Tommy O'Connell

They had to come from behind to beat Los Angeles in a real pressure game at Cleveland, and also to tie the Redskins in another one at Washington.

They were led by Tommy O'Connell, a quarterback who many said was too small to make the grade in the professional ranks.

It was said that O'Connell didn't have the speed nor the maneuverability to cope with the present-day defenses in pro football.

Well, Tommy answered those critics by leading the National Football League in passing as he sparked the Browns to the Eastern Division crown.

They entered the National Football League in 1950, and since then have been in the title game in all seasons except last year when they finished with a 5-7 record and finished fourth place in the Eastern Division.

That record, incidentally, marked the first time that a Paul Brown coached team lost more games than it won.

We spoke a while ago about Tommy O'Connell, the Browns quarterback, and of course the big boy in the Detroit attack this afternoon will be Tobin Rowe, who has succeeded Bobby Lane as quarterback of the Detroit Lions.

And now, our national anthem.