These factors – combined with a war for players between the two leagues that raised salaries and ate into owners ' profits – ultimately led to the dissolution of the AAFC and the merger of three of its teams, including the Browns, into the NFL in 1949.

Former Browns QB Otto Graham ( left, with head coach Paul Brown ), who led the Browns to 4 AAFC and 3 NFL Championships, and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame member. While the championship losses sowed bitterness among Cleveland fans who had grown accustomed to winning, the team continued to make progress.

It was Graham's last game ; the win capped a 10-year run in which he led his team to the league championship every year, winning four in the AAFC and three in the NFL.

The Penn State product led the team to a 7-5 record in 1959, and one year later, he turned in one of the greatest statistical seasons at his position in NFL history.

Most of the high-profile games ( the various games for AFC titles and regular season games ) between the two led to these changes in NFL rules.

The result of the game was surprising to many in the sports media as Joe Namath and Matt Snell led Jets to the Super Bowl victory, under head coach Weeb Ewbank, who won two NFL Championships with the Colts.

In his first season, the Vikings led by the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Tommy Kramer, went 9 – 7, their first winning record in four years.

That season, Adrian Peterson led the NFL with 1760 rushing yards, breaking the franchise.

Although its opponents would include winners of 9 of the last 15 NFL MVP awards, the team advanced to the 2010 NFC Championship game where they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, led by Brett Favre, 31 – 28 in overtime ( at 9: 19 CST ), and then went on to win their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

The club was established in 1933 as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets after a syndicate led by future NFL commissioner Bert Bell purchased the rights to a Philadelphia franchise from the league.

) By the late 1940s, head coach Earle " Greasy " Neale and running back Steve Van Buren led the team to three consecutive NFL Championship Games, winning two of them in 1948 and 1949.

The Chargers ' defense led the NFL in sacks ( 60 ) spearheaded by the frontline of 1975 Chargers ' draftees Dean, Gary " Big Hands " Johnson and Louie Kelcher.

The Chargers were led by quarterback Dan Fouts who made the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row, setting an NFL single season record at that point and time of 4, 802 yards and 33 touchdowns.

The Dolphins were led by head coach Don Shula and featured a defense that gave up the fifth-fewest points in the NFL in the regular season.

Fearing that bidding wars over players would become the norm, greatly increasing labor costs, NFL owners, led by league Commissioner Pete Rozelle, obtained a merger with the AFL.

The Bears " 46 defense " also had the following impact players: On the defensive line, Pro Bowler and hall of famer Richard Dent led the NFL in sacks for the second year in a row with 17, while Pro Bowler and future hall of famer Dan Hampton recorded 6. 5 sacks, and nose tackle Steve McMichael compiled 8.

They had led all AFL and NFL teams in scoring with 468 points.

The Minnesota Vikings, led by head coach Bud Grant, entered the game with an NFL best 12-2 regular season record, leading the older league in total points scored ( 379 ) and fewest points allowed ( 133 ).

This has led to one of the best-known and most popular of the NFL Films Super Bowl films due to the constant chatter and wisecracking of Stram.

In his place, 38-year-old Earl Morrall led Miami to victory in their nine remaining regular season games, and was the 1972 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Miami led the NFL in points scored ( 385 ).

Washington was led by 33-year old quarterback Billy Kilmer, who completed 120 out of 225 passes for 1, 648 yards and a league leading 19 touchdowns during the regular season, with only 11 interceptions, giving him an NFL best 84. 8 passer rating.

Staubach then led his team 80 yards in 5 plays on the ensuing drive, scoring on a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Percy Howard and cutting their deficit to 21 – 17 ( Howard's touchdown reception was the only catch of his NFL career ).

On special teams, multi-talented wide receiver Rick Upchurch led the NFL with 653 punt return yards, while also catching 12 passes for 245 yards and recording 456 yards returning kickoffs.

He ranked as the second highest rated passer in the league ( 84. 8 ), his 28 touchdown passes led the league, and he won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

# Running back Emmitt Smith – Super Bowl XXVIII – Smith's 30 carries for, 4 receptions for, and two touchdowns led Dallas to a victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Alworth once again led the team in receptions with 64 and 1, 003 yards with four touchdowns.

Wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff led the team with 40 receptions for 876 yards, an average of 21. 3 yards per catch.

Garrison led the team in receptions during the season ( 40 ).

The Vikings ' primary offensive weapon was running back Chuck Foreman, who led the team in receptions with 53 for 586 yards and six touchdowns.

Wide receiver Drew Pearson led the team with 46 receptions for 822 yards and 8 touchdowns.

In addition to their great passing attack the Raiders also had a powerful running game, led by fullback Mark van Eeghen ( 1, 012 rushing yards, 17 receptions ) and halfback Clarence Davis ( 516 rushing yards, 27 receptions ).

Despite not becoming a full-time starter until the tenth game of the regular season, Dorsett led the team in rushing with 1, 007 yards, scored 13 total touchdowns, and was the team's third leading receiver with 29 receptions for another 273 yards.

Eagles running back Wilbert Montgomery led Philadelphia in rushing and receiving with 44 rushing yards and 6 receptions for 91 yards.

His favorite target was tight end Todd Christensen, who led the NFL with 92 receptions for 1, 247 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In just his second NFL season, Allen led the team in rushing yards ( 1, 014 ) and total yards from scrimmage ( 1, 604 ), while ranking second on the team in receptions ( 68 ) and touchdowns ( 11 ).

Wide receiver Andre Reed led the team with 81 receptions for 1, 113 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also rushed 12 times for 136 yards.

Wide receiver Andre Reed led the team with 65 receptions for 913 yards and 3 touchdowns, receiver James Lofton contributed 51 receptions for 786 yards and 6 touchdowns, and wide receiver Don Beebe caught 33 passes for 554 and 2 touchdowns.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Reed led the team with 52 receptions for 854 yards and 6 touchdowns ; wide receiver Bill Brooks had 60 receptions for 714 yards and 5 touchdowns ; and wide receiver Don Beebe recorded 31 receptions for 504 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Also, Pete Metzelaars led the Bills tight ends with 68 receptions for 609 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Falcons receiver Terance Mathis led Atlanta with 7 receptions for 85 yards.

The popularity of receptions, rather than breakfasts, dinners, and balls, during the 20th century led to the name reception being applied to any social event after a wedding, whether it is brunch, tea, dinner, or a dance.

Also during his rookie year, he led the team with 46 receptions and set franchise records for total touchdowns ( 13 ) and total receiving touchdowns ( 12 ).

Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson led the team with 76 receptions for 1, 088 yards and 5 touchdowns, while wide receiver Keenan McCardell had 61 receptions for 670 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Curtis Mayfield led the team in receptions with 58 for 846 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.