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“The Best Game Ever Played”
If Somebody Asked Me I’d Say...
by Mort Olshan
Although it took place forty-five seasons ago, possibly the most suspicious football game, in terms of gambling implications, remains open to question by old-timers (a.k.a. cynics) to this day. Wefre referring to the 1958 NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants; the sud-den-death encounter that has been called “the best game ever played.” Baltimore won it 23-17 in the first overtime game in NFL history.
What made it so suspect was the 3 ½-point spread favoring Baltimore. The regulation game ended 17-17 after Steve Myhra kicked a 20-yard field goal with only seven seconds remaining on the clock. Cynics contend that the Colts ignored a similarly “cinch” field goal opportunity in overtime in order to overcome the 3 ½-point spread and thus reward their gambling supporters — most significantly, team owner Carroll Rosenbloom, well known as a “risk-taker.” Lets review the circumstances, and set the record straight.
The Giants won the toss in the sudden-death period. They elected to receive. On the first series of downs they found themselves in a fourth-and-one situation and were forced to punt. The Colts took over on their own 20. Thirteen plays later Alan Ameche plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give Baltimore its first championship, rewarding Colts backers with a 6-point victory. There is much confusion over what actually happened on their game-winning drive. Many believe to this day that Ameche scored from farther out. Others are convinced it was 4th down when Baltimore scored its winning touchdown. To clear up this much-discussed controversy, we recount the winning sequence of plays, followed by evidence supporting the play selection:
1: Began on the Colt 20-yard line. Dupre picked up a 1st down at the 30.
2: Long pass from Unitas to Moore is incomplete.
3: Draw play to Dupre picked up couple of yards.
4: A flare pass to Ameche made it 1st down on the Colt 40.
5: Dupre cut inside to pick up 3 yards.
6: Giants’ DT Modzelewski dumped Unitas for an 8-yard loss.
7: Key play, 3rd and 15, pass from Unitas to Berry, 1st down in Giant territory.
8: Quick trap by Ameche gained 23 big yards to the Giant 20.
9: Dupre stopped for no gain.
10: Slant pass to Berry clicked for another 1st down just inside the Giant 10.
11: Ameche gained a yard.
12: Unitas gambles successfully with a pass to TE Mutscheller who is tackled on the Giant one-yard line. An unorthodox call, but definitely part of the Unitas personality.
13: 3rd down and 1 yard to go. Ameche scores for the winning TD after 8:15 of overtime.
The skeptics would have you believe that rather than chanc-ing a fumble or interception; the Colts should have gone for a less-risky field goal. However, as the above sequence shows, the Colts were never faced with a do-or-die 4th-down situation. The field goal would have had to be kicked on one of the first three downs. What aroused this skepticism was the fact that a Colt field goal would have given Baltimore a 20-17 victory, but also would have cost the Colts’ betting backers money, as they were committed to win by at least 4 points. Simply because there is a motive does not necessarily mean a dishonest act must follow. Here is evidence supporting Unitas’ selection of plays, and the facts surrounding each play alternative facing the great Colt quarterback: Field Goals: Baltimore had the second-worst Field Goal average in the NFL, a meager 35.7% success in making 5 of 14 (league’s low) placekicking attempts. Certainly not a promising offensive weapon, although Myhra (a backup lineman/kicker) did come through in the clutch at the end of regulation time.
Passing: Baltimore threw 354 passes and had only 11 intercepted for league-best of 3.1%. Unitas’ personal passing performance surpassed even that, seeing only 7 of his 263 passes intercepted, for a league record of 2.7%. In view of this, Unitas’ overhead attack could be mounted with impunity.
Rushing: In 456 rushing plays from scrimmage that season, the Colts lost the ball on fumbles only 11 times. Ameche, who scored the winning touchdown, had the remarkable record of having lost only one fumble in 171 carries. Ameche’s reputation for never fumbling, either in college or pro competition, was well known. He had finished second in league rushing that season with 791 yards and a 4.6 average.
Compare Ameche’s dependability and Unitas’ unerring accuracy — together they gave up the ball only eight times in 434 plays — with Myhra’s 5 out of 14 from placement. Now, we ask you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. In a crucial situation, would you rather have had Ameche running, Unitas passing, or Myhra kicking? The defense rests. Case dismissed!
This story was first published in the October - November 2002 issue of Gambling Times Magazine.
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