1941 NFL Championship Game

none November 2013 nflc 1941 File:1941NFLChampionshipGameProgram.jpg New York Giants Chicago Bears Eastern Western NYG CHI 8–3 10–1 Steve Owen George Halas 6 0 3 0 9 3 6 14 14 37 December 21, 1941 Wrigley Field Chicago, Illinois Chicago by 15https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fk4bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4279%2C5326972 Pittsburgh Press United Press Snider Steve Bears rate 2-touchdown edge over Giants in pro title game December 21, 1941 13, section 3 13,341 Mutual Bob Elson, Red Barber Giants: Tim Mara (owner/founder),Wellington Mara (administrator), Steve Owen (coach),Mel Hein, Tuffy Leemans Bears: George Halas (owner/coach),Dan Fortmann, Sid Luckman, George McAfee,George Musso, Joe Stydahar, Bulldog Turner USA 1 Wrigley Field 41.948 -87.656 Location in the United States bottom 5 290 The 1941 NFL Championship Game was the ninth annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), held at Wrigley Field in Chicago on December 21.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1941/12/22/page/23/article/bears-rout-giants-37-9-keep-league-title Chicago Daily Tribune Prell Edward Bears rout Giants, 37-9; keep league title December 22, 1941 23 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LWoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4194%2C2502761 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Bears wallop Giants 37 to 9, clinch title December 22, 1941 16 Played two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the attendance was 13,341, the fewest to see an NFL title game. However, this statistic might be explained in part by wartime restrictions.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gTBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6440%2C5139561 Milwaukee Sentinel Hoff Dave Bears wallop Giants for pro title December 22, 1941 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=scBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5488%2C3130576 Milwaukee Journal Bears swamp Giants, 37 to 9, in pro play-off before 13,341 Kuechle Oliver E. December 22, 1941 4, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F04bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3721%2C5771887 Pittsburgh Press (photo) Riotous Bears roar as champions of football world December 22, 1941 29 Western Division playoff game Before the title game, the Western Division champion needed to be determined. The defending NFL champion Chicago Bears (10–1) had ended the regular season on December 7 tied with the Green Bay Packers (10–1), the 1939 NFL champions. The two had split their season series in 1941, with the road teams winning, so the tiebreaker was the first-ever divisional playoff game in the NFL, played on December 14 at Wrigley Field. The Packers had completed their regular season on November 30 and the playoff game was sold out by Tuesday, December 9, at over 46,484,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VnUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zSIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2055%2C4731932 Milwaukee Journal Packer game sellout now December 9, 1941 4, part 2 with over 10,000 seats to Packer fans.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W3UxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zSIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2429%2C7005067 Milwaukee Journal Packers 13-5 underdogs in playoff with Bears December 14, 1941 1, sports Chicago was favored,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eTBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1940%2C3343162 Milwaukee Sentinel McGlynn Stoney Bears are 2½ to 1 favorites over Packers today December 14, 1941 1B and attendance on game day was slightly lower than capacity at 43,425, the week after Pearl Harbor. The Bears jumped to a 30–7 halftime lead under clear skies and 16 F temperatures and easily won, 33–14.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XHUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zSIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1980%2C8030060 Milwaukee Journal Kuechle Oliver E. Bears' line too tough for Packers 33-14 December 15, 1941 4, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ejBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7155%2C3845488 Milwaukee Sentinel McGlynn Stoney Bears humble Packers, 33-14, win title December 15, 1941 3Bhttp://archives.chicagotribune.com/1941/12/15/page/29/article/bears-win-33-to-14-play-for-title-sunday Chicago Daily Tribune Prell Edward Bears win 33 to 14; play for title Sunday December 15, 1941 29 The Eastern Division champion New York Giants (8–3) completed their regular season on December 7 with a 21–7 loss to the runner-up Brooklyn Dodgers (7–4), who had defeated the Giants twice in the regular season. NFL Championship Game Bears-Giants rivalry The Bears were making their fifth appearance in the title game, the Giants were making their sixth, and each had two victories. It was the third time the two teams matched up in the big game; the home teams had won both: the Bears in 1933 and the Giants in 1934. The Bears were favored by two touchdowns and 35,000 were expected to attend.