NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers leaves a Dallas defender in his dust after making 'The Catch' to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham on a run in a 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) /

NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

3. Browns 30, Rams 28 (NFL: 1950)

The Cleveland Browns were a member of the All-America Football Conference for all four of the league’s seasons. Paul Brown’s club won the championship each of those years. In 1950, the club, along with the San Francisco 49ers and a Baltimore Colts’ team joined the National Football League.

In their first NFL campaign, the Browns finished 12-2 and hosted the Los Angeles Rams (who originally called Cleveland home) for the league title. Los Angeles featured quarterback Bob Waterfield, who connected with Glenn Davis for an 82-yard score on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Waterfield would throw for 312 yards and the aforementioned touchdown but also served up four interceptions.

Meanwhile, Browns’ quarterback Otto Graham enjoyed a huge outing. He would be picked off once but also threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns. The talented performer also totaled 12 carries for 99 yards on the ground.

The Rams owned a 28-20 lead entering the fourth quarter but were done scoring for the day. Graham threw a 14-yard TD pass to Rex Bumgardner to get his team closer. However, the game-winning points came from defensive tackle/kicker Lou Groza. He connected on a 16-yard field goal with just 28 seconds as Cleveland prevailed.

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