By Darin The Icy West Coast Showdown
On December 18, 1949, football history was made not in a blizzard, but in a torrential downpour at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In a highly anticipated matchup, the Philadelphia Eagles faced the high-flying Los Angeles Rams for the NFL Championship. This game was pivotal: the Eagles, seeking their second consecutive title, traveled west to take on a Rams team known for their revolutionary, potent passing attack. The 27,980 fans in attendance braved the elements for what became a classic defensive battle.
We asked Philadelphia football historian Brian Michael to join us back in 2025 to help piece together the history of the 1949 season.
The conditions quickly neutralized the Rams’ aerial game. The field turned into a mud bog, making crisp passing and fast cuts impossible. Philadelphia’s legendary coach, Greasy Neale, relied on his team’s superior conditioning and dominant defensive line to stifle the Rams’ offense, led by quarterback Bob Waterfield.
The Eagles, meanwhile, found their strength in their punishing ground game. The defense delivered a performance for the ages, completely shutting out the Rams’ powerful unit—a rare feat in any era, and especially in a championship game. The final score, 14–0, was a testament to Philadelphia’s defensive discipline and their ability to execute a hard-nosed, weather-appropriate game plan.
Philadelphia Eagles halfback Clyde Scott (center, number 27) runs into Los Angeles Rams defender Dick Huffman (left foreground) during the NFL Championship Game on December 18, 1949 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
The scoring came primarily from the Eagles’ ability to capitalize on field position and grind out touchdowns through the mud. This victory solidified the Eagles’ status as the league’s dominant force at the end of the 1940s, earning them their second straight NFL title in commanding fashion.
Conclusion
The 1949 Championship Game serves as a powerful reminder that in football, defense and execution in adverse conditions often trump flashy offenses. By blanking the high-scoring Rams 14–0 on their home turf, the Philadelphia Eagles cemented their status as one of the great teams of the post-war era and permanently etched this defensive masterpiece into NFL lore.
