Chicago Bears (3-2-1) 21, Green Bay Packers (6-1) 0
Sunday November 5th 1944 (at Chicago)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(CHICAGO) - The Packers were as cold as a north wind that swept through Wrigley field here Sunday afternoon and their perennial rivals, the Chicago Bears, were of an opposite temperature. The result was that the Bears pushed over three touchdowns to win 21-0 and to hand the Packers their first defeat in seven league starts before 45,553 fans. The ease with which the Chicago eleven, previously defeated by Green Bay, trounced the Packers gave Bear fans plenty to shout about while it left several thousands favoring the league leaders considerably morose. While Ens. Sid Luckman's fine hand whipped the Bears to great heights, the Packers' offense and defense stuttered and stopped. The Bears pushed over their first touchdown the second time they obtained possession of the ball. Going through the air and on the ground, the team marched 71 yards with Luckman doing the final business from the one. Pete Gadauskas kicked the first of three extra points to give the Bears a lead they never relinquished.
TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Ens. Luckman also had a hand in the two third period touchdowns, both of which were scored through the air. The first was a 31-yard aerial to halfback Ray (Scooter) McLean. The second came a few plays later when Luckman rifled a pass to George Wilson, who made a one-handed stab on the 14 and danced and jigged his way over the goal line among a horde of Packers. The Packers never made a serious scoring threat. Their farthest advance into Bruin territory came in the fourth quarter, when they advanced to the 30. On at least four occasions what may have been threats were nullified by Bear pass interceptions. Toward the end of the first quarter they had their best chance for a break when six penalties in a row pushed the Bears back to their two-foot line, but nothing came of it.
FIRST SHUTOUT
The goose egg the Packers received for 60 minutes of toil was their first in 73 games, including regular league contests, one division playoff and a championship playoff. The brutal fact is that it was the Bears of 1938 that registered the last shutout by scoring a safety in a downpour at City stadium. That was the only score in the ball game that day. There was no department of play in Sunday's game in which the Bears did not outshine Green Bay. They rolled up 129 yards on the ground and 182 through the air, made 15 first downs and completed 11 of 23 passes, all of them by Luckman. Meanwhile, the Packers could register only 49 yards running and 97 passing for eight first downs. They completed eight of 22 passes and had four intercepted.
JORDAN RUNS HARD
While Luckman was engineering the Bears and aiding the cause with his passing, a comparatively unknown halfback, Jim Jordan, himself accounted for 74 yards running to lead the Chicagoans in that department. He was, however, outgained by end Don Hutson of the Packers, who snagged six passes for 76 yards, despite the fact the Bears were definitely on him all afternoon. Backs Joe Laws and Ted Fritsch got 17 and 15 yards, respectively, to lead the Bays on the ground. For Hutson the game marked the end of his consecutive game scoring record at 41 contests. Up to Sunday, he had accounted one or more points in every league tussle starting midway in the 1940 season. Defensively, the Bears Sunday were nothing short of tremendous. It seemed that everything they did had been planned play for play during sessions last week and the Packers were powerless to sift through. Especially noticeable was the work of center Bulldog Turner, who played 60 minutes, and end Connie Mack Berry. They were just as potent on offense.
CROFT IS STANDOUT
Not all was ineffective on the Green Bay side. Playing probably his best ball game since joining the team was tackle Tiny Croft. Others who stood out defensively were end Harry Jacunski and center Charley Brock. Bob Flowers, who spared off Brock, turned in several bone crushing tackles. Otherwise the Packers seemed to lack life and the Bears, higher in spirit than at any time this season, made football hay. The tipoff was given on the first play after the kickoff when Fordham, running on a delayed buck that worked all day, snipped off 16 yards. The Bears picked up another first down on the second play to move into Green Bay territory. They lost 15 on a holding penalty, first of 15 infractions they made all day. On second down, Fritsch recovered Johnny Long's fumble on the Bear 46.
LUCKMAN ENTERS GAME
After three Packer plays gained to the 43, Luckman entered the game. A punt by Fritsch went out of bounds on the Bear 29, and then Luckman went to work with his 10 teammates. Henry Margarita ran twice to reach the Bear 46 for a first down. A running play got two yards and Luckman fired a screen pass to Wilson for another first down on the Packer 41. From then on the Bears were unstoppable. A running play and two incomplete passes gathered only four first downs and with fourth down coming it seemed sensible to punt. But Luckman dropped back and tossed a beauty to Wilson on the 23 for the third first down in a row. Hutson then knocked down a pass intended for Berry. Fordham rammed over for 15 yards to the eight for a fourth first. The Bears needed three plays more.
