Payoff Playoff

Before the start of the National Football League season, Commissioner Bert Bell predicted tight races in both conferences of the league. Bell turned out to be a good prophet. At one point in the race, seven of the twelve N.F.L. teams were, tied for first place, and it was not until last week that the standings were finally unscrambled. The teams that lined up for the league championship playoff, after what happy Commissioner Bell called "the best year we ever had" the "haves" v. the "have nots" of the N.F.L.

The Cleveland Browns, perennial champions of the old All-America Conference and 1950 winners of the N.F.L. title, had backed into their conference championship with their worst season ever, an 8-4 record. But Cleveland, like baseball's New York Yankees, could usually be counted on to win the big ones. The Detroit Lions, chronic paupers of the league, had not won a conference championship since 1935. After losing two of their first three games, the Lions, well stocked with castoffs from other teams, roared back to a tie with the defending champion Los Angeles Rams for their division title, then whipped the Rams. 31-21, in a playoff last week.

This week, for the payoff playoff, the rugged Lion defense let Cleveland's famed Quarterback Otto Graham & Co. roll up 22 first downs, but held them to just seven points. Meanwhile, Detroit's Quarterback Bobby Layne scored from two yards out, handed off to Doak Walker for a 67-yd. touchdown run. and held the ball while Veteran Pat Harder kicked a field goal. Final score that gave Detroit the world championship: 17-7. The payoff for the "have not" Lions: $2,275 apiece. Losing players' share: $1,712.

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