page_title: 1971–72 NFL playoffs
section_title: AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
hierarchical_section_title: 1971–72 NFL playoffs / Divisional playoffs / December 26, 1971 / AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
caption_attribution_description: English: A football card from the 1986 Jeno's Pizza NFL football card stickers set of Baltimore Colts safety Rick Volk tackling Cleveland Browns running back Leroy Kelly during the 1971 AFC Divisional Playoffs Game. The card is numbered #31 in the set The back of the card reads: THE COLTS JUMP ON THE BROWNS Colts safety Rick Volk (21) puts Cleveland running back Leroy Kelly on his back, as the Colts throttle the Browns' offense to win their 1971 AFC Playoff Game 20-3. Ranked number one in the NFL, the Colts' defense held Cleveland to just 69 yards rushing and 165 in all. Volk also set up a Colts touchdown with a 37-yard interception return.
context_page_description: The National Football League playoffs for the 1971 season began on December 25, 1971. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24–3, on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road. It was the first time that the NFL scheduled games on Christmas Day, a decision that drew considerable criticism.
context_section_description: Don Nottingham scored two touchdowns for the Colts, while their defense limited the Browns to only 165 yards, 11 first downs, and 3 points.
  However, the Browns had plenty of scoring chances early in the game.  On their first series, quarterback Bill Nelsen completed a 39-yard pass to Fair Hooker, but defensive back Rex Kern forced and recovered a fumble from him on the Colts 12-yard line.  Baltimore had to punt on their ensuing drive, and Leroy Kelly's 48-yard return gave the Browns a first down on the Colts 4.  All the Browns got from this field position though, was a 16-yard field goal attempt from Don Cockroft that was blocked by defensive tackle Bubba Smith (who would also block another field goal later on.)
  After the blocked field goal, the Colts drove 93 yards in 17 plays, including a 7-yard run by Nottingham on 4th and inches, to score on Nottingham's 1-yard touchdown run.  Later in the second quarter, Baltimore safety Rick Volk intercepted a pass from Nelsen and returned it 37 yards to the Browns 15-yard line, setting up Nottingham's second touchdown run on a 7-yard burst.
  After three consecutive drives in the third quarter ended in turnovers, Cleveland finally got on the board with a 14-yard field goal by Cockroft.  But Baltimore stormed right back on 74-yard drive to go up 17-3 on a field goal by Jim O'Brien.  O'Brien added a 14-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to finish off the scoring.
  Nottingham was the sole offensive star for either team with 92 rushing yards, 5 receiving yards, and two scores.
caption: The Colt defense stopping a Browns run during the AFC Divisional Playoffs Game
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