This coming Sunday will mark the return of playoff football between the Chicago Bears and the Packers of Green Bay.
The last time these rivals played in a post-season game was back on December 14, 1941 - at our beloved Wrigley Field. Now, I asked our blog historian - and my brother - Harold to dig up some information on that there game. He obliged:
The Bears won the '41 game 33-14 to claim the NFL's Western Section Championship, and set up the NFL title game at Wrigley Field two weeks later. 43,425 fans attended the Packers game, but only 13,341 came to watch the Bears beat the New York Giants 37-9 in THE NFL Championship.
The '41 game was played one week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This uncertainty led to this report (and accurate prediction) from the Tribune: "It may have been the last time these two titans of the gridirons will meet for a long, long time. If so, the fans will have plenty to remember them by until this war runs its course."
Most don't remember, but that month the Cubs were set to install lights at Wrigley Field. The steel for the poles was already at the field and the lights were ordered - but after that day of infamy, the club decided to donate the steel to the war effort.
Interestingly, that Tribune reporter also mentioned that the game: "didn't need that specially designed fifth quarter." The NFL didn't adopt "overtime" until 1942, and I guess before the game the two teams agreed to play a sudden-death fifth quarter if they were tied at the end of regulation.
One last fact: 1941 was also the year the Bears fight sing was published: "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" We sure do wish ol' Wrigley Field was hosting the game this weekend, but no matter, let's just hope our boys Bear Down on Sunday.
The last time these rivals played in a post-season game was back on December 14, 1941 - at our beloved Wrigley Field. Now, I asked our blog historian - and my brother - Harold to dig up some information on that there game. He obliged:
The Bears won the '41 game 33-14 to claim the NFL's Western Section Championship, and set up the NFL title game at Wrigley Field two weeks later. 43,425 fans attended the Packers game, but only 13,341 came to watch the Bears beat the New York Giants 37-9 in THE NFL Championship.
The '41 game was played one week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This uncertainty led to this report (and accurate prediction) from the Tribune: "It may have been the last time these two titans of the gridirons will meet for a long, long time. If so, the fans will have plenty to remember them by until this war runs its course."
Most don't remember, but that month the Cubs were set to install lights at Wrigley Field. The steel for the poles was already at the field and the lights were ordered - but after that day of infamy, the club decided to donate the steel to the war effort.
Interestingly, that Tribune reporter also mentioned that the game: "didn't need that specially designed fifth quarter." The NFL didn't adopt "overtime" until 1942, and I guess before the game the two teams agreed to play a sudden-death fifth quarter if they were tied at the end of regulation.
One last fact: 1941 was also the year the Bears fight sing was published: "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" We sure do wish ol' Wrigley Field was hosting the game this weekend, but no matter, let's just hope our boys Bear Down on Sunday.
Like fellow twitter-er @TheVikingAge wrote: That was so long ago that foam cheese wasn't even invented yet. Packer fans had to wear real cheese on their heads.
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