1932 NFL Playoff Game

American football game August 2023 1932 NFL Playoff Game 32 Program-Cover.jpg 300 Portsmouth Spartans POR George Clark 6–1–4 Chicago Bears CHB Ralph Jones 6–1–6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 December 18, 1932 Chicago Stadium Chicago, Illinois Spartans: Dutch Clark Bears: George Halas (owner), Red Grange, Bill Hewitt, William R. Lyman, Bronko Nagurski, George Trafton USA 1 Chicago Stadium 41.8817 -87.6728 Location in the United States bottom 5 270 The 1932 NFL Playoff Game was an extra game held to break a tie in the 1932 season's final standings in the National Football League (NFL); it matched the host Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans. Because of snowfall and anticipated extremely cold temperatures in Chicago, Illinois, it was moved indoors and played at the three-year-old Chicago Stadium on December 18 on a reduced-size field on Sunday night. The Bears won, beating the Spartans 9–0. Standings controversy Since the NFL's first season in 1920, the league title had been awarded to the team with the best regular season record based on winning percentage with ties excluded. While four of the first six championships were disputed, only once (in 1921) did two teams finish tied for first place in the standings: the Chicago Staleys, who became the Bears the following year, and the Buffalo All-Americans finished with identical 9-1 records, and had split a two-game series with each other, but league officials used a tiebreaker to controversially give the Staleys the title over the All-Americans.Campbell Rich The 1932 NFL championship. Indoors at Chicago Stadium. How one of the strangest — and most influential — games in Bears history changed the league. https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-chicago-bears-george-halas-chicago-stadium-championship-20191209-mlu5tlymybcx5pbn7cja6o23ia-story.html 17 December 2020 Chicago Tribune 9 December 2019 In 1932, the Spartans and the Bears tied for first place with 6–1 records.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r09QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3203%2C1923056 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press Pro standings December 12, 1932 11 Under the rules at the time, standings were based on winning percentage with ties excluded from the calculation: thus, the Spartans and Bears each finished the regular season with identical 6 1 winning percentages, ahead of the defending champion Green Bay Packers' 10 3 (10 wins, 3 losses) winning percentage. Had pure win–loss differential or the current (post-1972) system of counting ties as half a win, half a loss been in place in 1932, the Packers' record of 10–3–1 (10 3 1, +7) would have won them a fourth consecutive championship, ahead of the Spartans' 6–1–4 (6 1 4, +5) and the Bears' 6–1–6 (6 1 6, +5).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XahQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1iEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663%2C5048770 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Pro football league will change system of rating teams in 1933 December 13, 1932 6, part 2 The Packers controlled their own destiny at the end of the 1932 season, but lost their last two games to the Spartans and the Bears.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r09QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6365%2C1923096 Milwaukee Sentinel McGlynn Stoney Bears whip Packers, 9–0, tie for pro title December 12, 1932 11 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XKhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1iEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6468%2C4854959 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Packers lose to Chicago Bears on snow-covered field, 9–0 December 12, 1932 4, part 2 Further complicating matters, though the Spartans and Bears had played each other twice during the regular season and the league's head-to-head tiebreaker accounted for a split two-game series, this tiebreaker only applied if each team won one game: the winner of the second game would be awarded the tiebreaker and the championship. As the two Bears-Spartans games ended in 13–13 and 7–7 ties, this tiebreaker was of no effect. The league was thus required to make a rule change, as championship-deciding postseason matches were banned in 1924,Horrigan Joe http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-037.pdf CLEVELAND'S 1ST TITLE The Coffin Corner Professional Football Researchers Association 1980 January 30, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20101127052937/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-037.pdf November 27, 2010 and for the first time, arranged for a single game (essentially a replay) to determine the NFL champion. Despite the winner of the game being declared champions, it was ruled the game would be counted in the final standings, meaning the loser would drop to 6–2 (6 2) and finish third behind runner-up Green Bay. Indoor field thumb|180px|The game was played indoors at Chicago Stadium The game was set to be played at Wrigley Field, the Bears' home stadium, but due to severe blizzards followed by extremely cold temperatures and wind chill, the game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1932/12/16/page/25/article/bears-battle-with-spartans-moved-indoors Chicago Tribune Smith Wilfrid Bears