So, then, it appears that the Browns may play this season on Christmas, which the NFL first started doing 53 years ago — in the playoffs, no less.
It came in 1971 in the divisional round when a doubleheader was held on the holiday, which fell on a Saturday that year.
In the AFC in one of the epic moments in NFL history, the Miami Dolphins needed two overtimes to outlast the Chiefs 27–24 in the last game at Kansas City Municipal Stadium before Arrowhead Stadium opened the following year.
The length of the game was a real disruption on Christmas dinner plans that day, especially in and around Kansas City and Miami. A relative had grown up in Kansas City and was a huge Chiefs fan. Months before, he and his wife had planned a big holiday dinner at home, with loads of guests. When the game kept going and going and going, well beyond the time when it should’ve ended, his wife got madder and madder and madder as all the men remained in the living room, watching the marathon. She somehow kept the dinner warm, but not as hot as she was getting.
“I nearly lost my marriage that day,” her husband joked for years.
The NFC game was as one-sided as the AFC contest was close. The Dallas Cowboys took their initial step in winning their first Super Bowl by blowing out to a 17-point lead over the host Minnesota Vikings through three quarters en route to a 20-12 victory.
The Browns, in the playoffs for the the sixth time in eight years, could’ve played the Baltimore Colts in Cleveland on Christmas, but the league decided to move that game to Sunday. Ravenna High School and Kent State product Don Nottingham scored on two touchdown runs in the second quarter to provide the Colts with a 14-0 lead and they went on from there to win 20–3. Browns quarterback Bill Nelsen completed just 9-of-21 passes for 104 yards and was intercepted three times while suffering four sacks.
The Browns had edged the Colts 14–13 at Baltimore in Week 2, but they couldn’t repeat their performance in the playoffs.
The NFC game was much more competitive, with the San Francisco 49ers defeating Washington 24–20.
As for the Browns, if they get picked to play on Christmas again this season, then they will try to make a much better showing.
Steve King
