The NFL Once Had It's Version Of A Bronze Metal Game

It was called The Playoff Bowl, but some players and coaches referred to it as The Loser's Bowl. From 1960 to 1969, the NFL had their own version of a "Bronze Metal Game" in which the two losers of the conference championship games played to determine who was #3.

Back in those days, there were only three playoff games, the two conference games and the NFL Championship Game, and the league was facing competition from the upstart AFL. Former commissioner Bert Bell had passed away at an Eagles-Steelers game in 1959, and this game was named in his honor. It was used to raise over $1 million for the retired player's fund in its ten year run.

Technically, the league doesn't acknowledge this game as anything more than an exhibition played after the NFL Championship game. The league still held a Pro Bowl a week after this game. This game was effected by the AFL in 1966 on two fronts.

The game was always played in The Orange Bowl in Miami, and the AFL added the Miami Dolphins in 1966. That was also the first year of the NFL-AFL World Championship game, later named The Super Bowl. When the leagues merged, it was considered a possibility to keep this game, but the game was ultimately dropped.

The Playoff Bowl had three multiple winners as the Detroit Lions won the first three games, the Baltimore Colts won twice and the Los Angeles Rams won twice, including the final game. The Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals each won once, and the Cleveland Browns lost all three of their appearances.

The Green Bay packers made two appearances, and legendary coach Vince Lombardi had great disdain for this game. They won their first appearance and lost a year later. The loss spurred the Packers to three straight NFL Championships, which included wins in the first two NFL-AFL Championship Games.