- 1963 NFL Championship Game
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1963 NFL Championship Game New York Giants Chicago Bears 10 14 1 2 3 4 Total New York Giants 7 3 0 0 10 Chicago Bears 7 0 7 0 14 Date December 29, 1963 Stadium Wrigley Field City Chicago, IL Referee Norm Schachter Attendance TV/Radio in the United States TV Network NBC TV Announcers Jack Brickhouse, Chris Schenkel, George Connor Radio Network NBC Radio Announcers Jim Gibbons, Pat Summerall Timeline Previous game Next game 1962 1964 The 1963 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 29, 1963 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game pitted the visiting New York Giants (11–3) against the Chicago Bears (11–1–2) in the 31st annual championship game. Originally, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle asked Bears owner/coach George Halas to move the game to Soldier Field due to increased seating capacity as well as lights, in case the sun would set during the game. When Halas refused, Rozelle pushed the starting time of the game to 12:05 pm Central Time. The championship was also played on a day when the game time temperature was between 9–11 degrees Fahrenheit.
Contents
Background
The Giants, coached by Allie Sherman, were known for their powerful offense, which scored 448 points in 14 games. They were led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle who threw 36 touchdown passes during the season, then an NFL record. Other contributing players on offense were Pro Bowlers Del Shofner and Frank Gifford. Wide receiver Shofner caught 64 passes for 1,181 yards and 9 touchdowns. Although he normally was a running back, and only recorded four rushing attempts in 1963, Gifford had 42 receptions for 657 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Giants also used a plethora of players at running back, with the main two being Phil King and Joe Morrison. Although neither one had significant individual statistics, they combined for 1,181 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Giants defense allowed 280 points, ranking 5th overall in the NFL. This group was led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff. Other contributing players on defense were defensive linemen, Jim Katcavage, and John LoVetere; linebacker Tom Scott; and defensive backs Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch.
Meanwhile, the Bears were known for their defense, nicknamed the Monsters of the Midway. Led by defensive coordinator George Allen, this unit yielded 144 points in 14 games. The defensive line consisted of Ed O'Bradovich, Fred Williams, Stan Jones, and future hall of famer Doug Atkins. The linebacking core was led by Joe Fortunato, Bill George, and Larry Morris, while the defensive backs were led by Richie Petitbon and Rosey Taylor. Accomplishments by the Bears defense during the regular season included surrendering only 1 touchdown in two games versus the Green Bay Packers, and not allowing any passing touchdowns in its two games against quarterback Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Writers in New York were especially fearful of the trio at linebacker, stating that Tittle had yet to see a group like them all year.[1]
Chicago's offense did not come close to the Giants offense in terms of points scored or yards gained. The group only scored 301 points, ranking 10th out of the league's then-14 teams. Led by quarterback Bill Wade, the number 1 overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. Wade ran a simplified game plan, nicknamed "three yards and a cloud of dust", in which they would play it safe by running the ball in almost every play instead of giving up an interception. Occasionally Wade would throw short passes to tight end Mike Ditka and wide receiver, Johnny Morris.
Game summary
The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when Y.A. Tittle led New York on an 41-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford. The drive was set up by Billy Wade's fumble on the Bears' 41 yard line. However, later in the first period, Tittle suffered an injury to his left knee when Larry Morris hit him during his throwing motion. For the rest of the game, Tittle would never be the same. Morris then intercepted Tittle's screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7.
In the second quarter, the Giants retook the lead, 10–7, on a 13-yard field goal. But on New York's next drive, Tittle reinjured his left knee on another hit by Morris. With Tittle out for two possessions, the Giants struggled, only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays. Allie Sherman even punted on third down, showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing. However, the score remained 10–7 at halftime.
Tittle would come back in the third period, but he needed Cortisone, Novocaine, and heavy taping and bandaging just to continue. For the rest of the game, Tittle was forced to throw off his back foot (poor mechanics for a quarterback). An interception on a screen pass by the Bears' Ed O'Bradovich was brought deep into Giant territory, setting up Wade's 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14–10 lead. The score would hold up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle's 5th interception. The play occurred right after Shofner dropped a pass in the end zone. At the end of the game defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense's spectacular play.
Although the young American Football League was completing its fourth season, the NFL still regarded itself as the premiere professional league of American football, as reflected in WGN radio broadcaster Jack Quinlan's comment as the click ticked to 0 on the final play: "The Chicago Bears are world's champions of professional football!"
Scoring summary
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- NYG – FG Chandler 13, 5:11 10–7 NYG
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
- None
References
Riger, Robert. Best Plays of the Year: 1963. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. 1964.
