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| Date | January 4, 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Joe Kapp (Quarterback; Minnesota) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 47,900 | ||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Ray Scott, Paul Christman, and Bruce Roberts | ||||||||||||||||||
| Radio in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
The 1969 NFL Championship Game was the 37th and final championship game prior to the AFL–NFL merger, played January 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb south of Minneapolis. The winner of the game earned a berth in Super Bowl IV in New Orleans against the champion of the American Football League.[1][2]
The Minnesota Vikings of the Western Conference hosted the Cleveland Browns of the Eastern Conference. It was the Vikings' first appearance in the title game, while the Browns were making their second straight appearance and fourth of the 1960s.
Minnesota had a regular season record of 12–2, including a 51–3 defeat of the Browns eight weeks earlier on November 9.[3][4] The Vikings defeated the Los Angeles Rams 23–20 in the Western Conference championship a week earlier at Met Stadium. They were coached by Bud Grant and led on offense by quarterback Joe Kapp and wide receiver Gene Washington. The defense allowed only 133 points (9½ per game) during the regular season and their four defensive linemen were known as the "Purple People Eaters."
Cleveland was 10–3–1 during the regular season and had upset the Dallas Cowboys 38–14 at the Cotton Bowl for the Eastern Conference title.[5][6] The Browns were coached by Blanton Collier; Bill Nelsen was the starting quarterback and Gary Collins and Paul Warfield were star wide receivers for the team.
Although not as severe as the "Ice Bowl" of 1967, the weather conditions were bitterly cold at 8 °F (−13 °C), with a sub-zero wind chill factor. Cleveland linebacker Jim Houston suffered frostbite during the game and was hospitalized.
Minnesota was favored by nine points to win the title game at home,[1][7] and they won, 27–7.[2][8][9]
Of the four NFL teams that joined the league during the AFL era (1960s), Minnesota was the sole winner of a pre-merger NFL championship. The Dallas Cowboys entered the league in 1960 and lost two NFL title games to the Green Bay Packers, in 1966 and 1967. The expansion Atlanta Falcons (1966) and New Orleans Saints (1967) did not qualify for the postseason until 1978 and 1987, respectively.
The Vikings would go on to lose Super Bowl IV 23–7 to the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs. Starting with the 1970 season, the NFL champion was determined in the Super Bowl, beginning with Super Bowl V.
This was also the final broadcasting assignment for Paul Christman, who died less than two months later on March 2.
- ^ a b Livingston, Pat (January 4, 1970). "Vikings, Browns clash for NFL title". Pittsburgh Press. p. 1, section 4.
- ^ a b "Minnesota, Chiefs will meet on Super Sunday". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 5, 1970. p. 10.
- ^ "Browns routed by Vikings, 51-3". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 10, 1969. p. 28.
- ^ "Browns crushed by Vikings, 51-3". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. November 10, 1969. p. 13, part 2.
- ^ "Nelsen leads Browns to 38-14 victory". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 29, 1969. p. 26.
- ^ "Browns baffle Dallas again". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. December 29, 1969. p. 9, part 2.
- ^ "It's cold - of course - in Minnesota". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 4, 1970. p. 1, sports.
- ^ Lea, Bud (January 5, 1970). "Vikings, Chiefs gain Super Bowl". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ Livingston, Pat (January 5, 1970). "Vikings' supermen hurdle Browns". Pittsburgh Press. p. 25.