1957 Detroit Lions season
{{Short description|NFL team season (won NFL Championship)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| logo =
| team = Detroit Lions
| year = 1957
| record = 8–4
| division_place = 1st NFL Western (playoff)
| coach = George Wilson
| general manager = Nick Kerbawy
| owner = Detroit Football Company
| stadium = Briggs Stadium
| playoffs = Won Conference Playoff
(at 49ers) 31–27
Won NFL Championship
(vs. Browns) 59–14
| shortnavlink = Lions seasons
| pro bowlers = {{Collapsible list
|title = 7
|1 = MLB Joe Schmidt
|2 = SS Jack Christiansen
|3 = FS Yale Lary
|4 = LT Lou Creekmur
|5 = LG Harley Sewell
|6 = LDH Jim David
|7 = LDE Darris McCord
}}
| AP All-pros ={{Collapsible list
|title = 5
|1 = LT Lou Creekmur {{small|(1st team)}}
|2 = LG Harley Sewell {{small|(2nd team)}}
|3 = MLB Joe Schmidt {{small|(1st team)}}
|4 = SS Jack Christiansen {{small|(1st team)}}
|5 = FS Yale Lary {{small|(2nd team)}}
}}
}}
The 1957 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 24th as the Detroit Lions. Under first-year head coach George Wilson, the Lions won their fourth and most recent NFL title.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5tZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=byUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6958%2C3573582 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Rote's passes, play calling smash Cleveland, 59 to 14 |date=December 30, 1957 |page=7, part 2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fcVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6947%2C4717014 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Lions crush Browns, 59 to 14, to win title |date=December 30, 1957 |page=18 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=43U_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ylQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=909%2C3837182 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=(Ohio) |last=Jones |first=Eddie T. |title=Browns show off collapsing defense |date=December 30, 1957 |page=11 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1958/01/06/568678/all-hail-the-lusty-lions |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Maule |first=Tex |author-link=Tex Maule |title=All hail the lusty Lions |date=January 6, 1958 |page=8}}
In the penultimate regular season game with the Cleveland Browns on December 8, Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne was lost for the season with a broken right ankle. With backup Tobin Rote in at quarterback in the second quarter,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a8VRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6964%2C1289531 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Lions lose Layne but win, 20-7 |date=December 9, 1957 |page=26 }} the Lions won that game and overcame a ten-point deficit at halftime the following week to defeat the Chicago Bears 21–13, whom they had lost to three weeks earlier at home.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ccVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5233%2C2620395 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Lions uphill fight whips Bears, 21-13 |date=December 16, 1957 |page=31 }} They ended the regular season with three consecutive wins and an 8–4 record. All four losses were within the Western Conference, splitting the two games with all but the Green Bay Packers, whom they swept.
Detroit tied with the San Francisco 49ers (8–4) for the conference title, which required a tiebreaker playoff game. Played at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco on December 22, the 49ers entered the game as three-point favorites.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hnBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bRAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1952%2C535251 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=INS |title=49ers 3-point choice today |date=December 22, 1957 |page=1C }} Down by twenty points in the third quarter, Detroit rallied with a 24–0 run to win 31–27.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d8VRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7216%2C3734897 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Lions thrilling rally wins playoff, 31-27|page=20}} This also marks the last time the Lions have won a playoff game away from home; they are 0–12 on the road in NFL postseason games since.
The Lions were home underdogs for the NFL championship game against Cleveland.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jXBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bRAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4028%2C4146029 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=Lions face Browns for pro title |date=December 29, 1957 |page=1C}} Played on December 29 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, the Lions led 17–0 after the first quarter and won in a rout, 59–14. Through the 2023 season, the Lions have yet to win, or even return to, another NFL title game (including the Super Bowl), an absence of more than sixty years. It is the fourth-longest drought in all four major sports, and the second-longest in the NFL, behind the Arizona Cardinals (1947, when the team was still based in Chicago), although the Cardinals, unlike the Lions, have subsequently appeared in the Super Bowl.
