10. 1960 CLEVELAND BROWNS at 2. 1970 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2. 1970 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Record: 12-2
Pythag: 12-2
Off: 3rd
Def: 1st
1st NFC Central
Lost Div Rnd 49ers 17-14
d. 13 Panthers 14-12
HC Bud Grant, OC Jerry Burns DC: Bob Hollway
Metropolitan Stadium: 40 degrees
Jim Morse
Offense
QB Gary Cuozzo (29 UVA) 7 td/10 int 49.8% 143.3 y/g 6.7 y/a 64.3
RB Dave Osborn (27 N Dakota) 681 yds 3.3 y/a 23 ctch 202 yds 8.8 y/c 6 td
RB Clint Jones (25 Mich St) 369 yds 3.1 y/a 9 ctch 117 yds 13 y/c 9 td
WR Gene Washington (26 Mich St) 44 ctch 702 yds 16 y/a 4 td
WR John Henderson (27 Mich) 31 ctch 527 yds 17 y/a 2 td
TE John Beasley (25 Cal) 17 ctch 237 yds 13.9 y/a 2td
LT Grady Alderman (32 Detroit Mercy)
LG Jim Vellone (26 USC)
C Mick Tingelhoff (30 Nebraska)
RG Milt Sunde (28 Minnesota)
RT Ron Yary (24 USC)
Defense
LDE Carl Eller (28 Minnesota) All Pro 13 scks
LDT Gary Larsen (30 Concordia-Moorhead) 6 scks
RDT Alan Page (25 N Dame) All Pro 1 int 10.5 scks 1td
RDE Jim Marshall (33 Ohio St) 6.5 scks
LLB Roy Winston (30 LSU) 1 int 2 scks
MLB Lonnie Warwick (28 Tenn Tech) 3 int sck
RLB Wally Hilgenberg (28 Iowa) 2 int sck
LCB Bobby Bryant (26 S Carolina) 3 int
RCB Ed Sharockman (31 Pitt) 7 int
SS Karl Kassulke (29 Drake) 3 int 2 scks
FS Paul Krause (28 Iowa) 6 int
K Fred Cox (32 Pitt)
P Tom McNeill (28 SFA)
KR Clint Jones (25 Mich St)
PR Charlie West (24 UTEP)
Here's the 2nd seed in the Region, the 30th overall seed in the entire tournament, the 1970 Vikings, Purple People Eaters have the best defense in football led by the 2 All Pros, 25 year old Alan Page and 28 year old Carl Eller. 30 year old Gary Larsen and 33 year old Jim Marshall round out the front four - 10 years before, Marshall was a rookie starting with the '60 Browns team and if seeding holds - we will see Marshall vs. Marshall in round 2. The Viking offense was 3rd in the NFL, really relying on the run game - the QB is 29 year old Gary Cuozzo, there aren't many starters in the tournament with more picks than scores, but Cuozzo had 10 interceptions, 7 TDs. Just a defensive war in rnd one, Vikes completing only 5 passes in beating the '13 Panthers.
10. 1960 CLEVELAND BROWNS
Record: 8-3-1
Pythag: 9-3
Off: 1st
Def: 4th
2nd NFL East
Did not make playoffs
d. '03 Patriots 50-14
HC: Paul Brown
Offense
QB Milt Plum (25 Penn St) 21 td/5 int 60.4% 191.4 y/g 9.2 y/a 110.4 2 td rush
RB Bobby Mitchell (25 Illinois) 506 yds 4.6 45 ctch 612 yds 13.6 y/c 11 td
RB Jim Brown (24 Syracuse) All Pro 1257 yds 5.8 y/a 19 ctch 204 yds 10.7 y/a 11 td
WR Ray Renfro (31 N Texas) 24 ctch 378 yds 15.8 y/a 4 td
WR Rich Kreitling (24 Illinois) 16 ctch 316 yds 19.8 y/ 3 td
WR Gern Nagler (28 S Clara) 36 ctch 616 yds 17.1 y/ 3 td
LT Dick Schafrath (23 Ohio St)
LG Jim Ray Smith (29 Baylor) All Pro
RG Gene Hickerson (25 Ole Miss)
RT Mike McCormack (30 Kansas)
Defense
LDE Paul Wiggin (26 Stanford) int 9 scks
LDT Bob Gain (31 Kentucky) 1 int 1.5 scks
RDT Floyd Peters (24 S Francisco St) sck
RDE Jim Marshall (23-R Ohio St) 2.5 scks
LLB Galen Fiss (29 Kansas) int
MLB Vince Costello (28 Ohio)
RLB Walt Michaels (31 Wash&Lee) sck
LCB Bernie Parish (24 Florida) 6 int td
RCB Jim Shofner (25 TCU) 8 int
LS Don Fleming (23-R Florida) 5 int
SS Bobby Franklin (24 Ole Miss) 8 int
K/P Sam Baker (31Ore St)
PR Bobby Mitchell (25 Illinois)
KR Jim Brown (24 Syr)
Best offense in football, 25 year old Milt Plum had 23 combined scores and just 5 picks. 25 year old Bobby Mitchell had a dozen scores running/catching/returning/and even threw for a 13th. 24 year old Jim Brown is an All Pro, 1257 yards rushing in a dozen games. The 28 year old LG Jim Ray Smith was also an All Pro. The defense is okay, 24 year old corner Bernie Parrish, 25 year old Jim Shofner, 23 year old Don Fleming combined for 19 picks. Cleveland stomped the '03 Patriots in round 1, hanging 50 points on them. Can the Browns keep that going against this great Viking defense? Check out Jim Marshall, starting at right defensive end for both teams.