battle with Spartans moved indoors December 16, 1932 25https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YKhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1iEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1290%2C5655860 Milwaukee Journal Associated Press Bears, Spartans to play indoors December 16, 1932 7, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YqhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1iEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4992%2C5995445 Milwaukee Journal United Press Bears vs. Spartans December 18, 1932 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RzVPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1U0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4379%2C2904093 St. Petersburg Times Pro gridders meet tonight in Windy City Associated Press December 18, 1932 2, section 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tE9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6403%2C2963595 Milwaukee Sentinel Dunkley Charles W. Associated Press Bears beat Spartans, 9–0; win pro title December 19, 1932 13https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-r8cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8UYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5228%2C2240009 Daily News Bowling Green, Ohio (Dayton Daily News) Williams Marty Today's game not first indoors January 12, 1978 12 The Stadium at that time was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000.Lowe Mike 2024-10-06 Long-lost blueprints show Chicago Stadium's enduring significance https://wgntv.com/news/cover-story/chicago-stadium-blueprints-history/ 2024-10-06 WGN Two years earlier, the Bears and Cardinals had played a charity exhibition game at the arena after the 1930 season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t5RSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1416%2C5360750 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press Pro teams play indoor grid game December 15, 1930 2, Final The game was moved indoors due to extreme weather, allowing for reasonable attendance and gate revenue. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1932/12/18/page/19/article/bears-battle-spartans-for-title-tonight Chicago Tribune Smith Wilfrid Bears battle Spartans for title tonight December 18, 1932 1, part 2 The Bears won 9–7.Cards Lose to Chicago Bears St. Cloud Times Saint Cloud, Minnesota December 16, 1930 17 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/224038968/ It wasn't an uncommon practice in the city, as local teams played in the Dexter Park Pavilion as early as 1917, when the Racine Cardinals and the Evanstons from Evanston played to a scoreless tie.1917 Chicago Racine Cardinals https://www.profootballarchives.com/1917chirc.html October 7, 2026 Pro Football Archives A week before the game, the concrete surface had tanbark placed atop for a Salvation Army-sponsored circus; elephant manure from the circus produced an odor that caused a Bears player to vomit on the field.Willis 2010 294Klein Christopher http://www.history.com/news/the-bizarre-history-of-the-nfls-first-title-game The Bizarre History of the NFL's First Title Game History.com January 29, 2015 January 30, 2018 Because of the limited dimensions of the indoor arena, special rules were adopted for the game: The tanbark-covered field itself was only 80 yards long (60 yards between the goal lines)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y6hQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1iEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6509%2C6344322 Milwaukee Journal Kuechele Oliver E. The Bears won, 9–0, but what was it all about? December 19, 1932 6, part 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tE9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2941%2C2660377 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press Bears battle for pro title December 18, 1932 2B and 45 yards wide, ten yards narrower than the regulation width at the time. The goal posts were moved from the endlines to the goal lines (the NFL moved the goalposts to the goal line in 1933, then back to the endline in 1974).A CENTURY OF 'FIRSTS' IN PRO FOOTBALL, 1892-1992 The Coffin Corner 1992 14 5 http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-05-481.pdf 17 December 2020 Every time a team crossed the 10-yard line, the ball was moved back 20 yards to allow for the shortened field. For the first time, all plays started with the ball on or between the hash marks, which were ten yards from the sidelines. It was also decided that due to the smaller field and indoor stadium, drop kicks and field goals would not be used in the game.Mayer Larry http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-played-NFLs-first-indoor-game/1fb246a6-ad81-45f4-b88d-2c2eaee111d0 Bears played NFL's first indoor game Chicago Bears March 1, 2014 March 1, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113518/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-played-NFLs-first-indoor-game/1fb246a6-ad81-45f4-b88d-2c2eaee111d0 November 13, 2017 dead Game summary Chicago Bears 2;text-align:center; autocollapse 1932 NFL Playoff, Portsmouth Spartans at Chicago Bears December 18 8:15 p.m. CST Spartans 0 0 0 0 Bears 0 0 0 9 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois 11,198 Indoors Bobby Cahn Boxscore Fourth quarter CHI − Red Grange 2-yard pass from Bronko