Playoff Bowl

Playoff Bowl (officially known as the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl) was a post-season game for the National Football League (NFL), which was played annually from 1960 to 1969. The game was intended to determine the third-place team in the NFL, as it matched the runners-up from the NFL's two conferences, the Eastern and Western conferences. Despite its official status, the Playoff Bowl was often referred to disparagingly as the "Runner-up Bowl" or "Losers' Bowl."

History

The Playoff Bowl was conceived by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell and was first held in January 1961. The game was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, a neutral site that was considered attractive for its warm weather and tourist appeal. The idea behind the Playoff Bowl was to provide an additional revenue stream for the league and to benefit the players' pension fund.

Despite its intentions, the Playoff Bowl was met with mixed feelings among players and coaches. Some saw it as an opportunity to redeem themselves after failing to make the Super Bowl, while others viewed it as a meaningless contest. Notably, Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, expressed his disdain for the game, calling it a "losers' bowl for losers."

The Playoff Bowl was played for the last time in January 1970. Following the merger of the NFL with the American Football League (AFL) in 1970, the game was discontinued. The merger led to a reorganization of the NFL's conference structure and playoff format, rendering the Playoff Bowl obsolete.

Game results

The Playoff Bowl featured several notable games during its ten-year run. The Detroit Lions and the St. Louis Cardinals were among the teams that appeared multiple times. The Lions won the most Playoff Bowls, securing victories in three out of their four appearances.

Legacy

Although the Playoff Bowl has been largely forgotten in NFL history, it remains a part of the league's early attempts to expand its postseason offerings. The game is occasionally mentioned in discussions about the NFL's playoff structure and its evolution over the years.

In retrospect, the Playoff Bowl is seen as a precursor to the expanded playoff formats that would come later, including the introduction of the wild card teams in the 1970s. It also reflects the NFL's ongoing efforts to provide entertainment and competitive football beyond the regular season.

See also

• Super Bowl
• NFL playoffs
• List of NFL champions