Oct. 4, 1964 - Coach Blanton Collier of the Browns, following his team’s 27-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Cleveland Sunday, called the contest “a game replete with errors.”
Coach Collier said the key play in the game came in the third period with the Browns leading, 20-6. Cleveland had a second down with seven yards to go on the Cowboy’s 41-yard line.
Cleveland quarterback Frank Ryan (left) fired a long pass downfield which Paul Warfield, sensational rookie flanker, caught on the seven-yard line and raced into the end zone with the touchdown to put the game out of Dallas’ reach.
“We were in the game until the third quarter, but then the Browns jumped away to the big lead,” said Dallas coach Tom Landry in the locker room.
“It’s frustrating to have the three best receivers in the game and have your number one quarterback [Don Meredith] out with injuries,” said Landry. Meredith was sidelined with a knee and ankle injury.
Landry said he thought the field goal the Browns blocked in the first quarter “took some of the edge off of us.”
In the first period, Cowboy field goal specialist Dick Van Raaphorst tried a 25-yarder which was blocked by Walter Beach.
Two Browns, defensive tackle Bob Gain and defensive back Ross Fichtner, were injured in the game.
Gain suffered a broken leg and will be lost for the rest of the season, Collier reported. Fichtner received a concussion but may play next week against Pittsburgh, he said.
“I might be talking trade around the league this week,” said Collier, who will be hard pressed to fill Gain’s shoes.
“They defended us very well against the run,” said Ryan about the Cowboys. “But they let things open for our passing game.”
Landry’s Cowboys have now played both the Browns and the Cardinals, who are tied with Cleveland for first place in the NFL’s Eastern Division.
“They are the two best teams we have in the East,” said Landry.
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