Sport: The Pros

The Detroit Lions' Quarterback Bobby Layne hardly measures up to Cleveland's Otto Graham as a passer. During the past National Football League season, Layne completed only 46% of his passes, compared to Graham's 65%. But versatile Bobby Layne has other virtues. As a swivel-hipped runner, he was the Lion's second leading ground gainer, and unlike most quarterbacks, college or pro, Layne does his own signal calling, whereas Graham gets a flow of instructions from the bench. This week, when Detroit and Cleveland met for the N.F.L. championship, it was quick-thinking Layne v. sharpshooting Graham.

At kickoff time, a crowd of 54,577 was packed into Detroit's Briggs Stadium despite freezing weather, and another estimated 20 million were set to watch the game on television in the biggest (134-station) hookup in sports-television history. Cleveland was favored by just three points, the margin of a field goal that might be kicked by Cleveland's famed Tackle Lou ("The Toe") Groza. But Layne & Co. had other ideas. Detroit's huge (average: 235 Ibs.), hard-charging line forced Graham to fumble soon after the opening kickoff. Layne promptly called on an old Texas high-school football mate, Doak Walker, for the Detroit score. Graham, stopped, could only retaliate with a Groza field goal. At halftime, underdog Detroit led, 10-3.

Both teams saved their fireworks for the second half. Cleveland came back with the tying touchdown, went ahead for the first time when Groza kicked a 15-yd. field goal. Minutes later, Groza's third field goal of the afternoon, a 43-yarder, lengthened Cleveland's lead to 16-10. But Detroit's Layne still had a few ideas left. With time running out—less than three minutes remained—Layne sent End Jim Doran galloping down the right sideline, floated a 34-yd. scoring pass to him in the end zone. Final score: 17-16.

In retaining their championship, the Lions accomplished what no other team had managed to do in Otto Graham's eight years of professional play: they held Graham to two pass completions (in 15 attempts), for a net gain of just four yards.