BEARS WIN GAME
Grygo hit to the five, Fordham bulled his way to the one, and Luckman sneaked over from there. With 10 minutes gone, the Bears had won the ball game. Gadasukas' extra point attempt went over the end zone seats into the street, and the Bears led, 7-0. It looked for a while as if the Packers would come back. A pass from Irv Comp to Hutson got 18 yards to the Packer 35 on the first play after the kickoff. Fritsch and Laws ran to the 40 and then Comp tossed another for 16 yards to Hutson on the Bear 44. Fritsch added a yard. Two passes then failed and Green Bay was forced to kick, Fritsch's punt going into the end zone. The advance was one of two the Bays made to the Bear 43 in the first quarter. On the last series of downs in the period, the Bears resorted to game-slowing tactics to let time run out, thereby giving them the wind advantage with the change of goals. Starting on their 20, a holding penalty set them back to the 10. After a one-yard gain, Jacunski dropped Grygo on the five. The Bears were then penalized to the 2 1/2 for being offside. Fifty seconds showed on the clock. The Bears tried a running play but it was nullified when another penalty for backfield in motion put them on the one and a quarter yard line. On the next play they were offside and got set back to the 19-inch marker, or approximately there. Luckman then carried the ball to the four, from where Don McEnulty got off a poor kick to the 21. But that didn't go. The Bears were accused of using too much time to run the play and another penalty put them on the two. The gun had gone off to mark the quarter end but the play had to be repeated regardless. It was but the Bears again used too much time. By then nobody cared much what happened and McEnulty punted to his own 33 to end the period for good. This was a break for the Packers but fate was against them. On first down, the Bays were caught holding and penalized back to the Bears' 49. Then Comp's pass was intercepted by Luckman, who returned it 23 yards to the Packers' 47. The Bears did some advancing but lost it all and more on two five-yard and one 15-yard penalties, putting them on their own 30. Luckman then got off a rousing quick kick, which rolled out of bounds on the Packer seven. Three plays later, Tony Canadeo kicked to McLean, who returned to the Packer 26. Jacunski slammed Luckman for an eight-yard loss. A Luckman-Wilson pass clicked to the 32 but on fourth down Luckman was rushed and threw the ball away and the Packers took over. Aided by two first down passes from Comp to Hutson, the first for 14 yards and the second for 10 even, they moved to the Bear 43.
MCLEAN INTERCEPTS
Another 10-yarder from Comp to Canadeo brought the ball to the 33. Again on first down, Comp moved back to pass. McLean and Margarita moved in to cover Hutson. The ball bounced off Margarita's headgear and into McLean's hands. He returned it to the Packer 43. Shortly after Charley Brock recovered Fordham's fumble on the Packer 47 but on first down again the Bays were penalized to their 35. They couldn't pick up the necessary yardage and were forced to punt. The Bears were stopped up momentarily and Luckman kicked to Laws, who took it on the 25 and fumbled on the 26, where Rudy Smeja recovered for the Bears. One play gained a yard. Comp came in fast to intercept Luckman's aerial on the 14, dashed up the sidelines to the Bear 43, where the formidable Lambeau dropped him, thereby averting what looked like a full length gallop. Fritsch and Comp combined to bring it to the 31 to give the Packers their first first down by rushing. But the alert Bears were ready. Margarita made an overhead stab of Comp's pass on the eight and the Bears dilly-dallied around until time ran out in the second quarter. The Bear offense was somewhat stopped up in the early third period but their defense worked capably to prevent the Packers from entering their territory once. Meanwhile, the Bears pushed to the Packer 27, but a holding penalty set them back. After an exchange of punts, the Bears moved for their second touchdown. Grygo made an 11-yard return to his own 46. The Bears used six plays to punch it over. Two on the ground put the ball on Green Bay's 43. Another gained two and Luckman fizzled on a pass. On third down, he shot the ball to Berry on the 31. He then dropped back and rifled a beauty to McLean, who caught it on the goal line and fell over. Three-quarters of the period had elapsed when Gudauskas kicked the second point after to make the tally 14-0.