Cleveland, despite being the 10th seed at the 2nd seeded Vikings, is a 6 point favorite, given that round 1 performance. Lets head to frigid Minnesota.
1st Qtr
Browns at the 22.
1/10 - Jim Brown is stopped at the line.
2/10 - Milt Plum is LEVELED by Alan Page after an incomplete pass. It's 15 yards and a first down on the late hit.
1/10 - Jim Brown 10 yard gain to the 47.
1/10 - Bobby Mitchell 8 yard gain.
2/2 - Carl Eller is through the line for the sack.
3/8 - Ray Renfro with a wild over the shoulder grab - its 19 yards to the 32.
1/10 - Brown for 5.
2/5 - Jim Brown -- UP THE GUT == BROWN BOWLS OVER LONNIE WARWICK -- JIM BROWN IS INTO THE END ZONE -- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS-- Cleveland goes 78 yards on the opening drive and takes the 7-0 lead.
Good Clint Jones return and the Vikes are at their own 40.
3 and out - Gary Cuozzo sacked by a young Jim Marshall. Browns at the 25.
1/10 - 3 for Brown.
2/7 - Prentice Gautt gets a carry and busts a 14 yarder.
1/10- Big gainer for Brown -- 20 yards, Jim Brown and the Brown rushing attack is punishing the People Eaters.
1/10 -1 for Mitchell.
2/9- 5 for Mitchell.
3/4 - Milt Plum to Leon Clarke, the TE from USC, first down at the Viking 22.
Vikes hold them there - a FG makes it 10-0 Browns.
Vikes at the 39, another good return.
1/10 Dave Osborn for 4.
2/6 Cuozzo to John Beasley, 12 and a first.
1/10 - Clint Jones big gainer, 18 yards to the Cleveland 27.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Osborn busts a 10 yard gain, the qtr ends with the Vikes at the 17.
2nd Qtr: Browns 10 Vikings 0
The Browns running game hasn't been slowed so far; Vikes trying to get back in it, at the Cleveland 17.
1/10 - Clint Jones breaks loose -- CLINT JONES IS INTO THE END ZONE --- TOUCHDOWN VIKES - 17 yard run, Vikes on the board.
Browns at the 33.
1/10 Nothing for Brown.
2/8 - 2 for Brown
3/8 - Plum finds Gern Nagler, Nagler has 14 yards to the 49.
1/10 - 13 yards for Mitchell to the 38.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - 4 for Gautt
3/6 - Plum to Renfro - 14 yards to the Viking 20 yard line.
But - Minnesota stops it there, FG makes it 13-7.
Vikes at the 29.
1/10 - Osborn with a big one, 28 yard gain, the Vikes rushing attack starting to get going here.
1/10 - 1 for Osborn
2/9 - 1 for Bill Brown
3/8 - Cuozzo goes down field -- big strike to Gene Washington - 29 yards and the Vikes are at the Browns 12.
The Browns hold Minnesota to the FG, there's 4 minutes left in the half, 13-10.
Browns at the 14. 3 and out. Vikes at the 38, just before the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Paul Wiggin sacks Cuozzo - loss of 6 and now we're at the 2 minute mark.
2/16 - Cuozzo to Washington, 10 yards.
3/4 - Cuozzo -- Going Up top -- He's got John Henderson -- It's a Huge gain -- 36 yards - Minnesota stops the clock at 1:37. Vikes at the 22.
1/10 - Cuozzo -- END ZONE TO HENDERSON -- TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS - Cuozzo 22 yards to Henderson and the Vikings take the lead late in the half.
Cleveland doesn't advance the ball - and it is halftime.
