FanPost

Greatest Game Ever (?)

A reply to OCC's news post this morning got me thinking about hyperbolic references to games, teams, and players. The reply was in response to a statement that Eli was the greatest QB in Giants history. Discussion ensued. I, for one, believe it is impossible to determine the greatest ever when considering cross-generational events, but in this instance and from one point of view, I think I agree. See what you think.

The Giants played a role in the reason I became an NFL fan and specifically a Cowboy's fan. They were one half of what has been called the greatest game ever. The game was the 1958 NFL Championship Game pitting the Baltimore Colts coached by Weeb Eubank against the New York Giants coached by Jim Lee Howell (offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi; defensive coordinator Tom Landry). Notable Colts who played in the game were Alan "The Horse" Ameche, Raymond Berry, Art Donovan, L.G. "Long Gone" Dupre (later on the first Cowboys roster), Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, and Johnny Unitas. Notable Giants who played in the game were Roosevelt "Rosey" Brown, Don Chandler (later played for Green Bay), Charley Conerly, Frank Gifford, Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier, Sam Huff, Jim Katcavage, Don Maynard (later played for the Jets), Andy Robustelli, Kyle Rote, Pat Summerall, and Emlen Tunnell. The game was played in Yankee Stadium and televised nationally by NBC (except for a blackout in New York). There was significant hype leading into the game (I even remember Frank Gifford appearing on Captain Kangaroo).

It did not begin like it was going to be a landmark game as Huff forced a Unitas fumble, starting NY QB Don Heinrich fumbled the ball back on the next play and then Unitas was intercepted. A New York punt was followed by Huff blocking a Baltimore field goal. Charley Conerly replaced Heinrich for the rest of the game and led a drive that ended with a Summerall field goal. Two Gifford fumbles on NY's following possessions led to a 2 yd Ameche TD run and a 15 yd TD pass to Berry and Baltimore led at the half 14-3.

In the second half after stopping Alan Ameche on a 4th and one play, the Giants went 95 yds, scoring on a 1 yd run by Mel Triplett. The drive was highlighted by an 86 yd completion from Conerly to Kyle Rote who was hit from behind and fumbled. The ball was picked up by Alex Webster who was trailing the play and and ran it to the one where he was knocked out of bounds. Early in the 4th quarter the Giants went ahead 17-14 on a 15 yd TD pass to Gifford. After two Colt possessions, the first ending with a missed field goal and the second with two Unitas sacks that pushed them out of field goal range. Facing 4th and inches on their own 40 with a little over two minutes left, the Giants punted. Unitas then led the Colts in what some consider the first two minute drill, completing a third down 11 yd pass to Moore and then three consecutive passes to Raymond Berry to pick up 62 more yds. Steve Mhyra converted a 20 yd field goal to tie the game.

Bert Bell, NFL Commissioner had just implemented the sudden-death overtime rule for this game. Don Maynard fumbled the kickoff but recovered it at the 20. After three downs the Giants punted. Unitas called and led a 13-play, 80 yd drive that ended with a 1 yd Ameche touchdown and the NFL's longest game at that time was over, Colts winning 23-17.

There were several factors that led to this being called the Greatest Game Ever, not the least of which was the back and forth, overtime, nationally televised game between two teams loaded with Hall-of-Fame players. But one fact in retrospect makes the title appropriate. In the next two years professional football exploded in popularity, Lamar Hunt founded the AFL with 8 teams, and the NFL added our own Dallas Cowboys as an expansion team in 1960. By 1968 and 1969 the coordinators for the Giants were head coaches of the two teams that would battle to play in the first two Super Bowls. Don Chandler (of the Giants) would become the kicker for the Packers in those games and Weeb Ewbank and Don Maynard of the Colts would be with the Jets in the AFC's first Super Bowl win. Frank Gifford and Pat Summerall went on to historic careers in broadcasting.

So is this the greatest NFL game ever? There are probably Cowboys, Steelers, 49ers, Dolphins, Patriots, and Giants fans (among others) that would disagree, but in terms of impact on the professional football, it probably is.

Here is a highlight clip (unfortunately with a music covering up the interviews)

1958 Championship highlights - You Tube

Here is the complete game (2 hrs 35 min)

1958 NFL Championship (complete) - You Tube

What do you think? Do you have a candidate?


Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.