar: 12 of 19 passing for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with seven rushes for 27 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 307 total yards. Jerry Reichow's single touchdown pass was the only one of his 8-year NFL career, a memorable moment in a championship game. For the Browns, Jim Brown rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown, and even returned kicks. However, Cleveland's seven turnovers ultimately sealed their fate. The crowd of 55,200 in Detroit celebrated heartily, and winning players received a substantial (for the era) payout of nearly $4,300.

The 1957 season marked a significant shift for both teams. The Browns were without legends Otto Graham and Marion Motley, while the Lions featured new talent like running back John Henry Johnson and "Hopalong" Cassidy. Tobin Rote, after his heroics, would later play in the CFL and win an AFL title with the San Diego Chargers in 1963, a rare achievement for a quarterback. The "curse of Bobby Layne," a popular narrative suggesting Layne cursed the Lions to 50 years without a title after his 1958 trade to Pittsburgh, has been widely discussed, with some even claiming its recent breaking. Regardless of the curse, the 1957 Detroit Lions remain a testament to overcoming adversity, a team that showcased grit, unexpected heroes, and a dominant championship performance that forever etched their place in NFL history.