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Colts Destroy Cardinals in Baltimore

Oct. 12, 1964 - Scoring in double figures in every quarter, the Colts tore up the previously unbeaten St. Louis Cardinals, 47-27, tonight at Memorial Stadium before a record crowd of 60,213 fans.

Highlighting the affair were four field goals by Lou Michaels, an 80-yard touchdown run by Tom Matte, a fake field goal run by Bobby Boyd that set up Johnny Unitas’s only touchdown pass, and an inspired effort by the Colt offensive and defensive lines.

Colt heroes were aplenty as the Baltimore team stayed on top of the Western Division ladder with a 4-1 record. The Cards, leaders of the Eastern Division, dropped into a tie with the Browns on a 3-1-1 record.

It was the most points scored against the Cards since they moved to St. Louis in 1960 and probably makes them wish the game had been cancelled instead of switched to Baltimore because of the baseball Cards’ participation in the World Series.

Offensively, the Colt line opened holes for Lenny Moore, Tony Lorick, and Jerry Hill and gave Unitas great protection except on a couple of safety blitzes. The Colts scored the first four times they had the ball on two field goals and two touchdowns.

Every time the Colts scored, of course, St. Louis had its turn on offense, but the yards and points came slowly and were too few and far between.

“The thing that got us in the most trouble,” said Cardinal coach Wally Lemm, “was when we were trailing, 10-0, and Charley Johnson got the completed pass to Bobby Joe Conrad, but we lost the ball when Conrad was hit by three tacklers.” The fumble was recovered by the Colts. “That and the fake field goal run by Bobby Boyd, hurt us most.

“We felt we were ready for this game, and we might have been too ready,” Lemm said. “They can keep this Monday night football. Don’t quote me, but even [Baltimore coach Don] Shula said the same thing. It ruined our practice schedule for this game.”

Shula was happy with his defense but said it had been as good in previous games. “We had good play all around,” he said, “and we put good pressure on Johnson.”

Halfback Lenny Moore broke the all-time Colt rushing mark tonight while gaining 72 yards in 15 carries. The old record was 4,045 yards by Alan Ameche. Lenny now has 4,051 and is still going strong.

Asked about his efforts tonight and his record, Lenny smiled: “The only important thing is winning.”



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© 2024 by Joe Rubenstein

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