BEARS ON MOVE
Laws made a nice return of the kickoff from his 10 to the 33 and Don Perkins added six to the 39. But the Bears alerted themselves again. Grygo intercepted Comp's pass on the 33 and returned it to the Packer 44. Margarita figured in the play by knocking the ball into Grygo's hands and way from Hutson. On a running play, a Green Bay offside, and a Luckman to Margarita pass, the Bears moved to the 24. From there Luckman passed to Wilson, who made a one-handed catch on the 14. Although he was surrounded by Packers, the Bears' field captain did an adagio dance while moving toward the goal line and nobody stopped him. Twelve second remained in the third quarter. Gudauskas' extra point try was good to make it 21-0. The quarter ended with the ensuing kickoff. The Packers then made their farthest advance of the afternoon. Starting on their 37, they got a first down on the Bears' 48 on running plays by Fritsch and Hutson and a Canadeo to Hutson pass. A ground play gained nothing and then Canadeo tossed to Hutson again for another first on the 34. A reverse to Laws picked up four to the 30, where the Bays stalled. Three straight passes were incomplete. Shortly after the Bears made another goalward campaign. They moved to the Packer 43, got set back to the 45, from where Luckman connected with Berry on the 24. Berry ran to the 12, where he fumbled. Flowers recovered and returned it to the 14. The Bays were forced to punt, the ball going out on the Packer 45. Aided by a 15-yard penalty on the Packers for piling on, they moved to the 23. Laws broke the rally by intercepting Luckman's pass on the goal line and returning it to the 22, but the Bays were penalized to the seven for clipping although they retained possession. With a pair of penalties and some yardage they wound up on the 10. Perkins punted to the 47 and the Bears fiddled around for three plays as time ran out.
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 0 - 0
CHI BEARS - 7 0 14 0 - 21
SCORING
1ST - CHI - Sid Luckman, 1-yard run (Pete Gudauskas kick) CHICAGO BEARS 7-0
3RD - CHI - Ray McLean, 31-yard pass from Luckman (Gudauskas kick) BEARS 14-0
3RD - CHI - George Wilson, 24-yard pass from Luckman (Gudauskas kick) BEARS 21-0
BAY FANS DISCOVER THERE'S NO MORE THAN SAWDUST IN THAT OLD BEARSKIN; COMEBACK IS SWIFT, STUNNING
NOV 6 (Chicago) - Green bay football followers who came down here Sunday to write an obituary for the Chicago Bears found to their surprise that the patients were very much alive. The Bears have left fragments of their NFL crown on foreign gridirons here and there this season, but Sunday they set out to prove that they are still the kings in their home domain. And they did so in convincing fashion. It became apparent earl in the game that it was going to be just one of those days for the Packers, and the windswept Green Bay fans who braved refrigerated Wrigley field to see the game had little to cheer about. The key to Sunday's debacle was provided by Co-Coach Luke Johnsos of the Chicago team, who wore a broad grin when he entered the press box annex shortly after the game. "Who wouldn't grin when you've just beaten the best team in the league?" Luke asked, willing to admit despite the victory that the Bays were the better team. They just weren't better Sunday against the Bears, who, Luke declared, played far over their heads in their ambition to beat the championship-bound Packers...HUNK SMILES, TOO: Hartley (Hunk) Anderson, Johnsos' associate in the wartime task of directing the Bears, wore a similar smile. "Our kids were really up today," Anderson said. "We haven't played a game like that all season." The game was remindful of the 1941 divisional playoff at the same site, when the Packers went to Chicago under similar circumstances to decide the Western division championship. The Green Bay representatives at that time had their 16 to 14 victory over the Bears behind them, and to all intents and purposes should have been sharp for the Bears, but they lost 33 to 14 and never seriously threatened to win. This game was recalled after Sunday's postmortem, and Johnsos agreed that the two contests were much alike...TURNER IS PRAISED: Anderson singled out Bulldog Turner, an ungentle 235-pound center, for especial praise. "The Bulldog played 60 minutes of football this afternoon and he wasn't even tired afterward," Anderson declared, and those who saw Mr. Turner going about his task of smacking down Green Bay ball carriers were inclined to agree. Henry Margarita, a rookie halfback, also drew his coach's praise as did the ends, Connie Mack Berry and George Wilson, who played about three quarters. "Berry and Wilson were turning them into the middle, and the boys were waiting for them in the middle," said Anderson. Ens. Sid Luckman of the U.S. Maritime service brought along his shootin' arm and used it to good effect. He turned in a whale of a game, just as he did in the earlier engagement in Green Bay, but Sunday he had more support from his teammates and they weren't playing the same Packer team. Luckman yielded the starting berth at quarterback to the veteran Gene Ronzani, but the Bears' passing star got into the game early in the first quarter and stayed in...PACKERS FAVORED: The Bears' championship hopes are mainly mathematical since even if they win all the rest of their games, the Packers can cinch the title by winning two of their