Schedule
=Regular season=
{{main|1957 NFL season}}
According to the team, a total of 39,844 season tickets were sold by the Lions for the 1957 campaign.Edward M. "Bud" Erickson (ed.), Detroit Lions Facts Book 1963: Press, Radio, TV. Detroit, MI: Detroit Football Company, 1963, p. 4. The Lions played their home games in Briggs Stadium (Tiger Stadium), which had a regular listed seating capacity of 46,194, with an additional 7,000 bleacher seats for football to bring total capacity to 53,194.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Game
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Recap !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Sources |
|---|
| style="background: #ffdddd;"
! 1 | September 29 |style="text-align: left;" |at Baltimore Colts | L 14–34 | 0–1 | 40,112 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195709290clt.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 2 | October 6 |style="text-align: left;" |at Green Bay Packers | W 24–14 | 1–1 | 32,132 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710060gnb.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 3 | October 13 |style="text-align: left;" |Los Angeles Rams | W 10–7 | 2–1 | 55,764 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710130det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 4 | October 20 |style="text-align: left;" |Baltimore Colts | W 31–27 | 3–1 | 55,764 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710200det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ffdddd;"
! 5 | October 27 |style="text-align: left;" |at Los Angeles Rams | L 17–35 | 3–2 | 77,314 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710270ram.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ffdddd;"
! 6 | November 3 |style="text-align: left;" |at San Francisco 49ers | L 31–35 | 3–3 | 59,702 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711030sfo.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 7 | November 10 |style="text-align: left;" |at Philadelphia Eagles | W 27–16 | 4–3 | 29,320 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711100phi.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 8 | November 17 |style="text-align: left;" |San Francisco 49ers | W 31–10 | 5–3 | 56,915 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711170det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ffdddd;"
! 9 | November 24 |style="text-align: left;" |Chicago Bears | L 7–27 | 5–4 | 55,769 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711240det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 10 | November 28 |style="text-align: left;" |Green Bay Packers | W 18–6 | 6–4 | 54,301 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195711280det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 11 | December 8 |style="text-align: left;" |Cleveland Browns | W 20–7 | 7–4 | 55,814 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712080det.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
! 12 | December 15 |style="text-align: left;" |at Chicago Bears | W 21–13 | 8–4 | 41,088 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712150chi.htm Recap] | |
| colspan="10"| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |
- Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sgRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9yUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080%2C5118881
|work=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Lion mudders beat Green Bay in rain |date=November 29, 1957 |page=13, part 2}}
=Playoffs=
{{main|1957 NFL playoffs}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Game
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Recap !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Detroit Lions|year=1957|border=2}}"| Sources |
|---|
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
| December 22 |style="text-align: left;" |at San Francisco 49ers | W 31–27 | 60,118 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712220sfo.htm Recap] | |
| style="background: #ddffdd;"
| December 29 |style="text-align: left;" |Cleveland Browns | W 59–14 | 55,263 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712290det.htm Recap] | |
Standings
{{1957 NFL Western standings}}
{{1957 NFL Eastern standings}}
Roster
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#006DB0;color:#C3C6CC;text-align:center;" | Detroit Lions 1957 roster |
|---|
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Reserve lists
rookies in italics |
Season summary
At the "Meet the Lions" banquet on Monday, August 12, seventh-year head coach Buddy Parker surprised the audience by abruptly announcing his resignation;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fn1IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4WsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7104%2C1722363 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Buddy Parker quits as Detroit grid coach |date=August 13, 1957 |page=16}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L581AAAAIBAJ&sjid=4qsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1046%2C3530753 |work=Owosso Argus-Press |location=(Michigan) |agency=Associated Press |last=Diles |first=Dave |authorlink=Dave Diles |title=Parker quits Lions |date=August 13, 1957 |page=11}} longtime assistant coach George Wilson was promoted the following day.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1kEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_k0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7486%2C3832231 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=George Wilson to coach Lions |date=August 13, 1957 |page=30}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f31IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4WsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4635%2C1908697 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Aide succeeds Buddy Parker |date=August 14, 1957 |page=22}} Two weeks later, Parker became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i31IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4WsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5762%2C3857142 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Parker new coach of Steelers |date=August 28, 1957 |page=1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8mFhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_JUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7099%2C4253946 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Livingston |first=Pat |title=Parker takes over Steeler reins |date=August 28, 1957 |page=48}}
=Pre-season=
=Week 1: at Baltimore=
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Detroit
|V1=7 |V2=0 |V3=0 |V4=7
|Host=Baltimore
|H1= 7|H2=17 |H3=10 |H4=0
|Date=September 29
|Location=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=40,112
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
The Lions opened the regular season on the road with a 34–14 loss to the Baltimore Colts on September 29. Quarterback Johnny Unitas threw four touchdown passes while the Baltimore defense held the Lions to 23 rushing yards and intercepted Bobby Layne three times. Detroit's touchdowns were scored by Howard Cassady (a short run for his first NFL touchdown) and Jerry Reichow on a 32-yard pass from backup quarterback Tobin Rote.{{cite news|title=Colts Kick Lions in the Teeth, 34-14|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Bob Latshaw|date=September 29, 1957|pages=37, 41|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4635423/colts_kick_lions_in_the_teeth/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}
