1933 Chicago Bears season

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The 1933 Chicago Bears season was their 14th regular season and 2nd postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 10-2-1 record in the first year of George Halas's second tenure. The Bears started the season on fire, winning their first six games while allowing only 33 points. In the middle of the season, the team struggled on the road, losing to Boston and New York and eking out a tie against the new Philadelphia Eagles franchise. After that, however, the Bears regained their winning ways, finishing the regular season with four consecutive wins, including two against Portsmouth, their foe in the impromptu 1932 championship game. The team won the newly established Western Division by 3 1/2 games and went to the first ever NFL championship game on a hot streak.

[edit] Season Highlights

The Bears' season was typified by solid defense, a high-octane passing attack (for the era), and the best kicking game in the league. Only three times during the season did opponents score more than 9 points on the Bears. The club finished second behind Brooklyn in scoring defense. Their line was greatly improved by the addition of huge George "Moose" Musso, who weighted over 260 pounds and starred for the Bears for many years. The Bears had the third best scoring offense, trailing the explosive Giants and the Packers. Living legend Red Grange and future legend Bronko Nagurski continued to lead the running attack but the Bears scored a large majority of their touchdowns through the air. Luke Johnsos continued to play well at end but the aerial attack was vastly improved by the emergence of second year end Bill Hewitt and rookie end Bill Karr. All in all, the Bears scored 11 of their 14 offensive touchdowns through passes. Though statistics were spotty in 1933, Bill Hewitt was among the league leaders in receiving with 16 catches for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns. The biggest improvement for the Bears and, in many games, the key to their wins was the addition of "Automatic" Jack Manders, one of the first great place kickers in league history. Manders made 14 of 14 PATs (pretty much unheard of in those days) and led the league with 6 field goals. Undoubtedly, the new rule that brought the ball back to the hash marks after every play helped Manders (and all other NFL kickers), but Manders' consistency in the kicking game contributed to the Bears' success all the way through the 1940 season.

[edit] Championship Game

The Bears met the NFL Eastern Division champion New York Giants in the NFL Championship game. The teams had split the season series, with both teams prevailing at home. The game was played at Wrigley Field in clear, crisp weather. Both teams brought high-powered offenses to the game but the Bears had an advantage on defense. Both teams featured their passing attacks throughout the game but the Giants took a first half lead with a 29 yard pass to Red Badgro despite two Manders field goals. The second half was back and forth, with both clubs taking the lead twice. The game was won with an exciting play with less than 3 minutes remaining--a pass from Bronko Nagurski to Bill Hewitt who lateraled to Bill Karr. Karr then scampered 36 yards for the winning score. The Bears won the game 23-21, giving them their second straight league title and third overall.

[edit] Future Hall of Fame Players

• Red Grange, Back
• Bill Hewitt, End
• Link Lyman, Tackle
• George Musso, Tackle (rookie from Milliken)
• Bronko Nagurski, Fullback
• George Trafton, Center

[edit] Other Leading Players

• Carl Brumbaugh, Quarterback
• Luke Johnsos, End
• Bill Karr, End (rookie from University of West Virginia)
• Joe Kopcha, Guard
• Jack Manders, Back / Kicker (rookie from University of Minnesota)
• Keith Molesworth, Back
• Gene Ronzani, Back (rookie from Marquette)

[edit] Final Western Division Standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PTS=Points Scored, OPP=Opponents' Points

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972

[edit] Season Results