 Cover of the 1946 Championship Play-Off Program | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 15, 1946 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | Polo Grounds New York City | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Chicago by 7–10 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Ronald Gibbs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 58,346 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Radio in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ABC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Harry Wismer | ||||||||||||||||||
The1946 NFL Championship Game was the 14th annualchampionship game of theNational Football League (NFL), played December 15 at thePolo Grounds inNew York City,[1] with a record-breaking attendance of58,346.[2][3]
The game matched theNew York Giants (7–3–1), champions of the Eastern Division, against the Western Division championChicago Bears (8–2–1). The Giants had won the regular season game14–0 at the Polo Grounds seven weeks earlier on October 27,[4] but the Bears were seven to ten pointfavorites.[1][5][6][7]
This was the fifth and final NFL Championship game played at the Polo Grounds and the fourth of six meetings between the Bears and Giants in the title game.
Tied after three quarters, Chicago won 24–14 for their seventh NFL title,[2][3][8] their fifth victory in eight NFL championship game appearances. The attendance record stood for another nine years, until the1955 title game inLos Angeles.
The day before the game, two of the Giants' players,Frank Filchock andMerle Hapes, were accused of taking bribes to fix the game fromAlvin Paris. MayorWilliam O'Dwyer subsequently informedJack Mara,Wellington Mara andBert Bell of the police evidence against the two.[9]
Hours later, the four met atGracie Mansion, and the mayor interviewed the players one at a time.[9][10] Under questioning, Hapes admitted that he was offered a bribe, but Filchock denied being offered it.
Several hours later, Paris was arrested, and during his police interview made a full confession to bribing the players: Hapes was suspended by Bell, but Filchock was allowed to play.[11] During Paris' trial weeks later, Filchock admitting taking the bribe underoath.[9][12]
Sunday, December 15, 1946
Kickoff: 2 p.m.EST
The NFL had only four gameofficials in1946; the back judge was added the following season in1947, the line judge in1965, and the side judge in1978.
The gross receipts for the game, including radio and picture rights, was just under$283,000. Each player on the winning Bear team received $1,975, while Giants players made $1,295 each.[13]
40°49′52″N73°56′13″W / 40.831°N 73.937°W /40.831; -73.937
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