1933 NFL Championship Game

1933 NFL Championship Game
New York Giants Chicago Bears 21 23 1 2 3 4 Total New York Giants 0 7 7 7 21 Chicago Bears 3 3 10 7 23
Date	December 17, 1933
Stadium	Wrigley Field
City	Chicago, Illinois
Referee	N/A
Attendance	26,000
Radio Network	N/A
Radio Announcers	N/A
Timeline
Previous game	Next game
1932	1934

The 1933 National Football League Championship game was held on December 17, 1933 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The attendance was estimated at 26,000. This was the first scheduled championship game since the NFL's founding in 1920. The game pitted the champions of the NFL's two divisions against each other: The champions of the Western Division, the Chicago Bears (10–2–1); and the champions of the Eastern Division, the New York Giants (11–3). The Bears scored the winning touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, capping a 23–21 victory. It was the Bears' second consecutive championship and third overall NFL title under George Halas.

Background

Before the 1933 season new Boston Redskins owner George Preston Marshall suggested to the NFL's owners that the league make some rule changes to increase the excitement of the game, including allowing passing from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, and returning the goal posts to the goal line. Marshall then made another proposal a couple of months later; splitting the ten-team league into two divisions of five teams each, and having the winners of each division play each other in a championship game. Although the owners were hesitant at first that this brash new owner thought their game needed overhauling, the logic of his arguments won out, and they were implemented before the season.^[1]

Before the season the Giants acquired University of Michigan All-American quarterback Harry Newman, and versatile free agent halfback Ken Strong.^[2] The Giants finished the regular season 11–3, first in the new "Eastern Division", and Newman, center Mel Hein, and Red Badgro were named first team All-NFL. Newman led the NFL in passes completed (53), passing yards (973), touchdown passes (11), and longest pass completion (78 yards), with his passing yards total setting an NFL record.^[3][4]

The Bears went 10–2–1 and won the NFL's new "Western Division", they were led by running backs Red Grange and Bronco Nagurski, and quarterbacked by Keith Molesworth. Nagurski and Grange combined for 810 yards rushing, and the game was the teams third meeting of the seaon, with the Bears winning the teams first regular season matchup 14–10, and the Giants their second 3–0.^[5]

Attendance for the game was 26,000, and before kickoff Newman informed officials he would be running several new trick plays in the game so they would not be confused when they saw them.^[3][6]

Game summary

The Giants called their first trick play, which was similar to another that was invented much later, early in the first quarter. A shift allowed Mel Hein, the team's center, to be an eligible receiver, but instead of passing the ball to him, after the snap, Newman handed it back to him and, pretending he still had it, dropped back as though he was going to pass. Hein, with the ball hidden under his jersey, ran from the Bears 45-yard line to their 15. Hein may have been able to gain more yards, but when he saw the open field in front of him he sprinted toward the goal line instead of waiting for his blockers like he was supposed to.^[7] The Giants were unable to score on this drive, as Chicago's defense tightened and they missed a field goal. Jack Manders kicked a field goal late in the first quarter, and another in the middle of the second quarter to give the Bears a 6–0 lead.^[8]

New York responded with a drive in which a 30 yard run by Kink Richards got them into Chicago territory, and which culminated in the first touchdown in NFL championship game history via a 29-yard pass from Newman to Badgro.^[6][8] Manders kicked his third field goal of the game early in the third quarter to Give Chicago a 9–7 lead, then New York scored a touchdown on a 61-yard drive when Max Krause ran the ball in from the Chicago one yard line. The Bears responded by scoring on a 92-yard drive behind the running of Nagurski, and a Nagurski jump pass for a touchdown to end Bill Karr, that made the score 16–14 Chicago going into the fourth quarter.^[8]

In the final quarter, the Giants drove 61 yards to the Chicago eight yard line. They scored when Strong improvised on a reverse and lateraled the ball to Newman who then passed it back to Strong for a touchdown. Strong kicked the extra point making the game 21–16 Giants. Chicago drove to the New York 36-yard line on the ensuing drive, and Nagurski again attempted a jump pass. This time the Giants were ready for the play but were fooled when the receiver, Bill Hewitt, who they were prepared to tackle, lateraled the ball to Karr, who ran 25 yards for the touchdown with under two minutes remaining.^[9] Their successful extra point attempt gave them a 23–21 lead.^[6][9]

The Giants drove to their own 40-yard line on the game's final drive, but running back Dale Burnett missed a wide open Hein on another trick play. Burnett threw a wobbly pass to Hein who was standing uncovered on the Bears 30-yard line. On the game's final play Grange tackled Badgro before he could complete the lateral portion of the hook and ladder play New York was attempting. Grange diagnosed the play correctly, and wrapped up Badgro's arms rather than his legs so he could not pitch the ball to Burnett.^[9]

The Bears repeated as champions with the victory, and the win marked their second of three titles under head coach George Halas.^[10]

Legacy

In a story the following day, the Associated Press described it as "probably the most spectacular game of the year" and "a brilliant display of offensive power".^[11]

Scoring summary

Sources:^[6][12]

• First Quarter
  • Chi- FG Manders (16 yards) 3–0 CHI
• Second Quarter
  • Chi- FG Manders (40 yards) 6–0 CHI
  • NY- Badgro 29 yard pass from Newman (Strong kick) 7–6 NYG
• Third Quarter
  • Chi- FG Manders (15 yards) 9–7 CHI
  • NY - Krause 1 yard run (Strong Kick) 14–9 NYG
  • Chi- Karr 8 yard pass from Nagurski (Manders kick) 16–14 CHI
• Fourth Quarter
  • NY- Strong 8 yard pass from Newman (Strong kick) 21–16 NYG
  • Chi- Karr 25 yard lateral from Hewitt after 14 yard pass from Nagurski to Hewitt (Brumbaugh kick) 23–21 CHI

Quotes

How should I know? I was only playing.

—Harry Newman, when a linesmen asked him who won the game right after it ended.^[13]

Notes

1. ^ Gottehrer. pg. 101–2
2. ^ Gottehrer. pg. 102–3
3. ^ ^{a b} Gottehrer. pg. 107
4. ^ Harry Newman, football-reference.com, accessed December 6, 2010.
5. ^ 1933 Chicago Bears, football-reference.com, accessed December 6, 2010.
6. ^ ^{a b c d} 1933 NFL Championship Game, profootballhof.com, accessed December 6, 2010.
7. ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 107–8
   * Pervin. pg. 9
8. ^ ^{a b c} Gottehrer. pg. 108
9. ^ ^{a b c} Gottehrer. pg. 109
10. ^ Chicago Bears, football-reference.com, accessed December 5, 2010.
11. ^ Associated Press. Bears Cop Pro Gridiron Title by 23–21 score, The Miami News, December 18, 1933, accessed December 5, 2010.
12. ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 107–9
13. ^ Gottehrer. pg. 110

References

• Gottehrer, Barry. The Giants of New York, the history of professional football's most fabulous dynasty. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1963 OCLC 1356301
• Pervin, Lawrence A. Football's New York Giants: A History. McFarland 2009 ISBN 0-7864-4268-9

Preceded by NFL Playoff Game, 1932

NFL Championship Game 1933

Succeeded by 1934 NFL Championship Game