1946 NFL Championship Game

none August 2023 nflc 1946 1946-NFL-Championship-program-cover.jpg Cover of the 1946 Championship Play-Off Program Chicago Bears New York Giants George Halas Steve Owen Western Eastern CHI NYG 8–2–1 7–3–1 14 0 0 10 24 7 0 7 0 14 December 15, 1946 Polo Grounds Manhattan, New York Chicago by 7–10 points Ronald Gibbs 58,346 ABC Harry Wismer Bears: George Halas (owner/coach), Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Ed Sprinkle, Joe Stydahar, Bulldog Turner Giants: Tim Mara (owner/founder), Wellington Mara (administrator), Steve Owen (coach), Ken Strong USA 1 Polo Grounds 40.831 -73.937 Location in the United States 5 270 The 1946 NFL Championship Game was the 14th annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), played December 15 at the Polo Grounds in New York City,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1946/12/15/page/67/article/60-000-to-see-bears-battle-giants-today-for-n-f-l-title Chicago Sunday Tribune Prell Edward 60,000 to see Bears battle Giants today for N.F.L. title December 15, 1946 1, section 2 with a record-breaking attendance of 58,346.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pnYbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6390%2C4844895 Pittsburgh Press Biederman Les Luckman leads Bears to NFL title December 16, 1946 20 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1946/12/16/page/37/article/bears-win-7th-title-24-14-before-58-346 Chicago Tribune Prell Edward Bears win 7th title, 24-14, before 58,346 December 16, 1946 1, section 3 The game matched the New York Giants (7–3–1), champions of the Eastern Division, against the Western Division champion Chicago Bears (8–2–1). The Giants had won the regular season game 14–0 at the Polo Grounds seven weeks earlier on October 27,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1946/10/28/page/27/article/cards-win-34-10-giants-whip-bears-14-0 Chicago Daily Tribune Warren Harry Cards win 34-10; Giants whip Bears, 14-0 October 28, 1946 1, section 2 but the Bears were seven to ten point favorites.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bk9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Tg0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7107%2C389379 Milwaukee Sentinel INS Bears touchdown favorite over Giants in title game December 15, 1946 3B https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PC0aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8iMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4334%2C7700796 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Favor Bears in pro play-off today December 15, 1946 1, sports https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pXYbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3388%2C4284821 Pittsburgh Press Biederman Les Bears favored to beet Giants for NFL title December 15, 1946 33 It was the fourth championship game in the history of the Bears-Giants rivalry. This was the fifth and final NFL Championship game played at the Polo Grounds and the fourth of six meetings between the Bears and Giants in the title game. Tied after three quarters, Chicago won 24–14 for their seventh NFL title,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JRwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9yQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5400%2C197897 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Bears defeat Giants, 24 to 14; attempted bribery uncovered December 16, 1946 4, part 2 their fifth victory in eight NFL championship game appearances. The attendance record stood for another nine years, until the 1955 title game in Los Angeles. Bribery scandal The day before the game, two of the Giants' players, Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes, were accused of taking bribes to fix the game from Alvin Paris. Mayor William O'Dwyer subsequently informed Jack Mara, Wellington Mara and Bert Bell of the police evidence against the two.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1946/12/16/page/37/article/lost-honestly-giants-say-bribe-probe-continues Chicago Tribune Fay William 'Lost honestly,' Giants say; bribe probe continues December 16, 1946 1, section 3 Hours later, the four met at Gracie Mansion, and the mayor interviewed the players one at a time.Robert S. Lyons, On Any Given Sunday: A Life of Bert Bell. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 2010; pg. 201. Under questioning, Hapes admitted that he was offered a bribe, but Filchock denied being offered it. Several hours later, Paris was arrested, and during his police interview made a full confession to bribing the players: Hapes was suspended by Bell, but Filchock was allowed to play.Lyons, On Any Given Sunday, pg. 202. During Paris' trial weeks later, Filchock admitting taking the bribe under oath.Lyons, On Any Given Sunday, pg. 203. Scoring summary Sunday, December 15, 1946 Kickoff: 2 p.m. EST First quarter CHI – Ken Kavanaugh 21-yard pass from Sid Luckman (Frank Maznicki kick), 7–0 CHI CHI – Dante Magnani 19-yard interception return (Maznicki kick), 14–0 CHI NY – Liebel 38-yard pass from Frank Filchock (Ken Strong kick), 14–7 CHI Second quarter No scoring Third quarter NY – Steve Filipowicz 5-yard pass from Filchock (Strong kick), 14–14 TIE Fourth quarter CHI – Luckman 19-yard run (Maznicki kick), 21–14 CHI CHI – FG Maznicki 26 yard, 24–14 CHI Officials Referee: Ronald Gibbs Umpire: Carl Brubaker Head linesman: Charlie Berry Field judge: William Grimberg The NFL had only four game officials in 1946; the back judge was added the following season in 1947, the line judge in 1965, and the side judge in 1978. Players' shares The gross receipts for the game, including radio and picture rights, was just under $283,000. Each player on the winning Bear team received $1,975, while Giants players made $1,295 each.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pnYbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6800%2C4849019 Pittsburgh Press United Press Facts and figures on title game December 16, 1946 20 See also 1946 NFL season History of the NFL championship Bears–Giants rivalry New York District Attorney Frank Hogan References 2 40.831 -73.937 type:event title Championship Game Category:NFL Championship games Category:Chicago Bears postseason Category:New York Giants postseason Category:Sports competitions in Manhattan NFL Championship Game Category:American football competitions in New York City NFL Championship Game Category:1940s in Manhattan Category:Washington Heights, Manhattan