Their success in the Playoff Bowl is why I consider the Lions the third best team in the NFL from 1960-62.RichardBak wrote:
My understanding is that the Playoff Bowl was an official playoff game, used to determine the third and fourth place finishers in the league.[/quote]
I've always been pretty fascinated with that '62 Lions squad. A sprinkling of HOFers (Lary, LeBeau, Schmidt, Karras, Night Train Lane). Consider their 11-3 record where their only losses were by a total of 8 points--2 points to GB and 3 points to NY and the Bears. They won their third straight Playoff (Hinky) Bowl to cap a 12-3 season. Throw in their famous Turkey Day rout of the mighty Packers (GB's only loss of the season) and they might be the best team never to make the postseason.[/quote]
If you can show me NFL standings that show the Lions in 3rd place and the Packers in 4th place, I might agree with you The fact is, no such standings exist. The sole reason for the Playoff Bowl was to raise money for the players' pension fund. As soon as funding was complete, the game was dropped. It was just another post-season exhibition game.