Collier: I know it's corny, but it really was a magnificent team effort. The defense was just great, and you've got to give them a lot of credit. ... The Colts have a good, fine football team. They had a few bad breaks, and we capitalized on them. Blanton said the Browns didn't make any major changes in the second half. We decided to stay with our running attack to try and loosen things up for our… More passing. We succeeded, and we also were able to take advantage when the Colts made a couple of mistakes. When asked how this club compared to the Otto Graham-led juggernauts for which he was an assistant coach, Blanton sidestepped the question. Let's just say it takes a pretty good club to win the title.
Ryan gushed: I don't think any team can defense us. We have the personnel to do anything, and the only thing that beats us is when we don't execute. ... We wanted to control the ball, of course, and decided to throw the hook passes when they began defensing us outside. Then when they started to anticipate the hooks in the second half, we went deep. They were double-teaming War­field and that left them weak on the other guys. That's how Gary was able to beat them so badly. ... They didn't hurt me much. They came after me, but during the game I didn't see them coming. I knew what I wanted to do, and I tried to do it. I think it worked pretty well. He said the cold didn't bother him but the wind did. I've never played a game in which it was so bad. When asked if it was his best game of the season, he said no. In fact, I don't think I played particularly well - only ave­rage. But I do think it was the best we've played as a team.
Collier hugged Brown and thanked him for his leadership. Jim, who was uncharacteristically smiling and laughing, told reporters, It's the biggest thrill of my career. I have had better days as an individual, but this is the most satisfying of all. ... The field was pretty good for this time of the year. Sure it was rough out there. Those Colts hit hard. He responded to a question about Gino Marchetti, who played his last game for Baltimore. There is a fine football player and also a real gentleman. He hits hard and makes his tackles. And that's it. He doesn't have to resort to anything else. Gino is a class guy. Jim admitted he had been battling a cold for a few days.
T Monte Clark on going against Marchetti: I knew I was playing one of the best. He's strong and tough, and I had to have some help occasionally, but I'm pleased with my contribution. This was a real team effort, offense and defense. ... The Lord certainly has been good to us.
Collins had a simple explanation for his success. They were doubling on Paul Warfield so that had to leave somebody open. It just happened to be me. Gary praised his offensive line. We had real good pass protection so Frank had time to throw. Our line did a tremendous job against the Colts, who have the best defensive line in the league.
Kanicki: I think that today I grew up. I found out how to play this game. He credited Modzelewski for helping him mature. He taught me an awful lot. I came into this league as green as you can get. I was too aggressive all the time, but too aggressive especially at the wrong time. ... But Mo and Blanton Collier worked with me and taught me to read blocks, and I finally learned not to be suckered. All the time out there today, Mo talked to me, like he has all season. He'd say, this time put on the big rush. Or look for the run. Little things. I was scared to death before the game, me playing head on Jim Parker, maybe the best blocking lineman in the league. But we crowded him and pushed him, and we figured that if I would hand fight instead of firing out I could do better. It worked pretty well.
When Modzelewski came out of the shower, he told the reporters who were questioning Collier, Let me by. I'm wet, and I'll get you wet. They parted and let him through. But he did not get by his coach, who embraced him. Thanks, Blanton said. Thanks. Mo said, It was a good trade. I never had a better season. Collier told the reporters, I don't know how we got Modzelewski. I don't know how they (the Giants) could give him up. But we were lucky we got him.
Parrish: Were we tall enough out there today? We won five in a row early in the season, and no one thought we were short. Then we lost some games, and I began to feel like a midget because people started to write that the Brown secondary was too short. We grew a few inches this after­noon. Less