1962 NFL season
Encyclopedia
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season
of the National Football League
. Before the season, CBS
signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee.
The season ended on December 30th, when the Green Bay Packers
defeated the New York Giants
16–7 in the NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium. The Packers successfully defended their 1961
NFL title, finishing the 1962 season at 14-1; their only loss was to the Detroit Lions
on Thanksgiving
.
In the Eastern conference, the Redskins were unbeaten after six games. Their four wins and two ties would have been an .833 record in later years, but in 1962, a tie game wasn't counted at all. In Week Seven (October 28), the Giants handed the Skins their first loss, 49–34. When Washington lost again the next week, 38–10 to Dallas, the Giants 31–28 win over St. Louis gave them a 6–2 record and the conference lead. The Giants rode a nine game winning streak to capture the Eastern title and the right to host the title game against Green Bay.
Note: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings
Regular season (NFL)
The National Football League regular season begins the weekend after Labor Day. Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon, with weekly games on Sunday night and Monday night, and occasional games on Thursday...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Before the season, CBS
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee.
The season ended on December 30th, when the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
defeated the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
16–7 in the NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium. The Packers successfully defended their 1961
1961 NFL season
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per...
NFL title, finishing the 1962 season at 14-1; their only loss was to the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
.
Conference races
The Green Bay Packers won their first ten games, until losing 26–14 on November 22 at Detroit. The Lions' win put them a game behind the Pack rather than 2 games behind, but in the final week, they lost to Chicago, 3–0. Even a Lions win would have been made moot when Green Bay's won 20–17 at L.A. to finish with a record of 13–1.In the Eastern conference, the Redskins were unbeaten after six games. Their four wins and two ties would have been an .833 record in later years, but in 1962, a tie game wasn't counted at all. In Week Seven (October 28), the Giants handed the Skins their first loss, 49–34. When Washington lost again the next week, 38–10 to Dallas, the Giants 31–28 win over St. Louis gave them a 6–2 record and the conference lead. The Giants rode a nine game winning streak to capture the Eastern title and the right to host the title game against Green Bay.
| Week | WESTERN | EASTERN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 teams (Bal, Chi, Det, GB) | 1-0-0 | Tie (Cle, St.L) | 1-0-0 |
| 2 | 4 teams (Bal, Chi, Det, GB) | 2-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 1-0-1 |
| 3 | Tie (Det, GB) | 3-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 2-0-1 |
| 4 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 4-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 3-0-1 |
| 5 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 5-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 3-0-2 |
| 6 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 6-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 4-0-2 |
| 7 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 7-0-0 | WASHINGTON REDSKINS | 4-1-2 |
| 8 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 8-0-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 6-2-0 |
| 9 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 9-0-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 7-2-0 |
| 10 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 10-0-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 8-2-0 |
| 11 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 10-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 9-2-0 |
| 12 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 11-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 10-2-0 |
| 13 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 12-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 11-2-0 |
| 14 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 13-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 12-2-0 |
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points AgainstNote: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings
NFL Championship Game
- Green Bay 16, New York 7 at Yankee Stadium, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, December 30, 1962
Awards
| Most Valuable Player NFL Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP... |
Jim Taylor, Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... , Green Bay |
| Coach of the Year NFL Coach of the Year Award The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by the... |
Allie Sherman Allie Sherman Alexander "Allie" Sherman is a retired American football National Football League running back and head coach.... , N.Y. Giants |