remaining three contests, against Cleveland, New York and the Card-Pitts on successive Sundays. Washington's victory over the Rams Sunday took care of that. Philadelphia, meanwhile, protected their undefeated record in the Eastern division by beating Brooklyn and remain tied with the Redskins. New York is just on the heels of both of them, having turned in their fourth victory over Boston, with one defeat charged against the Giants...REAL DRAWING CARD: The Packers' drawing power in Chicago is best illustrated by the crowd which turned up Sunday morning to grab the unreserved bleacher seats, which are sold on a catch-as-catch-can basis beginning at 10:30. When the gates were opened Sunday morning, something over 4,000 fans were on hand to pour into the park, over three hours before game time. The first two fans to enter the park were two ladies, no longer young, who said they had been on hand since 5:30 a.m. The Bear gatekeepers, at 10:30, just open the gates and duck as the fans stream in to grab their seats. No less enthusiastic Sunday were 1,300 spectators who paid for tickets to stand up and see the game. There were 1,900 servicemen admitted free to the contest....Saturday's trip to Chicago was a one-way affair for T/5 Tony Canadeo, who is due to report back to the Army Wednesday and stayed in Chicago to visit his folks before starting south. The Packers on the way home agreed they "sure hated to see Tony go." Tony's brother, Danny, who was wounded in the Anzio beachhead fighting in Italy, is now stationed at Fort Sheridan, Ill., and was on hand for the game Sunday...ROGER GROVE VISITS: Among the ex-Packers who got to Chicago for the weekend was Lt. Roger Grove, a member of the Army Transportation corps who recently returned from a trip to Persia. Lt. Beatrice Stang of Green Bay, an Army nurse, was in charged of a group of convalescent servicemen from Vaughn General hospital at Hines, Ill., who were guests at the game...EXTRA FEATURES: Spectators were treated to a miniature football game between the halves when a Negro lads' team from Washington Park played a white boys' eleven from Columous Park. The Negro team, which scored a touchdown, included a kid brother of Buddy Young, the Illinois grid star, wearing a big No. 77. As in other years, the music was provided by the Board of Trade post, American Legion band under the direction of Col. Armin Hand, with a full staff of drum majorettes...The Chicago exhibition ended sadly with the bitterly disappointed Packer players taking the long ride home on a Milwaukee Road train, but at least it began auspiciously. The Packer Lumberjack band turned up at the North Western station to see the team off, and entertained the crowd on hand. The team appreciated this greatly. "That's a barometer of the fans' interest," declared Coach Lambeau, and several players also remarked on the gesture...A BRIGHT SPOT: The chief bright spot for Packer fans came midway in the second quarter, when the Bays took the ball on downs on their own 31-yard line. Canadeo was playing right half at the time with Irv Comp at left, Larry Craig at quarter and Ted Fritsch at full. Comp passed twice to Hutson for first downs, and then to Canadeo for another on the Bear 33. The scoring march ended on a freak play, however, when a long pass to Hutson in the corner of the field hit Margarita's helmet as both went after the ball. The ball bounced high in the air and came down in the arms of Ray McLean, who shot up the sidelines and out of danger. The interception was nullified two plays later by Charley Brock's recovery of a fumble on the Packer 47-yard line, but a holding penalty was costly and the Packers were forced to punt on that series of downs. The only other march came in the fourth quarter, following the kickoff on the final Bear touchdown. Canadeo completed a third down pass to Hutson to bring the ball to midfield, and repeated to move it to the Bear 34. The next one was incomplete and a running play picked up four yards to