1963 NFL Championship Game

The 1963 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 29, 1963 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game pitted the visiting New York Giants (11–3) against the Chicago Bears (11–1–2) in the 31st annual championship game. Originally, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle asked Bears owner/coach George Halas to move the game to Soldier Field due to increased seating capacity as well as lights, in case the sun would set during the game. When Halas refused, Rozelle pulled the starting time of the game to 12:05 pm Central Time. The championship was also played on a day when the game time temperature was between 9–11 degrees Fahrenheit.

Background

The Giants, coached by Allie Sherman, were known for their powerful offense, which scored 448 points in 14 games. They were led by quarterback Y. A. Tittle who threw 36 touchdown passes during the season, then an NFL record. Other contributing players on offense were Pro Bowlers Del Shofner and Frank Gifford. Wide receiver Shofner caught 64 passes for 1,181 yards and 9 touchdowns. Although he normally was a running back, and only recorded four rushing attempts in 1963, Gifford had 42 receptions for 657 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Giants also used a plethora of players at running back, with the main two being Phil King and Joe Morrison. Although neither one had significant individual statistics, they combined for 1,181 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.

The Giants defense allowed 280 points, ranking 5th overall in the NFL. This group was led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff. Other contributing players on defense were defensive linemen, Jim Katcavage, and John LoVetere; linebacker Tom Scott; and defensive backs Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch.

Meanwhile, the Bears were known for their defense, nicknamed the Monsters of the Midway. Led by defensive coordinator George Allen, this unit yielded 144 points in 14 games. The defensive line consisted of Ed O'Bradovich, Fred Williams, Stan Jones, and future hall of famer Doug Atkins. The linebacking core was led by Joe Fortunato, Bill George, and Larry Morris, while the defensive backs were led by Richie Petitbon and Rosey Taylor. Accomplishments by the Bears defense during the regular season included surrendering only 1 touchdown in two games versus the Green Bay Packers, and not allowing any passing touchdowns in its two games against quarterback Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Writers in New York were especially fearful of the trio at linebacker, stating that Tittle had yet to see a group like them all year.

Chicago's offense did not come close to the Giants offense in terms of points scored or yards gained. The group only scored 301 points, ranking 10th out of the league's then-14 teams. Led by quarterback Bill Wade, the number 1 overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. Wade ran a simplified game plan, nicknamed "three yards and a cloud of dust", in which they would play it safe by running the ball in almost every play instead of giving up an interception. Occasionally Wade would throw short passes to tight end Mike Ditka and wide receiver, Johnny Morris.

Game summary

The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when Y.A. Tittle led New York on a 41-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford. The drive was set up by Billy Wade's fumble on the Bears' 41-yard line, which was recovered by former Bear Erich Barnes.^[1] However, later in the first period, Larry Morris hit Tittle’s left knee with his helmet as the quarterback threw. The injured Tittle was much less effective for the rest of the game.^[2] Morris then intercepted Tittle's screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants 6-yard line. Two plays later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7.

In the second quarter, the Giants retook the lead, 10–7, on a 13-yard field goal. But on New York's next drive, Tittle reinjured his left knee on another hit by Morris. With Tittle out for two possessions, the Giants struggled, only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays. Allie Sherman even punted on third down, showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing. However, the score remained 10–7 at halftime.

Tittle would come back in the third period, but he needed Cortisone, Novocaine, and heavy taping and bandaging just to continue. For the rest of the game, Tittle was forced to throw off his back foot (poor mechanics for a quarterback). An interception on a screen pass by the Bears' Ed O'Bradovich was brought deep into Giant territory, setting up Wade's 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14–10 lead. The score would hold up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle's 5th interception. The play occurred right after Shofner dropped a pass in the end zone. At the end of the game defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense's spectacular play.

Although the young American Football League was completing its fourth season, the NFL still regarded itself as the premiere professional league of American football, as reflected in WGN radio broadcaster Jack Quinlan's comment as the clock ticked to 0 on the final play: "The Chicago Bears are world's champions of professional football!" It would be another twenty-two years before the Bears would win another championship.

Scoring summary

• First Quarter
  • NYG – Gifford 14 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick), 7:22 7–0 NYG
  • CHI – Wade 2 yard run (Jencks kick), 14:44 7–7 TIE
• Second Quarter
  • NYG – FG Chandler 13, 5:11 10–7 NYG
• Third Quarter
  • CHI – Wade 1 yard run (Jencks kick), 12:48 14–10 CHI
• Fourth Quarter
  • None

Officials

• Referee: (56) Norm Schachter
• Umpire: (15) Ralph Morcroft
• Head Linesman: (?) Dan Tehan
• Back Judge: (47) Ralph Vandenberg
• Field Judge: (21) Fred Swearingen

References

Riger, Robert. Best Plays of the Year: 1963. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. 1964.

• http://www.cogsci.indiana.edu/farg/rehling/bears/1963.html
• http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=champ63