1942 NFL Championship Game

1942 NFL Championship Game
DateDecember 13, 1942
StadiumGriffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.
FavoriteChicago
Attendance36,006
Radio in the United States
NetworkMutual
AnnouncersHarry Wismer, Russ Hodges,
Jack Drees
Griffith   Stadium is located in the United States
Griffith   Stadium
Griffith  
Stadium
class=notpageimage|
Location in the United States

The 1942 NFL Championship Game was the tenth title game of the National Football League (NFL), played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., on December 13, with a sellout capacity attendance of 36,006.[1][2][3][4]

It matched the undefeated Western Division champion Chicago Bears (11–0) and the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins (10–1). The Bears were co-coached by Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos (after George Halas had entered the U.S. Navy)[5] and led on the field by quarterback Sid Luckman. The Redskins were led by head coach Ray Flaherty and quarterback Sammy Baugh.

Chicago had won easily in the summer exhibition game with Washington, but the teams had not met during the 1942 regular season. The Bears were aiming for their third consecutive league title and were favored by three touchdowns,[6][7][8][9] but were upset 14–6 by the home underdog Redskins.[3][4][10][11]

Tickets were sold out three weeks in advance, and some were being resold for up to fifty dollars.[8]

This was the second and final NFL title game played at Griffith Stadium and in the city of Washington. The two teams met on the same site two years earlier with a very different result, as the visiting Bears won in a 73–0 rout.

  1. ^ Prell, Edward (December 13, 1942). "Bears meet Redskins today for pro championship". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  2. ^ Prell, Edward (December 14, 1942). "Redskins end Bears' 3 year football reign, 14 to 6". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 23.
  3. ^ a b "Redskins capture pro title, 14 to 6". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. United Press. December 14, 1942. p. 18.
  4. ^ a b Petersen, Leo H. (December 14, 1942). "Magnates delay pro football decision". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 26.
  5. ^ "Halas likely on bench". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 12, 1942. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Redskins banking on Baugh to beat Bears". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 12, 1942. p. 15.
  7. ^ "Chicago Bears heavily favored to trounce Redskins". Pittsburgh Press. December 13, 1942. p. 2, section 2.
  8. ^ a b "Bears 6 to 1 favorites over Redskins Sunday". Milwaukee Journal. December 13, 1942. p. 1, sports.
  9. ^ Feder, Sid (December 13, 1942). "Bears-Redskins game expected to draw record gate". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. D1.
  10. ^ "Sparkling Redskins topple Bears, 14 to 6". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 14, 1942. p. 6, part 2.
  11. ^ O'Brien, Pat (December 14, 1942). "Washington upsets Chicago, 14-6, to capture professional football loop crown". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. 8.