3rd Qtr: Vikings 17 Browns 13
Minnesota with a couple of second quarter TDs - Vikes up 4, winners to move to the second region 3 semi to face the Cowboys.
Vikes at the 31.
1/10 - Jones gets 2
2/8 - Cuozzo hits Osborn, he runs for 11.
Thye drive ends here and Cleveland will take over at the 28.
1/10 - 2 for Brown
2/8 - Jim Brown gets the corner -- Jim Brown just flying downfield -- Jim Brown will step out of bounds at the 4 yard line -- a 66 yard Run for Brown and the Browns have a first and goal at the 4. This great Viking defense no match today for Jim Brown.
1/goal - Nothing for Mitchell
2/goal - Mitchell goes -- INTO THE END ZONE -- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS - Cleveland regains the lead, 20-17, we got a good one here in Minnesota in this 2/10 matchup.
Vikes at the 32.
1/10 - Osborn for 1.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Cuozo finds Washington, 18 yards and the Vikes cross midfield.
But thats all. After the punt, Browns at the 20, 6 minutes left in the third. 20-17 Browns.
1/10 Brown for 7.
2/3 - Brown for 6. First down.
That ends the drive - Alan Page sacks Plum - after the punt, Vikes at the 36. 3 minutes left.
3 and out. Browns get the ball back at the 40.
1/10 - Bobby Mitchell gains 11. Browns cross midfield.
1/10 - A yard for Brown.
2/9 - Plum to Brown - 1 yard.
3/8 - Plum - STRIP SACKED BY JIM MARSHALL -- Marshall levels Plum - Vikes take over at midfield as the quarter ends.
4th Qtr: Browns 20 Vikings 17
Big play to end the qtr, Jim Marshall now with sacks for both teams, this one's a big one, Minnesota has a first down at midfield.
1/10 - Wiggin gets his second sack, getting Cuozzo.
2/15 - Cuozzo to Clint Jones out of the backfield, he picks up yards, he goes all the way to the 32.
1/10 - Nothing for Jones.
2/9 - Osborn gets 1.
3/8 - Cuozzo finds John Beasley - Beasley has a first down at the 21.
The drive ends here - Jim Marshall gets his second sack for Cleveland - Fred Cox ties the game with a FG and now it is 20-20.
Browns at the 35. 9 left.
1/10 - 8 yards for Mitchell.
2/2 - 8 for Brown and a first down.
1/10 - 13 more for Brown - Cleveland now at the 36.
1/10 - Mitchell 4 yards.
2/6 - Brown, 3 yards.
3/3 - Plum goes to Brown and he just does it man, Jim Brown, one man against the machine, 13 yards to the Cleveland 16.
1/10 - Mitchell gets 4.
2/6 - Brown gets 3.
3/3 - Plum --- End Zone -- Renfro -- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS - Milt Plum 9 yard TD ball to Ray Renfro - the Browns regain the lead - there's just 4 minutes left in this game.
Vikes at the 29.
1/10 - Osborn for 2.
2/8 - Jones for 5.
3/3 - Osborn gets 14 to midfield.
1/10 - Oscar Reed gets a carry and bursts for 17 yards -- Minnesota at the 33 at the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Cuozoo go Osborn, 14 yards and Minnesota is at the 19.
1/10 - Cuozzo to Washington, 5 yards.
2/5 - Cuozzo to Henderson - that's a 10 yard pickup - Minnesota uses a timeout here with 56 seconds left, and it is a first and goal.
Browns up by 7. Less than a minute to play. First and goal for the Vikes at the 4.
1/goal - Give to Osborn - he's met at the line and turned away.
2/goal - Cuozzo ---- END ZONE ------ INCOMPLETE
3/goal - Cuozzo -- sacked by Walt Michaels! The Vikes have to stop the clock - they are back at the 9 yard line - this is it - 15 seconds left. 27-20 Cleveland. One play left.
4/goal - Cuozzo ---- END ZONE ---- PICKED OFF BY BERNIE PARISH -- PICKED OFF BY BERNIE PARISH -- THE BROWNS DEFEAT THE VIKINGS 27-20.
Final: Browns 27 Vikings 20
The Browns continue to advance from the 10th seed in the region, they now go to Dallas for the second region 3 semi.
Plum: 10 for 17 100 yds TD
Cuozzo: 14 for 23, 197 yds TD/INT
Brown: 20 carries, 184 yds TD
Osborn: 17 carries, 68 yds
Renfro: 3 catches, 42 yds TD
Henderson: 3 catches, 68 yds TD
Wiggin: 2 sacks
Marshall: sack, both teams
Player of the Game: Jim Brown
