Giants win Century on final play,30-27.

Read along with the #1 song from the first week of December,1967 – Hello Goodbye

Cleveland,Dec. 3 –Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw a five yard touchdown pass to Aaron Thomas with no time remaining as the New York Giants defeated the Cleveland Browns,30-27,for the NFL Century Division championship. The victory was controversial after the home town Browns were flagged for roughing the passer after a failed fourth down conversion by New York two plays earlier. Cleveland had taken a four point lead two and a half minutes earlier after Leroy Kelly raced in from five yards on a draw play. The touchdown capped a seventeen point rally by the Browns from a 23-10 fourth quarter deficit.

The Giants failed to convert on their first possession when Les Murdock,filling in for Pete Gogolak,missed a 20 yard field goal attempt. Lou Groza put the Browns on the board first with a 19 yard field goal on the Browns’first possession. Cleveland settled for a field goal after two false start penalties halted the Browns initial drive. New York responded with a touchdown as Tarkenton found Joe Morrison for a 30 yard touchdown pass. A short punt by Cleveland’s Gary Collins set up the Giants for another scoring opportunity. Tarkenton capitalized and drove his team 34 yards for another touchdown,a 10 yard strike to Del Shofner. New York was prepared to take an eleven point lead into the half when the Browns defense stepped up. Ross Fichtner intercepted Tarkenton and returned the ball for a 24 yard touchdown.

However,the Giants were able to reply before the closing bell on the first half. Ernie Koy ripped through the Cleveland defense on a third-down conversion for a 70 yard romp to the Browns seven yard line. The run allowed Murdock another opportunity for a chip shot field goal which he converted as time ran out. Midway through the third quarter,the Giants added another touchdown as Tarkenton threw a five yard touchdown pass to Thomas to end an impressive 10 play,84 yard drive. Groza kicked a Cleveland field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Finally ten minutes into the fourth quarter,it was Kelly who woke up the Browns with a 44 yard pass reception. On the next play,Frank Ryan threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Paul Warfield to trim the Giants’lead to three points. With five minutes remaining,the Giants need to merely run out the clock. Tucker Frederickson fumbled on a third-and-two run,and Cleveland defensive tackle Walter Johnson recovered the ball at the Giants 42. Ryan hit Warfield for 20 yards,and then Kelly and Ernie Green grounded the ball until Kelly busted through for a five yard score.

With 2:14 remaining,the Giants were 70 yards from a go-ahead touchdown. Tarkenton found Homer Jones and Thomas for two quick strikes of 20 and 24 yards to reach the Browns’23. Facing a 3rd and 5 at the Cleveland 18,Tarkenton saves the Giants with an elusive nine yard scramble for a first down. Following a Frank Parker sack of Tarkenton and an incomplete pass attempt,Tarkenton found Thomas,but the well-covered tight end was immediately tackled at the Cleveland 4. Tarkenton’s fourth-down pass to Homer Jones was incomplete,and Cleveland began to celebrate until the sight of a penalty flag behind the line of scrimmage ended the party. Cleveland was flagged for roughing the passer,and the visitors were given a second life. Tarkenton’s attempt to Morrison failed,and with five seconds remaining,the Giants had only one play to win their division. Tarkenton scrambled right and found Thomas for the winning touchdown.

The NFL playoffs will begin with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Giants,and the Los Angeles Rams visiting defending champion Green Bay.

See NFL results from Sunday,December 3,1967