- http://www.cogsci.indiana.edu/farg/rehling/bears/1963.html
- http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=champ63
External links
Preceded by
1962 NFL Championship GameNFL Championship Game
1963Succeeded by
1964 NFL Championship GameChicago Bears 1963 NFL Champions 9 Bill Wade | 10 Rudy Bukich | 17 Richie Petitbon | 22 Billy Martin | 23 Dave Whitsell | 24 Rosey Taylor | 25 J. C. Caroline | 26 Bennie McRae | 28 Willie Galimore | 29 Ronnie Bull | 31 Joe Fortunato | 33 Larry Morris | 34 Joe Marconi | 35 Rick Casares | 43 Larry Glueck | 46 Angelo Coia | 47 Johnny Morris | 49 Charlie Bivins | 50 Mike Pyle | 60 Roger Davis | 61 Bill George | 63 Bob Wetoska | 65 Tom Bettis | 67 Ted Karras | 70 Herman Lee | 71 Earl Leggett | 72 Jim Cadile | 73 Steve Barnett | 74 Bob Kilcullen | 75 Fred Williams | 76 John Johnson | 78 Stan Jones | 80 Bob Jencks | 81 Doug Atkins | 83 Roger LeClerc | 84 Bo Farrington | 87 Ed O'Bradovich | 88 Bobby Joe Green | 89 Mike Ditka
Head Coach: George Halas
Coaches: George Allen | Jim Dooley | Phil Handler | Luke Johnsos | Sid Luckman | Chuck Mather | Joe StydaharChicago Bears Formerly the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Staleys • Founded in 1919 • Based in Chicago, Illinois The Franchise Records Seasons • Records and statistics • All-time record versus NFL • Bears results on Primetime Football (Sunday Night • Monday Night • Thursday Night) • Holiday Football (Thanksgiving • Christmas) • Team awards and honors • Individual league award winners • Players (A-D - E-K - L-R - S-Z) • Head Coaches • Pro Football Hall of Famers • First-round Draft Picks • Starting Quarterbacks • Pro Bowlers • All-ProStadiums Lore Fog Bowl • 1932 Playoff Game • First NFL Championship Game • "The Sneakers Game" • Monsters of the Midway • 46 Defense • 15-1 • Super Bowl XX • Thanksgiving Classic • Bears 73, Redskins 0 • Instant Replay Game • Staley Swindle • Cardiac Kids • George S. Halas Trophy • Christmas games • International Series • American Bowl • Bills Toronto Series • Brian Piccolo Award • 75th Anniversary (League • Team • NFL All-Time Team) • The 700 ClubCulture Brian's Song (1971) / (2001) • "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" • "The Super Bowl Shuffle" • Da Super Fans • Chuck Swirsky • Staley Da Bear • Logos and Uniforms • Halas Hall • A.E. Staley • Jack Brickhouse • Papa Bear • Roosevelt/Wabash • 85386 PaytonRivalries Green Bay Packers • Minnesota VikingsRetired Numbers Key Personnel Chairman: George McCaskey • President/CEO: Ted Phillips • General Manager: Jerry Angelo • Head Coach: Lovie SmithNFL Championships (9) Super Bowl Appearances (2) Other honors NFL Championship Appearances (10) – 1933 • 1934 • 1937 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1946 • 1956 • 1963
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Division Titles | NFL Western (8) – 1933 • 1934 • 1937 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1946 – NFC Central (7) – 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1990 • 2001 – NFC North (3) – 2005 • 2006 • 2010Current League Affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: North DivisionFormer League Affiliations League: Independent (1919) • Conference: National Conference (1950–1952); Western Conference (1953–1969) • Division: NFL Western Division (1933–1949); Central Division (1967–1969); NFC Central Division (1970–2001)Local Broadcast Affiliates Seasons (92) 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2010 • 2011New York Giants Founded in 1925 • Based in East Rutherford, New Jersey The Franchise History Stadiums Culture and Lore Cleveland Bulldogs • Sneakers Game • The Greatest Game Ever Played • The Fumble • Crunch Bunch • Gatorade shower • Big Blue Wrecking Crew • Wide Right • Little Giants • We Fly High • Manning to Tyree • Bob Sheppard • Jim Hall • Yankee Stadium Legacy • The ComebackRivalries Philadelphia Eagles • Dallas Cowboys • Washington Redskins • New York JetsHead Coaches Key Personnel League Championships (7) Super Bowl Appearances (4) Media Current League Affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: East DivisionNational Football League Championship Games (1933–present) NFL Championship Game
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2 – Dates in the list denote the season, not the calendar year in which the championship game was played. For instance, Super Bowl XLI was played in 2007, but was the championship for the 2006 season.Categories:- Chicago Bears postseason
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