What if the Super Bowl Began in 1960? Super Bowl V: Browns-Bills 1964

What if the Super Bowl began in 1960? Super Bowl V Browns-Bills 1964!

Stakes have never been higher coming off last years stunning upset by the Chargers over the Bears. The game has gone to new heights since last years classic upset. The question everyone’s asking is was it a fluke? Most people think it was a fluke, well at least in Vegas they do as the Browns have opened as a 17 point favorite over the Bills.

Cleveland Browns

The regular season was a success with The Browns finishing with a regular season record of 10–3–1.They were coached by Blanton Collier who had replaced the historic Paul Brown the previous season. The Browns were huge underdogs in the NFL championship game, but stunned the football world by dominating Johnny Unitas and the Colts 27-0.

Offensively the Browns are led by Jim Brown who averaged over 5 yards per carry and QB Frank Ryan who passed for 2,404 yards and 25 TD’s. Browns top receiver was rookie Paul Warfield who had 52 receptions for 920 yards and 9 TD’s.

The Browns on defense gave up 21 points per game, Defensively they were led by MLB Vince Costello.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo was 12–2 in the regular season and won the first of two consecutive championships in the American Football League.

The 1964 Bills’  defense was maybe the greatest defense in AFL history setting an AFL record by giving up the fewest rushing yards in league history, with only 918, or 65.5 yards per game. They also led the league in points allowed (242), total yards allowed (3,878), first downs surrendered (206), and rushing touchdowns allowed (four).

Buffalo’s offense also led the AFL in total yards (5,206), passing yards (2,040) and total points (400).

The Bills scored 29 points a game and where led by RB Cookie Gilchrist 981 yards and 6 TD’s. Receivers Elbert Dubenion and Glenn Bass combined for 2,000 receiving, QB Jack Kemp amazingly threw 13 TD passes and 26 interception.

Defensively the Bills gave up an average of 17 points per game. The Bills were led by Butch Byrd’s 7 interceptions, as a team the Bills intercepted 28 passes.

The Game

The Bills ability to play defense and especially stop the run make this a very interesting game. The problem for the Bills is, can they slow down Jim Brown? Frank Ryan and Paul Warfield will keep them from being able to completely concentrate on stopping Brown. Can the Bills QB Jack Kemp be successful throwing the ball against the Browns? He threw way too many interceptions in the regular season and if that continues into this Super Bowl, the Bills will have no chance.

The Outcome

The Bills receive the opening kickoff and behind the running of Gilchrist take the ball inside the Browns 20 yard line. On 3rd and 5 Kemp goes back to pass and seems to have receiver Glenn Bass open inside the 10 yard line, but at the last minute CB Walter Beach steps in front of the pass and picks it off returning it out to the 25 yard line.

The Browns open up with three straight runs by Brown that gain a total of 20 yards. The next play Frank Ryan fakes the hand off to Brown and throws the ball deep down the field to a wide open Paul Warfield who races to the end zone for the first score of the game.

The Bills are having success running Gilchrist and on the next drive move the ball past midfield. On first and 10 Kemp goes back to pass and finds receiver Elbert Dubenion open just inside the 30 for a huge first down as the quarter comes to an end. Browns 7 Bills 0.

The Bills end up settling for a Pete Gogolak field goal from 28 yards out to close the gap to 7-3. The rest of the first half is uneventful as the teams defenses start to control the game. At halftime the Browns lead 7-3.

On the first play from scrimmage to start the second half Kemp throws a pass to Gilchrist out of the backfield that he takes 25 yards up to midfield. The drive stalls as the Browns stop Gilchrist for little gain on the next two plays and on third down Kemp is sacked by MLB Vince Costello ending the drive and forcing the Bills to punt.

Jim Brown who except for the first drive of the game had been quiet busts a 45 yard run on first down from the Browns 15 yard line. The very next play after Brown’s big run Ryan hits receiver Gary Collins down to the 10 yard line and the Brown’s have major momentum on their side. Brown carries the ball the next 3 plays the last being a 4 yard TD run. The Browns now lead 14-3. Things get even worse for the Bills on their next possession as Kemp throws yet another interception as CB Bernie Parrish picks the pass off at the Bills 40 and returns it to the 10 yard line. On the very next play Jim Brown runs over multiple Bills into the end zone making it 21-3 Browns after 3 quarters.

At the start of the 4th quarter the Bills show a little life as Kemp hits Bass on a pass over midfield, a 25 yard run on the next play takes the ball just inside the Browns 25 yard line. The drive ends 5 plays later as Gilchrist takes the ball into the endzone from 5 yards out closing the gap to 21-10 with a little over 10 minutes left in the game.

The Bills problem is Jim Brown is on a tremendous roll now, his first carry on the next series is a 22 yard run that gets the ball close to mid field. The Bills great defense is now being gashed by the Browns offense. On the 14th play of the drive Brown scores from one yard out and with two minutes left in the game the Browns lead 28-10. The Bills try to mount one final drive, but with a little over a minute left Kemp’s pass is tipped in the air and once again intercepted by Walter Beach. The Browns run the clock out and win the Super Bowl 28-10. The MVP is Jim Brown who carried the ball 26 times for 147 yards and 3 TD’s.

Next Up Super Bowl VI Packers vs Bills