1969 NFL Season - Playoffs

Playoffs

In the Eastern Conference Championship game, the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys met for the 3rd straight year. The Cowboys had won in 1967 and the Browns in 1968; this was the rubber match before the Browns would move to the American Conference in the 1970 merger/realignment. The Cowboys were favored as they featured the best offense in the NFL, a better record than Cleveland and they were home. However, the Browns jumped on the Cowboys early and often in cruising to a surprising 38–14 win.

In the Western Conference, the Vikings were 4 point favorites over the Rams in Minnesota. In week 12 of the season, the 10–1 Vikings beat the 11–0 Rams in L.A., 20–13. This time, the Rams broke out on top and led 17–7 at halftime. After the Vikings scored to make it 17–14, the Rams settled for another short field goal (both Ram field goals came when they could not get a touchdown from inside the 5 yard line; this would ultimately cost them the game) to make it 20–14. Joe Kapp led the Vikings to the go ahead touchdown early in the 4th quarter, and then Vikings DE Carl Eller sacked Ram QB Roman Gabriel in the end zone to make it 23–20. The Rams forced a Viking punt and began driving for a potential tying field goal or go ahead touchdown but Gabriel was intercepted by Alan Page with under 2 minutes to play to clinch the win.

In the NFL final, the Browns were thoroughly dominated for the second year in a row. In 1968 the Colts beat them 34–0; in this game the Vikings won 27–7, completely shutting down the Browns offense while Minnesota gained nearly 200 rushing yards.