1957 Playoff Game

The San Francisco 49ers were ready and waiting as only thirty minutes of football stood between them and the 1957 Championship Game. Not only were the players ready to go but the team’s printer was also prepared. Tickets for a showdown against the Eastern conference champion Cleveland Browns had already been printed! 

1957_Championship-Game-Ticket-Front-800

The Niners held a convincing 24-7 halftime-lead over the Detroit Lions in the 1957 Western Conference playoff game at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium on Dec. 22, 1957. Led by the precision passing of Y.A. Tittle, who completed 12 of 19 first-half passes for three touchdowns, the confident 49ers headed to the locker room in a jubilant mood.

However, the 49ers celebrated too early as the Lions roared back in the second half. The half began with a 71-yard run by San Francisco’s Hugh McElhenney. The Lions’ defense held tough as they limited the 49ers offense to only six yards in the next three plays and the 49ers had to settle for a field goal to make the score, 27-7. 
 

Then, it was time for the Lions’ offense to take over. Tom "The Bomb" Tracy, who hadn’t carried the ball in the previous four games, filled in for a banged-up duo of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and John Henry Johnson. Tracy led the charge with two third-quarter touchdown runs. The first came on a one-yard plunge and the second via a 58-yard scamper to bring the Lions to within six points, 27-21.

As the 49ers’ defense focused on Tracy, Detroit quarterback Tobin Rote dropped back and tossed a 36-yard pass to Steve Junker. The big pass play set the Lions up in scoring position and eventually Gene Gedman would tie the game on a 2-yard touchdown plunge. Jim Martin’s point-after-touchdown gave the Lions a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Lions’ defense rose to the occasion by recording four turnovers in the final period to protect the lead. A field goal by Martin sealed the amazing comeback as the Lions advanced to the title game with a 31-27 victory. One week later, the Lions routed the Browns, 59-14, to claim the franchise’s third NFL championship in six seasons. 

Detroit
0
7
14
10
-
31
San Francisco
14
10
3
0
-
27
SF - Owens 34 pass from Tittle (Saltau kick)
SF - McElhenny 47 pass from Rote (Martin kick)
DET - Junker 4 pass from Rote (Martin kick)
SF - Wilson 12 pass from Tittle (Soltau kick)
SF - FG Soltau 25
SF - FG Soltau 10
DET - Tracy 1 run (Martin kick)
DET - Tracy 58 run (Martin kick)
DET - Gedman 2 run (Martin kick)
DET - FG Martin 13
RUSHING
 Detroit - Tracy, 11 for 86, 2 TDs; Johnson, 5 for 20; Gedman, 6 for 13, 1 TD; Rote, 4 for 5; Cassady, 3 for 5. San Francisco - McElhenny, 14 for 82; Perry, 13 for 52; Babb, 2 for 3; Arenas, 1 for 2; Tittle, 3 for -12.
PASSING
 Detroit - Rote, 16 of 30 for 214, 1 TD, 1 int. San Francisco - Tittle, 18 of 31 for 248, 3 TDs, 3 int.
RECEIVING
 Detroit - Junker, 8 for 92, 1 TD; Cassady, 3 for 37; Doran, 2 for 51; Middleton, 2 for 27; Tracy, 1 for 7. San Francisco - Wilson, 9 for 107, 1 TD; McElhenny, 6 for 96, 1 TD; Owens, 1 for 34, 1 TD; Conner, 1 for 10; Babb 1 for 1.