the 30, but two more incomplete tosses gave the Bears the ball on downs. That was the closest point to the Chicago goal line that the Packers got...PENALTY EPIDEMIC: The first quarter ended with the wackiest series of penalties in football history. Ted Fritsch had punted into the endzone and the Bears took the ball on the 20, but the officials began conducting things from there. A holding penalty moved the Bears back to the 10. Harry Jacunski spilled Gary Famiglietti with a yard or so gain, and then broke through to throw Johnny Grygo back to the five, a seven-yard loss. The Bears, with third down and 25 yards to go, tried to stall out the quarter and get the win advantage, and were offside three times. Penalized half the distance to the goal line each time, referee Ronald Gibbs moved the ball successfully to the 2 1/2, the 1 1/2, and then the 5/8-inch line. On third down for the fourth time, Luckman carried the ball out to the five. The Bears finally punted as the quarter ended and the ball sailed out of bounds for what looked like a Packer break, but the officials ruled too much time and the Bears had to kick again. Under the rules, they had to kick in the same direction, against the wind, although the quarter had ended. Before the second kick the officials called the sixth penalty on the same series of downs, again ruling that too much time had been used. Finally, the second punt went out of bounds on the Bear 35, and the second quarter got underway...ROBERTS IS LAUDED: The Bear coaches were enthusiastic about Tom Roberts, a De Paul tackle whom they acquired from the Giants. It was Roberts, who squared off with Canadeo late in the fourth quarter, although the trouble started between Tony and Famiglietti. The officials didn't banish anybody but the Bears pulled Famiglietti out of the game. Expecting a fight, we watched Roberts for the next couple of plays, and he broke through to nail Canadeo for a loss on the first play. Tony got that back on the next one, however, when he over-ran Roberts on an off-tackle play. Speaking of tackles, Tiny Croft, who has shown gradual improvement in each game, worked over half the time Sunday and came through in good fashion, particularly on one occasion when he brushed two blockers aside to catch Jim Fordham for a sizeable loss...ODDEST OF DAY: One of the oddest plays of the day was Grygo's pass to Wilson, which began as a running play. Grygo kept twisting backward to avoid being trapped, and was finally caught near the sidelines some 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He spied Wilson, however, all alone on the field, and threw the ball to him, completing the pass. The linemen, however, expecting a running play, had gone downfield to block and that made the play illegal, and a penalty was inflicted. This cancelled the pass so that all the tosses in the statistics belong to Luckman...HUTSON'S MOMENTS: Hutson's best moments came shortly after the first Bear touchdown. The Packers started on their own 16, and Hutson took Comp's pass away from Grygo just as he stepped out of bounds on the west sidelines. On third down, he repeated his performance on the east sidelines, making a first down on the Bear 44. Both of them were typical Hutson catches, the star wingman going at full tilt and virtually ignoring the surrounding opposition...ALMOST AS BAD: The Chicago coaches, who usually cast a gloomy eye at the penalty statistics, were cheerful about them Sunday. They showed the Packers penalized only seven yards fewer than the Bears, 109 to 102 yards. Except for a series of penalties on the Bear goal line in the series mentioned early, the penalties were costly to both teams, coming after good gains or setting the ball carriers back on their heels when it looked like they might be getting started...Ed Sprinkle, a Chicago tackle from Hardin-Simmons, was taken to a Chicago hospital with a probably fractured arm during the game, in the vicinity of the left elbow. The players all took severe physical beatings but that was apparently the only major casualty of the day...FIELD IS MUDDY: Although the field was covered by a tarpaulin Saturday morning, when it began to rain, a portion of the playing area was awfully soft and as luck would have it, most of the game was played right in that muddy section. Grygo, who ran 67 yards on the Bears' celebrated "Sally Rand" play - a naked reverse - a week ago, was hampered by the mud, slipping for a loss the only time we saw him try the play against the Packers...This observer has a ringing right ear, the result of sitting near a feminine rooter for Ray McLean, who shrieked "C'mon, Scooter," every time he had the ball.
JIM FORDHAM SHOWS 'EM - FOR GEORGIA!
