The Story of the First NFL Title Game

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Football Flashback: December 18th, 1932, holds a unique place in NFL history. It was a day that witnessed the birth of a tradition – the NFL Championship Game. Up until that point, the league simply awarded the title to the team with the best record at the season's end. However, fate intervened in 1932, creating a scenario that demanded a more dramatic conclusion.

The season ended with a nail-biting tie at the top of the standings. The Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans (later to become the Detroit Lions) were locked in a statistical deadlock. Legend has it that George Halas, the fiery owner and coach of the Bears, couldn't stomach the idea of co-champions. He reportedly challenged the Spartans to settle the score on the field, and thus, the first-ever NFL Championship Game was born.

This inaugural postseason game wasn't without its share of bizarre twists. One of the Spartans' star players, Earl "Dutch" Clark, couldn't participate because his primary job was coaching basketball at Colorado College. His team had a game scheduled for the same day, and the gridiron had to take a backseat for "Dutch."

Adding to the drama, Chicago was hit by a late-season blizzard that rendered Wrigley Field, the designated venue, unusable. The deep snow and sub-zero temperatures forced a last-minute relocation to the Chicago Stadium, home of the city's ice hockey team. This unexpected change meant a much smaller playing field, measuring a mere 80 yards in length and 30 yards narrower than the standard size.

Despite these unusual circumstances, the game unfolded with all the intensity one would expect from a championship showdown. The only touchdown of the game came courtesy of a controversial play. Bronko Nagurski, the Bears' legendary fullback, launched a jump pass to Red Grange, another iconic player. However, the Spartans vehemently contested the legitimacy of the play, arguing that Nagurski didn't meet the then-existing rule for forward passes, which required the thrower to be at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The officials, however, ruled in favor of the Bears, awarding them the touchdown.

With a final score of 9-0, the Chicago Bears emerged victorious, claiming the first-ever NFL Championship title. This historic game, deemed the 82nd Greatest Pro Game Ever Played by NFL.com, laid the groundwork for the league's exciting postseason format we know today. It was a day that highlighted the resilience of the sport, its ability to adapt to unexpected challenges, and the fierce competitive spirit that defines professional football.

While the Spartans fell short in this initial championship bout, their story doesn't end there. As the Detroit Lions, they would continue to challenge for dominance in the years to come, forever linked to this groundbreaking chapter in NFL history. The 1932 championship game wasn't just a spectacle on the field; it was a turning point, a testament to the league's commitment to crowning a true champion through the thrilling crucible of a playoff game.