Regular season | |
---|---|
Duration | September 15 - December 30, 1962 |
East Champions | New York Giants |
West Champions | Green Bay Packers |
Championship Game | |
Champions | Green Bay Packers |
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). 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 30, 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 Day at Tiger Stadium.
The 1962 NFL Draft was held on December 4, 1961 at Chicago's Sheraton Hotel & Towers. With the first pick, the Washington Redskins selected back Ernie Davis from Syracuse University.
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 was not 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 Conference | Record | Eastern Conference | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. |
The Playoff Bowl was between the conference runners-up, for third place in the league. This was its third year (of ten) and it was played a week after the title game.
Most Valuable Player | Jim Taylor, Fullback, Green Bay |
Coach of the Year | Allie Sherman, New York Giants |