=Week 2: at Green Bay Packers=
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle=
|state=collapsed
|title=
|date=October 6
|time=
|road=Lions
|R1= 14|R2= 3|R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Packers
|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=14
|stadium=New City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
|attendance=
|weather=
|referee=
|TV=
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710060gnb.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- Lions – Tobin Rote 2-yard run (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 7–0
- Lions – Jack Christiansen 27-yard interception return (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 14–0
;Second Quarter
- Lions – Bobby Layne 15-yard field goal – Lions 17–0
;Fourth Quarter
- Lions – Gene Gedman 1-yard run (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 24–0
- Packers – Bart Starr 1-yard run (Fred Cone kick) – Lions 24–7
- Packers – Fred Cone 26-yard run (Fred Cone kick) – Lions 24–14
|stats=
;Lions
- John Henry Johnson
18 Rush, 109 Yds
}}
=Week 3: Los Angeles Rams=
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Rams
|V1= 0|V2=7 |V3=0 |V4=0
|Host=Lions
|H1= 0|H2=10 |H3=0 |H4=0
|Date=October 13
|Location=Briggs Stadium, Detroit
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=55,764
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team= LA|Event=Arnett 12 yard pass from Van Brocklin (Cothren kick) |Score= LA 7–0|LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team= DET|Event=Reichow 16 yard pass from Rote (Layne kick) |Score=Tie 7–7 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team= DET|Event=Layne 25 yard field goal |Score=DET 10–7 |LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Week 4: Baltimore Colts=
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Colts
|V1=7 |V2=14 |V3=6 |V4=0
|Host=Lions
|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=21
|Date=October 20
|Location=Briggs Stadium, Detroit
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=55,764
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=Q1 |Time= |Team= BAL|Event=Mutscheller 15 yard pass from Unitas (Rechichar kick) |Score=BAL 7–0 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team=DET |Event=Martin 47 yard field goal |Score=BAL 7–3 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team=BAL |Event=Moore 72 yard pass from Unitas (Rechichar kick) |Score=BAL 14–3 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q2 |Time= |Team=BAL |Event=Mutscheller 66 yard pass from Unitas (Rechichar kick) |Score=BAL 21–3 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q3 |Time= |Team=BAL |Event=Moore 4 yard pass from Unitas (kick failed) |Score= BAL 27–3|LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q3 |Time= |Team=DET |Event=Junker 14 yard pass from Rote (Layne kick) |Score=BAL 27–10 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=DET |Event=Cassady 26 yard pass from Layne (Layne kick) |Score=BAL 27–17 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=DET |Event=Johnson 1 yard run (Layne kick) |Score=BAL 27–24 |LastEntry=}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry= |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=DET |Event=Cassady 29 yard pass from Layne (Layne kick) |Score=DET 31–27 |LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Clear}}
=Playoffs vs. San Francisco=
{{Main|1957 NFL playoffs}}
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Detroit
|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=14 |V4=10
|Host=San Francisco
|H1= 14|H2=10 |H3=3 |H4=0
|Date=December 22
|Location=Kezar Stadium, San Francisco
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=60,118
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
On December 22, the Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31–27, in a Western Conference playoff game. The two teams had finished the regular season tied in the standings at 8–4, which called for a tiebreaker game.
The 49ers took a 24–7 lead at halftime, as Y. A. Tittle threw three touchdown passes in the first half. A field goal early in the third quarter extended the lead to 27–7, then the Lions responded with 24 unanswered points. Detroit's touchdowns were scored by Steve Junker on a four-yard pass from Tobin Rote, two runs by Tom Tracy (1-yard and 58-yard runs), and Gene Gedman on a two-yard run.{{cite news|title=The Lions' 1957 Fight Song: 'Oh, We Won Because We Won --'|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Lyall Smith|date=December 23, 1957|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4635586/the_lions_1957_fight_song/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}
=NFL Championship Game=
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Cleveland
|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=7 |V4=0
|Host=Detroit
|H1= 17|H2=14 |H3=14 |H4=14
|Date=December 29
|Location=Briggs Stadium, Detroit
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=55,263
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{Main|1957 NFL Championship Game}}
On December 29, the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 59–14 in the NFL championship game. The Browns had been favored to win by three points. Tobin Rote, filling in at quarterback after Bobby Layne broke his ankle on December 8, was credited with "a brilliant performance" as he completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown, leading the Lions to their greatest point total in history. The Lions capitalized on five interceptions and two fumble recoveries, including a 19-yard interception return for touchdown by Terry Barr, and held Cleveland star rookie Jim Brown to 69 rushing yards on 20 carries.
The longest play of the game was a 78-yard touchdown pass from Rote to Jim Doran. Rookie Steve Junker was the Lions' leading scorer with 12 points on touchdown receptions covering 26 and 23 yards. Jim Martin followed with 11 points on eight extra-point conversions and a 31-yard field goal.{{cite web|title=Cleveland Browns 14 at Detroit Lions 59|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=March 15, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712290det.htm}} The victory gave the Lions their third NFL championship in six years. It was also referred to as "the perfect revenge" for the Browns' 56–10 rout of the Lions in the title game in 1954.{{cite news |title=Lions Win, 59–14! 55,263 See Browns Humbled; {{sic|It|'s|nolink=y}} Third Title in Six Years |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |first=Bob |last=Latshaw |date=December 30, 1957 |pages=1–2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4638680/lions_win_5914/}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1957.htm?redir Detroit Lions on Pro Football Reference]
- [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1957-det Detroit Lions on jt-sw.com]
{{Detroit Lions seasons}}
{{1957 Detroit Lions}}
{{Detroit Lions}}
{{1957 NFL season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1957 Detroit Lions Season}}
Category:Detroit Lions seasons