1932 was the thirteenth season for the fledgling National Football League. There were only eight teams, including many you would not recognize today. These were the final standing at the end of the season.
Chicago Bears 7W 1L 6T .875
Green Bay Packers 10W 3L 1T .769
Portsmouth Spartans 6W 2L 4T .750
Boston Braves 4W 4L 2T .500
New York Giants 4W 6L 2T .400
Brooklyn Dodgers 3W 9L 0T .250
Chicago Cardinals 2W 6L 2T .250
Staten Isl. Stapletons 2W 7L 3T .222
Ties must have been at a premium.
Since the league formed in 1920, the championship was awarded to the team with the best regular season record, excluding ties. The Chicago Bears and Portsmouth tied for the best regular season record. The league was forced to play a one game play to decide the champion. It would be the first playoff game in NFL history and it was played on December 18, 1932.
The game had to be moved indoors into Chicago Stadium because of bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow in the Windy City. The playing field had to be shortened to eighty yards to fit in the stadium. The edge of the field ran right up to the walls of the stadium floor. It looked more like today’s arena football than the NFL to which we are accustomed today.
The Bears won 9-0, capturing their third straight NFL Championship. A two yard pass from Bronco Nagurski to Red Grange sealed the victory. The idea caught on. The NFL’s first official Championship Game would be played the following year. Go Stapletons!
Chicago Bears 7W 1L 6T .875
Green Bay Packers 10W 3L 1T .769
Portsmouth Spartans 6W 2L 4T .750
Boston Braves 4W 4L 2T .500
New York Giants 4W 6L 2T .400
Brooklyn Dodgers 3W 9L 0T .250
Chicago Cardinals 2W 6L 2T .250
Staten Isl. Stapletons 2W 7L 3T .222
Ties must have been at a premium.
Since the league formed in 1920, the championship was awarded to the team with the best regular season record, excluding ties. The Chicago Bears and Portsmouth tied for the best regular season record. The league was forced to play a one game play to decide the champion. It would be the first playoff game in NFL history and it was played on December 18, 1932.
The game had to be moved indoors into Chicago Stadium because of bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow in the Windy City. The playing field had to be shortened to eighty yards to fit in the stadium. The edge of the field ran right up to the walls of the stadium floor. It looked more like today’s arena football than the NFL to which we are accustomed today.
The Bears won 9-0, capturing their third straight NFL Championship. A two yard pass from Bronco Nagurski to Red Grange sealed the victory. The idea caught on. The NFL’s first official Championship Game would be played the following year. Go Stapletons!