1927 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season November 2013 March 2026 Chicago Bears 1927 9–3–2 3rd NFL George S. Halas, Dutch Sternaman George Halas Wrigley Field Bears seasons The 1927 season was the Chicago Bears' 8th in the National Football League. The team was unable to improve on their 12–1–3 record from 1926 and finished with a 9–3–2 record under head coach George Halas earning them a third-place finish in the team standings behind the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. Notable games during this season were a split of the season series with the New York Yankees, led by former and future Bear Red Grange, a split of the season's games against crosstown rivals Chicago Cardinals, two wins over the Green Bay Packers, and, oddest of all, a win and a tie over the Frankford Yellowjackets in unusual home-and-away back-to-back games on December 3 and 4. The Bears also played the eventual champion New York Giants, losing 13–7. Paddy Driscoll, William Senn, and Joey Sternaman again starred for the Bears. Driscoll ran for 5 touchdowns and threw 4 others; Senn had 3 rushing TDs and 2 receiving scores; and Sternaman ran and caught 1 touchdown each, while passing for another. Owner and coach George Halas continued to play well, scoring 3 touchdowns himself, 2 on defense. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 25 at Chicago Cardinals W 9–0 1–0 Normal Park 4,000 Recap 2 October 2 at Green Bay Packers W 7–6 2–0 City Stadium5,500+ Recap "Chicago Bears Whip Packers, 7 to 6: Battle Royal is Witnessed by Big Crowd," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 3, 1927, pp. 11-12. 3 October 16 New York Yankees W 12–0 3–0 Wrigley Field 20,000 Recap 4 October 23 Cleveland Bulldogs W 14–12 4–0 Wrigley Field 20,000 Recap 5 October 30 Dayton Triangles W 14–6 5–0 Wrigley Field 8,000 Recap 6 November 6 Providence Steam Roller T 0–0 5–0–1 Wrigley Field 15,000 Recap 7 November 8 at New York Yankees L 6–26 5–1–1 Yankee Stadium 10,000 Recap 8 November 13 Pottsville Maroons W 30–12 6–1–1 Wrigley Field 8,000 Recap 9 November 20 Green Bay Packers W 14–6 7–1–1 Wrigley Field 6,000 Recap 10 November 24 Chicago Cardinals L 0–3 7–2–1 Wrigley Field 6,000 Recap 11 November 27 at New York Giants L 7–13 7–3–1 Polo Grounds 15,000 Recap 12 December 3 at Frankford Yellow Jackets T 0–0 7–3–2 Shibe Park 4,000 Recap 13 December 4 Frankford Yellow Jackets W 9–0 8–3–2 Wrigley Field 2,500 Recap 14 December 11 Duluth Eskimos W 27–14 9–3–2 Wrigley Field 2,500 Recap — December 18 Cleveland Bulldogs cancelled due to weather "Final Chicago Pro Grid Tilt Called Off," Kansas City Journal, Dec. 19, 1927, p. 6. Game summaries Game 3: at Green Bay Packers In a Sunday confrontation deemed a "battle royal," Green Bay's Dick O'Donnell of Green Bay snagged a long pass for the first big play of the day. Controversy ensued, however. Next "Dunn shot a pass to Lewellen and it looked very much as if he were a victim of interference as he tried to grab the ball for a touchdown," the representative of the Green Bay Press-Gazette recounted. "The officials ruled the other way, however, and the Bears scrimmaged on their 20-yard line." The football rule that an incomplete forward pass in the end zone resulted in a touchback had bitten the home team hard. The Bears made effective use of their power running game in the second stanza, with reserve right halfback Bill Senn capping the climax of a long drive with a 1-yard plunge. Paddy Driscoll booted the all-important extra-point to give the Bears a 7–0 lead."Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers - October 2nd, 1927," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com The Packers' made their bid in the fourth quarter when player-coach Curly Lambeau hit on a 30-yard catch-and-run to end Lavvie Dilweg, which put the ball on the Chicago 30. Another 15 yard strike from Lambeau to Dilweg halved the distance to the end zone, although "the Bears tried to take the ball away from Dilweg and a near riot was averted." Then Dunn hit Lambeau with a pass for an apparent score, only to have it called back for violation of another rule of the day, that all passes must be thrown from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Packers were undaunted, with Dilweg making a great catch of a Dunn pass to take the ball down to the 2-yard line. Lewellen took two tries to punch the ball through to paydirt. "Joy reined supreme in the Packer camp but not for long however as Purdy, who substituted for Dunn, failed to come even close to making the extra point which would have given the Packers a tie game." A subsequent onside kick attempt failed and the Bears ran out the clock for a 7–6 victory. The Bears made extensive use of substitutes in the contest, with player-coach George Halas sending in capable replacements at key intervals to keep his best players fresh, using a noteworthy 24 players on the day. Standings Roster Future Hall of Fame players Paddy Driscoll, back George Halas, end Ed Healey, tackle Link Lyman, tackle George Trafton, center Other leading players William Senn, back Ed Sternaman, back Joe Sternaman, quarterback Laurie Walquist, quarterback References 35em Chicago Bears Category:Chicago Bears seasons Chicago Bears Category:1927 in Chicago