1969 NFL Championship Game

The 1969 NFL Championship Game was the 37th and final championship game played prior to the AFL-NFL Merger. The winner of the game would go on to play in Super Bowl IV against the champion of the American Football League. The Minnesota Vikings were making their first appearance in the NFL championship game, their opponent, the Cleveland Browns who were making their second straight appearance and fourth in the 1960s. The game was played January 4, 1970 at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota.

Although not as severe as the "Ice Bowl" ( NFL Championship Game, 1967) the weather conditions were bitterly cold with a temperature of 8 degrees F. Cleveland LB Jim Houston suffered frostbite during the game and was hospitalized.

Minnesota had gone 12-2 during the regular season, including a 51-3 defeat of the Browns, and had defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the Western Conference championship a week earlier at Met Stadium. The Vikings were coached by Bud Grant and led on offense by quarterback Joe Kapp and WR Gene Washington . The defense allowed only 133 points (9.50 per game) during the regular season and was led by the front four line known as the Purple People Eaters.

Cleveland had gone 10-3-1 during regular season and had defeated the Dallas Cowboys for the Eastern Conference title. The Browns were coach by Blanton Collier. Bill Nelsen was the starting quarterback and Gary Collins and Paul Warfield were star wide receivers for the team.

Scoring summary

Scoring

• MIN - TD:Joe Kapp 7 yard run (Fred Cox kick) 7-0 MIN
• MIN - TD:Gene Washington 75 yard pass from Joe Kapp (Fred Cox kick) 14-0 MIN
• MIN - FG:Fred Cox 30 yards 17-0 MIN
• MIN - TD:Dave Osborn 20 yard run (Fred Cox kick) 24-0 MIN
• MIN - FG:Fred Cox 32 yards 27-0 MIN
• CLE - TD:Collins 3 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Cockroft kick) 27-7 MIN

References

[1] Chuck Heaton, "Vikings Repulse Browns, 27-7", Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 4, 1970, Browns history database retrieved December 12, 2007