The Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers have played for a spot in a championship game before.
The winner didn’t go to the Super Bowl, but rather the NFL Championship Game in 1957.
The teams both finished 8-4 in the West and had split regular-season meetings. So, a playoff game was on for a spot to meet the Cleveland Browns for the NFL Championship.
The game took place at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium. In the third quarter, not many would have given the Lions a chance.
Behind Y.A. Tittle, the Niners soared to a 27-7 lead. The Hall of Fame QB was 12-of-19 in the first 30 minutes with three TD passes.
Down 20, the Lions scored the game’s final 24 points.
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.
The boxscore:
Scoring
| Quarter | Tm | Detail | DET | SFO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49ers | R.C. Owens 34 yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick) | 0 | 7 |
| 49ers | Hugh McElhenny 47 yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick) | 0 | 14 | |
| 2 | Lions | Steve Junker 4 yard pass from Tobin Rote (Jim Martin kick) | 7 | 14 |
| 49ers | Billy Wilson 12 yard pass from Y.A. Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick) | 7 | 21 | |
| 49ers | Gordie Soltau 25 yard field goal | 7 | 24 | |
| 3 | 49ers | Gordie Soltau 10 yard field goal | 7 | 27 |
| Lions | Tom Tracy 1 yard rush (Jim Martin kick) | 14 | 27 | |
| Lions | Tom Tracy 58 yard rush (Jim Martin kick) | 21 | 27 | |
| 4 | Lions | Gene Gedman 2 yard rush (Jim Martin kick) | 28 | 27 |
| Lions | Jim Martin 13 yard field goal | 31 | 27 |