Colts Destroy Lions at Tiger Stadium

Oct. 25, 1964 - The Baltimore Colts, with their pow­erful and balanced attack, destroyed the previously strong defenses of the Detroit Lions today and won, 34‐0, in the battle for first place in the Western Conference of the NFL.

As 57,814 fans watched the rout at Tiger Stadium, it became more and more ap­parent that this Johnny Unitas­-led Baltimore team was go­ing to be as hard to beat as its predecessor was in 1958 and ’59, when the Colts won the championship.

The victory was the sixth in a row for the Colts, who took a 1½-game lead. Only once before have the Colts won six consecu­tive games — in 1958.

Today’s victory came about because Unitas is passing bet­ter than any quarterback in the league. Once the Baltimore run­ning game became established in the first period, Unitas used it well to keep the defense off his back and completed passes with regularity. He passed for two touchdowns, Lenny Moore (left) ran for one, and Lou Michaels kicked two field goals.

Baltimore’s powerful defenders registered a touch­down and set up another. Jerry Logan picked off one of Milt Plum’s third‐period passes and returned the ball 25 yards for 6 points. All day, the defenders were in on Plum or spoiling his aim. It was Plum’s first starting assignment in four weeks as he replaced the injured Earl Morrall, who is out for the season with a broken shoulder.

Halfway through the season, the Colts have beaten their highest rated opponent, the Packers, twice; the defending champion Bears once, and the Lions once, in what were to be their toughest early assignments.

The Colts were magnanimous victors today.

Two of the older veterans put the record straight quickly when one, Bill Pellington, was told by a noncombatant that he looked better than All-Pro linebacker Joe Schmidt of the Lions.

“No one looks good when a team loses,” said Pellington, whose defensive play belies his 38 years. “But we wanted that shutout. After you’ve played as well as we had, you want to finish the job and keep them off the scoreboard. We fought with everything we had to get that shutout.”

Said Detroit coach George Wilson: “I’d have to say Unitas was about 90% of the difference between the two teams. Without him, the Colts don’t throw passes like he does.”

Wilson, who must meet the Colts again in Baltimore, wasn’t ready to give his rival a championship ticket. “It’s only halfway,” he said. “A lot can happen.”

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