1959 Baltimore Colts Repeat as Champs

1959 Baltimore Colts Repeat as Champs

1959 Baltimore Colts: Back-to-Back Titles

An Uneven Start and a Strong Finish

After defeating the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game in 1958, the Baltimore Colts looked to continue their success the following season. The 1959 Baltimore Colts had an uneven 4-3 record to start the campaign. Their losses included two defeats at home to the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.

After suffering their third loss of the season against the Washington Redskins in Week 7, the Colts faced the up-and-coming Green Bay Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi. The Packers opened the scoring with a field goal, but the Colts answered with three consecutive touchdowns, including two Raymond Berry receiving touchdowns. Johnny Unitas threw for 324 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the defense forced 3 turnovers. The Packers mounted a spirited comeback, but they fell short, 28-24. The Colts moved to 5-3 and won their final four games to claim the Western Conference and secure another matchup against the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game.

A Championship Roster

Unitas and the Offense

Johnny Unitas was the heartbeat of the Colts. He led a talented offense that finished the season first in points scored with 374. The Colts scored 31.2 points per game and defeated their opponents by an average margin of more than ten points per contest. Unitas threw for 2,899 yards and became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw more than 30 touchdowns in a single season. He threw 32 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions in 1959.

Alan Ameche led the rushing attack with 679 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Lenny Moore and Raymond Berry earned spots in the Pro Bowl and were honored as First Team All-Pros. Moore caught 47 passes for 846 yards and 6 touchdowns. Berry caught 66 passes for 959 yards and 14 touchdowns. The full statistical picture of the 1959 Baltimore Colts is available on Pro Football Reference.

A Ball-Hawking Defense

On the defensive side of the ball, Milt Davis, Andy Nelson, and Don Shinnick excelled. The trio combined for 19 interceptions, with Davis and Shinnick leading the team with 7 interceptions each. The Colts were 7th in points allowed with 251, but their offense scored more than enough to make up the difference.

The Championship Rematch

The Giants Seek Revenge

The New York Giants looked to avenge their overtime defeat to the Colts in the previous year’s championship game. The Giants finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. They were second to the Colts in points scored, but they led the league in fewest points allowed. The Giants seemed to have the right balance between offense and defense to overthrow the defending champions.

A Fourth-Quarter Explosion

The Colts scored first in the 1959 NFL Championship Game with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Unitas to Lenny Moore. The Giants defense clamped down and held the Colts offense to 7 points, while kicker Pat Summerall booted three field goals to give the Giants a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. The Colts woke up in the deciding fourth quarter. Johnny Unitas led the charge with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. He followed that with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Richardson to give the Colts a 21-9 lead. The defense continued to hold the Giants at bay and then returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. The Colts added a field goal to cap their 24-point explosion in the fourth quarter. The Giants added a touchdown, but that was all they could muster.

The Colts defeated the Giants in convincing fashion to repeat as NFL champions, cementing their place in history with their second NFL championship in 1959. They would have to wait until the NFL-AFL merger before they would taste championship glory once again.