Nagurski (Paul Engebretsen kick). Bears 7−0 CHI − Safety, Mule Wilson tackled in end zone. Bears 9−0 The high temperature for that Sunday in Chicago was 20 F,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1932/12/19/page/1/article/obituary-1-no-title Chicago Tribune The Weather December 19, 1932 1 warmer than anticipated earlier in the week. With terrible footing on the mulch and limited room for the offenses to work, the defenses dominated the game's first three quarters, with the game remaining scoreless. Bears quarterback John Doehling's first pass flew into the stands,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1932/12/19/page/19/article/bears-win-9-0-pro-football-champions Chicago Tribune Smith Wilfrid Bears win, 9–0; pro football champions December 19, 1932 19 as did most punts and kickoffs: one collided with a Chicago Black Hawks sign and another hit the organist as he played. By the end of the game, only one punt had been returned.Willis 2010 296 On one drive, the Spartans were in position to score when Glenn Presnell tripped on the field before he could reach the end zone.Willis 2010 295 For the Bears, they employed a heavy run game with fullback Bronko Nagurski, though possessions ended after just three downs as Ralph Jones frequently elected to pooch kick.Dent Jim September 8, 2004 Monster of the Midway: Bronko Nagurski, the 1943 Chicago Bears, and the Greatest Comeback Ever Macmillan Publishers 031230868X registration https://archive.org/details/monsterofmidwayb0000dent In the fourth quarter, the Bears scored on a controversial touchdown: Carl Brumbaugh handed the ball off to Nagurski, who pulled up and threw to Red Grange in the end zone for the score.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LrZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y2kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3265%2C2405018 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Chicago Bears pro champions (Chicago Tribune) December 19, 1932 14 Rules at the time mandated that a forward pass had to be thrown from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Spartans argued Nagurski did not drop back five yards before passing to Grange, but the touchdown stood. The Bears later scored a safety after the Spartans fumbled the ball out of their end zone. Officials Referee: Bobby Cahn Umpire: G.A. Brown Head linesman: Meyer Morris Legacy Because it proved so popular, the 1932 NFL Playoff Game started a new era for the National Football League and for American football in general. Through 1932, the league had used the same rules as college football. Beginning with the 1933 season, the NFL introduced its own set of rules. The goal posts were moved from the end line back to the goal line (reversed in 1974), all plays started with the ball on or between the hash marks,http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/decades/1930s/first-playoff-game/ FIRST PLAYOFF GAME Pro Football Hall of Fame January 30, 2018 and the forward pass became legal anywhere behind the line of scrimmage; ironically, the forward pass rule was supported by Spartans head coach George Clark, who quipped, "Nagurski would do it anyway!"https://www.si.com/2014/05/20/nfl-history-in-95-objects-1933-rule-book-forward-pass The 1933 Rule Book Sports Illustrated May 20, 2014 January 30, 2018 Its biggest legacy, however, was the creation of the NFL Championship Game in 1933, the NFL's original championship game, a precursor to the Super Bowl.The First Playoff Game https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/the-first-playoff-game/ Pro Football Hall of Fame 17 December 2020 NFL Commissioner Joseph Carr described the rule changes as providing better scoring opportunities, which he believed "would improve the game for both players and spectators." Carr had attended the Playoff Game, and kept a ticket stub from the game in his personal scrapbook.Willis 2010 296–297 In 1933, the NFL expanded to ten teams and divided into two divisions. The division winners met in a scheduled championship game to determine the NFL champion. This game was the first time in which the NFL used an 80-yard field: the next occasion was 87 years later, when in 2019, the Raiders and Packers met at IG Field in Winnipeg for a preseason game. IG Field, home to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, normally has goal posts 110 yards apart. After the posts were moved for the NFL preseason game, the resulting divots in the field caused a safety hazard: to allow the game to go on, the game was played on a hastily shortened 80-yard field, with kickoffs eliminated and each team starting play at its own 15-yard line.https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/winnipegs-nfl-pre-season-game-changed-80-yard-field-due-conditions/ Raiders beat Packers in Winnipeg on reconfigured 80-yard field Canadian Press Sportsnet August 23, 2019 August 23, 2019 See also Bears–Lions rivalry References Citations Sources Willis Chris August 19, 2010 The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr Scarecrow Press 978-0810876705 41.8817 -87.6728 type:event title Playoff game 1932 NFL Playoff Game Category:Chicago Bears postseason Category:Detroit Lions postseason Category:Indoor American football competitions Category:1932 in sports in Illinois Category:December 1932 sports events in the United States Category:American football competitions in Chicago