Today in 1952 - Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers

October 12, 1952 – Here’s a real old school game for you.  Today in 1952, the Los Angeles Rams went to Milwaukee (Lambeau Field didn’t exist yet) to take on the Green Bay Packers in a Week 3 contest. 

The Packers scored first on a 14 yard touchdown run by Bobby Jack Floyd.  At the end of the first quarter, Green Bay led 7-0.

Bob Waterfield got the Rams on the board in the second quarter with field goals from 16 and 32 yards.  The Packers answered with a 69 yard touchdown pass from Tobin Rote to Billy Howton.  Green Bay led 14-6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Green Bay added to their lead with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Rote to Bob Mann and a 6 yard touchdown pass from Babe Parili to Mann.  At the end of the quarter, the Packers led the Rams 28-6.

The Rams came to life in the fourth quarter.  Dan Towler scored on a 1 yard touchdown run to make it 28-13.  Waterfield kicked a 25 yard field goal.  Even the defense got in on the action.  Bob Carey recovered a Green Bay fumble and ran 16 yard for a touchdown.  The score narrowed to 28-23.  Towler finished the comeback with a 3 yard touchdown run and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Green Bay Packers 30-28.

Both teams went to 1-2.  Green Bay finished the season at 6-6.  Los Angeles finished the season at 9-3 and lost to the Detroit Lions in the playoffs, who ended up winning the NFL Championship.

Notables

• There were 7 Hall of Famers present: Tony Canadeo for the Packers, and Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Andy Robustelli, and Dick Lane for the Rams.
  
• This was Gene Ronzani’s third season coaching the Packers.  He coached the team from 1950-53.
  
• This was Hampton Pool’s first season coaching the Rams.  He coached the team from 1952-54.  He replaced Hall of Famer Joe Stydahar after the first game of the season.  Stydahar coached the team from 1950-52.
  
• Pool and Stydahar were teammates with the Chicago Bears from 1940-43.  Ronzani and Stydahar were teammates with the Bears from 1936-38 and 1945.
  
• Van Brocklin went on to become the first head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.  He coached the team from 1961-66.
  
• Bob Waterfield went on to become the head coach for the Rams from 1960-62.
  
• Tom Fears was the first head coach of the New Orleans Saints.  He coached the team from 1967-70.
  
• Jerry Williams was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969-71.
  
• Norb Hecker was the first head coach for the Atlanta Falcons.  He coached the team from 1966-68.
  
• Van Brocklin replaced Hecker as the head coach of the Falcons.  He coached the team from 1968-74.
  
• The Rams had players with unique names, like Skeet Quinlan, Vitamin Smith, Charlie Toogood, and Dick “Night Train” Lane.  The Packers had Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 12,

1952 – San Francisco 28 – Detroit 0

1969 – Minnesota 31 – Chicago 0

1980 – Minnesota 13 – Chicago 7

1997 – Miami 31 – New York Jets 20

2003 – Cleveland 13 – Oakland 7

2009 – Miami 31 – New York Jets 27

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers - October 12, 1952.