Which NFL team won the 1958 Championship Game, often called the Greatest Game Ever Played?

The Baltimore Colts won the 1958 NFL Championship Game, often called the Greatest Game Ever Played. They defeated the New York Giants 23–17 in sudden-death overtime at Yankee Stadium on December 28, 1958.

Baltimore built a 14–3 halftime lead, but New York rallied and took a 17–14 advantage in the fourth quarter. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas then engineered a dramatic late drive, completing key passes before kicker Steve Myhra tied the game with a 20-yard field goal with only seven seconds left.

The game was the first NFL Championship Game decided in sudden-death overtime. In the extra period, the Colts drove 80 yards, with Unitas directing the series. Fullback Alan Ameche scored the winning one-yard touchdown, giving Baltimore its first league championship.

The matchup became legendary because it combined a comeback, a last-minute tying drive, overtime and several future Hall of Famers. Unitas, receiver Raymond Berry and running back Ameche became central figures in the game’s mythology. Its national television exposure also helped professional football grow rapidly in popularity, which is why the contest is remembered as more than just a championship result.