Editor’s Note: Last year the sports staff started a series to honor the last Detroit Lions’ team to win a NFL Championship, the 1957 squad. As the Lions prepare for the 2025 season, we thought it would be a good time to continue the series. We ended with the Lions beating the Green Bay Packers to stay within a game of the Baltimore Colts for the lead in the Western Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.

 Life was never easy for the 1957 Detroit Lions. First, they lost their head coach during training camp and the issues just kept coming. Bobby Layne’s drunk driving case was still an issue as the calendar changed to December. And after that, the Lions still trailed the Colts by a game in the standings with only two games remaining in the regular season. And after the court case, the Lions had to face the perennial powers in the Eastern Division, the Cleveland Browns.

 The court date was Dec. 6, two days before the game against the Browns. About 200 people, including many Lions players went to the courtroom to watch the proceedings in front of a jury of 11 women and one man.

 Layne’s teammate Les Bingaman testified that Layne had “six or seven high balls over a span of several hours.” The arresting officer testified that Layne had a flushed face and slurred his words. But then, Layne’s defense attorney asked the patrolmen if they were familiar with a Texan accent, explaining it would be easy to confuse it with slurred speech of an intoxicated person. With Layne’s heavy Texan drawl, the argument seemingly held some merit. Amazingly, after just 16 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Layne not guilty.

 “Layne stuttered on the stand and had a flushed face,” juror Josephine Kopcz said. “That seemed to be his natural appearance.”

 Now, all the Lions had to worry about was earning what was a must-win against rookie running back sensation Jim Brown and the Cleveland Browns.

 A crowd of 55,814 came to Briggs Stadium, locking up a new single-season attendance record of 334,477 for the six regular season games. It also meant the Lions would become the first NFL team to gross $1 million in gate receipts at home games.

 The Browns ended up not being a problem. The Lions led 3-0 in the first quarter after a Jim Martin 27-yard field goal, but later in the opening half, Layne went back to pass and was sacked by Paul Wiggin and a few other Browns. However, Layne remained motionless on the ground.

 An X-ray confirmed Layne had an ankle dislocation and a spiral fracture of the fibula above the right ankle. Layne was going to be out the rest of the season.

 Leading just 3-0 at the half, the Lions began the third quarter with a 10-yard TD pass from Tobin Rote to Dave Middleton. Martin made the PAT and the Lions led 10-0. The Browns cut the gap to 10-7 late in the third on a 58-yard TD pass from Milt Plum to Ray Renfro. The lead was just 10-7. However, the Lions scored the only 10 fourth-quarter points. Martin kicked another 27-yard field goal and John Henry Johnson scored on a four-yard TD run.

 The Lions’ defense played a huge role in the victory, stopping the Browns on three fourth-and-one plays during the contest. The Lions had their win. And, later that day, The San Francisco 49ers defeated Baltimore 17-14, now creating a three-way tie for first place with one week remaining.

 All three leaders were playing different teams entering the final weekend, which meant by the end of week #12 there could be an outright winner or as many as three division champions. But one thing was known, you better win if you wanted to be on top. The Lions were going to have to get that win without their field general, Layne.