Before the Super Bowl 1962: Texans at Packers

Len Dawson

Editor’s Note: The games for the American Football League-National Football League Championship contests will be played on the computer with Action! PC Football. The games are played with the “coaching” by a human as well as computer simulation.

GREEN BAY – Len Dawson‘s touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference at Lambeau Field as the Dallas Texas defeated the Green Bay Packers 21-20 in the 1962 American Football League-National Football League Championship game.

Dawson found Fred Arbanas for a 20-yard pass that tied the affair with 11:27 to go in the game. Tommy Brooker‘s PAT gave the Texans the lead by a point.

The Packers answered the score with an 18-play, 70-yard drive that took almost nine minutes off the clock. Unfortunately, the Packers couldn’t produce a score that would have put them in the lead.

Jerry Kramer had a 24-yard field goal blocked, but a Dallas penalty kept the drive alive with an automatic first down.

Three plays later, Green Bay’s Paul Hornung threw an interception that was picked off by Dave Grayson to end the scoring threat.

The Green Bay defense shut down Dallas in four plays with 1:20 remaining. However, the Packers had their opportunity for a win end as Bart Starr was picked off by Bobby Hunt with 14 seconds left.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions in the first period.

Dawson tossed a 31-yard scoring strike to Abner Haynes for the Texans, while Jim Taylor ran 60 yards and the game was tied 7-7.

In the second quarter, Green Bay was able to build a 17-14 advantage by halftime.

Taylor added a 7-yard touchdown run to his day as Dawson found Chris Burford for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

With five seconds left before the break, Kramer booted a 32-yard field goal to put Green Bay on top.

The Packers were able add to their lead in the third as Kramer’s 24-yard kick made it 20-14.

Dawson finished with three touchdown passes as he completed 10-of-17 throws for 160 yards.

Starr was 17-of-23 for 251 yards with the interception that ended Green Bay’s final drive.

Taylor led Green Bay’s offense with 123 yards on the ground on 23 carries with the two scores.

Dallas 21, Green Bay 20

Scoring Summary
1 11:05 62 Dallas A TD Dawson 31 pass to Haynes (Brooker) (8-73-3:42) 7-0
1 9:47 62 Green Bay TD Taylor 60 run (Kramer) (2-65-1:13) 7-7
2 10:53 62 Green Bay TD Taylor 7 run (Kramer) (17-99-10:48) 7-14
2 7:04 62 Dallas A TD Dawson 36 pass to Burford (Brooker) (6-71-3:36) 14-14
2 0:05 62 Green Bay FG Kramer 32 (4-65-0:33) 14-17
3 6:41 62 Green Bay FG Kramer 24 (15-62-8:09) 14-20
4 11:27 62 Dallas A TD Dawson 20 pass to Arbanas (Brooker) (3-33-1:48) 21-20

Passing
DA: Dawson 17/10 160 Yds 3 TDs
GB: Starr 23/17 251 Yds Int

Rushing
DA: Haynes 4/69, McClinton 11/22, Dawson 3/15, Spikes 9/12
GB: Taylor 23/123 2 TDs, Starr 3/10, Moore 14/10

Receiving
DA: Haynes 3/57 TD, Arbanas 2/33 TD, Burford 2/51 TD, McClinton 2/16, Spikes 1/3
GB: Kramer 8/83, Dowler 4/61, McGee 4/96, Taylor 1/11

Defense
DA: Headrick Int FF 13-Tk, Rochester Sk FF 5-Tk, Hunt Int 8-Tk, Grayson Int 4-Tk
GB: Currie Sk 5-Tk

Super Bowl Schedule and Results

60 Houston Oilers 27, 60 Philadelphia Eagles 24
61 Houston Oilers 24, 61 Green Bay Packers 14
62 Dallas Texans 21, 62 Green Bay Packers 20
63 Chicago Bears at 63 San Diego Chargers
64 Buffalo Bills at 64 Cleveland Browns
65 Green Bay Packers at 65 Buffalo Bills