1956 NFL season
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The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season of the National Football League. CBS became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation. Meanwhile, the league started to use a natural leather ball with white end stripes, instead of the white ball with black stripes, for night games.
The season ended when the New York Giants crushed the Chicago Bears in the NFL Championship Game, 47-7.
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[edit] Major rule changes
- It is now illegal to grab an opponent's facemask (other than the ball carrier).
- When an offensive interior lineman takes a three point stance prior to the snap, he may not move until the snap.
- The ball is dead immediately when the ball carrier is contacted by a defensive player and then touches the ground with any part of his body except his hands or feet.
- Using radio receivers to communicate with players on the field is prohibited.
- Players are prohibited from using any artificial medium to assist in the execution of a field goal or an extra point attempt. This change is sometimes referred to as the "Lou Groza Rule" after the Cleveland Browns' hall of fame offensive tackle and placekicker. Groza would always carry a 72-inch rolled piece of adhesive tape in his helmet. Before each kick attempt, he would use it as a directional aid by unrolling the tape on the ground from the line of scrimmage to the point where the ball would be spotted for the kick.
[edit] Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 264 | 197 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 240 | 182 |
| Washington Redskins | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 183 | 225 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 167 | 177 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 217 | 250 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 143 | 215 |
| Western Conference | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 9 | 2 | 1 | .818 | 363 | 246 |
| Detroit Lions | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 300 | 188 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5 | 6 | 1 | .455 | 233 | 284 |
| Baltimore Colts | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 270 | 322 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 264 | 342 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 291 | 307 |
[edit] NFL Championship Game
N.Y. Giants 47, Chi. Bears 7 at Yankee Stadium, New York City, December 30, 1956
[edit] References
- NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 193299436X)
- NFL History 1951-1960 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0062701746)