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sMBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3564%2C2341042 Milwaukee Journal Chicago Bears to play Giants for pro league title Sunday December 21, 1941 1, sports The game time temperature was unseasonably warm at 47 F. The hometown Bears kicked three field goals in the first half to lead 9–6 at the intermission. The Giants took the opening drive of the second half down to the five but settled for a short field goal to tie the score. Chicago dominated the rest of the second half with four unanswered touchdowns and won 37–9.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l-BRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zoQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6229%2C2671760 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio Associated Press Hoff Dave Chicago Bears turn on power in second half to beat New York Giants 37-9 December 22, 1941 18 The Bears became the first team in the NFL championship game era (since 1933) to win consecutive titles; it was the franchise's fifth league title (1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941). Scoring summary text-align:center; background:#eee Chicago Bears 37, New York Giants 9 Pro-Football-Reference December 21, 1941 Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois 1:00 p.m. CST Giants 6 0 3 0 Bears 3 6 14 14 First quarter CHI – Bob Snyder 14-yard field goal. Bears 3–0 NYG – George Franck 31-yard pass from Tuffy Leemans (kick failed). Giants 6–3 Second quarter CHI – Bob Snyder 39-yard field goal. Tied 6–6 CHI – Bob Snyder 37-yard field goal. Bears 9–6 Third quarter NYG – Ward Cuff 16-yard field goal. Tied 9–9 CHI – Norm Standlee 2-yard run (Snyder kick). Bears 16–9 CHI – Norm Standlee 7-yard run (Joe Maniaci kick). Bears 23–9 Fourth quarter CHI – George McAfee 5-yard run (Lee Artoe kick). Bears 30–9 CHI – Ken Kavanaugh 42-yard fumble return (Ray McLean kick). Bears 37–9 Top passers NYG – Tuffy Leemans – 3/9, 73 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT CHI – Sid Luckman – 9/12, 160 yards Top rushers NYG – Tuffy Leemans – 9 rushes, 52 yards CHI – Norm Standlee – 17 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD Top receivers NYG – Ward Cuff – 2 receptions, 42 yards CHI – Dick Plasman – 2 receptions, 48 yards With under two minutes remaining, Ray "Scooter" McLean elected to drop kick the extra point on the last touchdown,Youngstown Vindicator - Google News Archive Search https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l-BRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zoQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6229,2671760 2020-10-16 news.google.com which was the last successful drop kick in the NFL for 64 years. Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots kicked one in his final regular season game, in the fourth quarter of the last game of the 2005 regular season on January 1, 2006.Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g1oUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ifADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2805,391423 2020-10-16 news.google.com Officials Referee: Emil Heintz Umpire: John Schommer Head linesman: Charlie Berry Field judge: Chuck Sweeney The NFL had only four game officials in 1941; the back judge was added in 1947, the line judge in 1965, and the side judge in 1978. Players' shares With the low attendance, the net gate receipts were a record low at under $42,000. Each Bears player received $431, while each Giants player saw $288, less than half of the previous year's.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=scBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5794%2C3132640 Milwaukee Journal Associated Press Title game nets bears $430 each December 22, 1941 4, part 2 Ticket prices were $4.40 for the grandstand and $2.20 for bleachers.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F04bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5042%2C5780298 Pittsburgh Press Williams Joe Does 13,000 indicate that pro grid season is over-extended? December 22, 1941 30 War casualties Two players in the game, back Young Bussey of the Bears and end Jack Lummus of the Giants, were killed in action three years later in World War II, in early 1945. Navy lieutenant Bussey died in the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines and Marine lieutenant Lummus was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at the Battle of Iwo Jima. See also 1941 NFL playoffs 1941 NFL season History of the NFL championship Bears–Giants rivalry References 2 41.948 -87.656 type:event title Championship Game Category:NFL Championship games Category:Chicago Bears postseason Category:New York Giants postseason NFL Championship Game NFL Championship Game Category:1940s in Chicago Category:Events at Wrigley Field Category:American football competitions in Chicago