Playoff Bowl: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:05, 13 February 2025

Playoff Bowl[edit]

The Playoff Bowl logo

The Playoff Bowl, officially known as the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, was a postseason American football game played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1969. It was held annually at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The game featured the second-place teams from the NFL's two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.

History[edit]

The Playoff Bowl was established as a way to provide additional revenue for the NFL Players Association's pension fund. It was named in honor of Bert Bell, a former NFL commissioner who passed away in 1959. The game was considered an exhibition and did not count towards the official standings or records of the participating teams.

File:Pbbelllogo.jpg

The Playoff Bowl was held at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Format[edit]

The game was played in January, following the conclusion of the regular NFL season and the NFL Championship Game. The two teams that finished second in their respective conferences were invited to participate. The Playoff Bowl was often referred to as the "Runner-Up Bowl" or the "Losers' Bowl" due to its nature of featuring teams that did not qualify for the championship game.

Significance[edit]

While the Playoff Bowl was not highly regarded by players and coaches, it provided an opportunity for teams to showcase their talent on a national stage. The game was televised, offering fans an additional chance to watch their favorite teams and players in action. Despite its unofficial status, the Playoff Bowl contributed to the growth and popularity of the NFL during the 1960s.

Discontinuation[edit]

The Playoff Bowl was discontinued after the 1969 season, following the merger agreement between the NFL and the American Football League (AFL). The merger led to the creation of the AFC-NFC Championship Game, which later became known as the Super Bowl. The Playoff Bowl's role as a postseason exhibition was no longer necessary with the expanded playoff format.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
+== Playoff Bowl ==
-{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
-'''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 Conference (NFL)|Eastern]] and [[Western Conference (NFL)|Western]] conferences. Despite its official status, the Playoff Bowl was often referred to disparagingly as the "Runner-up Bowl" or "Losers' Bowl."
+[[File:Pbbelllogo.jpg|thumb|right|The Playoff Bowl logo]]
-==History==
+The '''Playoff Bowl''', officially known as the '''Bert Bell Benefit Bowl''', was a postseason [[American football]] game played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1960 to 1969. It was held annually at the [[Orange Bowl]] in [[Miami, Florida]]. The game featured the second-place teams from the NFL's two conferences, the [[Eastern Conference (NFL)|Eastern Conference]] and the [[Western Conference (NFL)|Western Conference]].
-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 (stadium)|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."
+== History ==
-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.
+The Playoff Bowl was established as a way to provide additional revenue for the [[NFL Players Association]]'s pension fund. It was named in honor of [[Bert Bell]], a former NFL commissioner who passed away in 1959. The game was considered an exhibition and did not count towards the official standings or records of the participating teams.
-==Game results==
+[[File:Pbbelllogo.jpg|thumb|left|The Playoff Bowl was held at the Orange Bowl in Miami.]]
-The Playoff Bowl featured several notable games during its ten-year run. The [[Detroit Lions]] and the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|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==
+== Format ==
-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 (NFL)|wild card]] teams in the 1970s. It also reflects the NFL's ongoing efforts to provide entertainment and competitive football beyond the regular season.
+The game was played in January, following the conclusion of the regular NFL season and the [[NFL Championship Game]]. The two teams that finished second in their respective conferences were invited to participate. The Playoff Bowl was often referred to as the "Runner-Up Bowl" or the "Losers' Bowl" due to its nature of featuring teams that did not qualify for the championship game.
-==See also==
+== Significance ==
+While the Playoff Bowl was not highly regarded by players and coaches, it provided an opportunity for teams to showcase their talent on a national stage. The game was televised, offering fans an additional chance to watch their favorite teams and players in action. Despite its unofficial status, the Playoff Bowl contributed to the growth and popularity of the NFL during the 1960s.
+== Discontinuation ==
+The Playoff Bowl was discontinued after the 1969 season, following the merger agreement between the NFL and the [[American Football League]] (AFL). The merger led to the creation of the [[AFC-NFC Championship Game]], which later became known as the [[Super Bowl]]. The Playoff Bowl's role as a postseason exhibition was no longer necessary with the expanded playoff format.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[National Football League]]
 * [[Super Bowl]]
-* [[NFL playoffs]]
+* [[Bert Bell]]
-* [[List of NFL champions]]
+* [[Orange Bowl]]
-[[Category:National Football League postseason]]
+[[Category:National Football League]]
 [[Category:Defunct American football competitions]]
-{{NFL-stub}}
+[[Category:Sports in Miami, Florida]]