NOV 6 (Chicago) - Jim Fordham, 27, five years out of football, a drawling son of the south, was the Bears' big hero in a postmortem of their 21 to 0 rout of the Packers yesterday in Wrigley field. Al Grygo, a synthetic southerner, started the buildup Friday night after a squad meeting. "They never did play good football in Georgia," Al told big Jim, a 220 pounder who had three varsity campaigns with the University of Georgia. Grygo was talking as a South Carolinian with Pennsylvania, and this apparently made an impression on Jim...DRISCOLL RATES IT BEST FULLBACK JOB SINCE '41: This was to be a big day for Gary Famiglietti, the Bears' 230 pounds fullback, who had notched almost 100 yards the previous Sunday against the Cleveland Rams. But the Bears seldom start Gary and yesterday's strategy called for Fordham to go in there and take the early bumps. But the Georgian, whose hometown is Savannah, was so devastating that Famiglietti spent most of the day on the bench. "He have us the best fullback job since the days of Norm Standlee in 1941," was backfield coach Paddy Driscoll's comment. "I lost track of the tackles he made in backing up the line. And I really felt sorry for those Packers as the big fellow blasted through the line."...ONE ITALIAN INVITES ANOTHER OUT OF BOUNDS: When Famiglietti finally did get in at fullback, it led to the game's most ludicrous incident. It was late in the battle and during a mixup on a Bear blast into the line, Famiglietti and Tony Canadeo, two lads of Italian extraction, had a verbal tete-a-tete. All of a sudden they were making wild swings at each other. In explanation, Gary said: "No one can call me a dumb dago, least of all a guy named Canadeo, and that's what I told him." To avoid further rancor, the Bears immediately removed Gary, but only after he had invited Tony, an army sergeant on furlough, to step out of bounds. "It we get out here, they can't fine us," said Gary in explaining his challenge.
PACKERS MUST WIN TWO OF THREE REMAINING GAMES TO CINCH FLAG
NOV 7 (Green Bay) - The Packers have three games remaining to be played against NFL opponents and they must win two of those contests to be assured of the undisputed Western division title and their first shot at the championship playoff since the 1939 season. In order, the games stack up like this: the Cleveland Rams at Cleveland next Sunday; Nov. 19; the New York Giants at New York, and Nov. 26, the Card-Pitts at Comiskey park in Chicago. No matter how the other teams in the division come through the four games each has to play, the Packers will want to pick up where they left off a week ago Sunday...NO ALIBIS OFFERED: Regarding the second game against the Chicago Bears, the team and the coaches will want to forget that as soon as possible. There is no question that the Packers ran into "one of those days", and, incidentally, a team that was hot. The Bays are offering no alibis. If they were in a less fortunate position, the loss to the Bears would be nothing short of disastrous. But the Packers are still leading the division by three games, giving them the best reason in the world for looking ahead and not back. They can eliminate Cleveland entirely by a victory next Sunday. Another win the following week against the Giants would also put the Bears out of it, since they have a tie and cannot possibly win more than seven ball games...MUST ELIMINATE RAMS: The schedule of the Cleveland team, besides next Sunday's tilt with the Bays, includes: Nov. 19, Card-Pitt at Chicago; Nov. 26, Detroit at Cleveland, and Dec. 11, at Philadelphia. If the Packers don't beat Cleveland, it will be up to one of these elevens to do it to eliminate the Rams. The Bears must meet Boston next Sunday, Detroit Nov. 19, Nov. 26 Philadelphia, and Card-Pitt Dec. 3. Anyway the race is figured, the Packers must win two of their three remaining games to cinch the pennant without dispute. That's what makes it imperative for them not to have any more "Bear" Sundays. The Bays should need no artificial mental stimulation to appreciate that nor any prodding to produce sharp blocks, bone cracking tackle, and headsup football generally...CLEVELAND HAS TALENT: The Bays started Cleveland on the road to three successive setbacks. After losing to the Bays by 30-21, the Rams dropped a 28-21 thriller to the Bears and last Sunday were nosed out by Washington, 14-10. All of those scores are sufficiently close to warrant a considerable appreciation of the Rams' talent, something which Bay fans who saw them operate here from experience. The Packers will start full scale preparations for next Sunday's encounter Wednesday. Considerable attention will be given to both defense and offense. The workouts through Friday will be the last here until after the New York game since the team will go east after meeting the Rams.
HAPPY BEARS LAUD HUNK FOR 21-0 VICTORY
NOV 7 (Chicago) - In the hours of postmortems after their smashing 21 to 0 rout of the Green Bay Packers, the Bears seemed to get most satisfaction in talking about how their own Hunk Anderson outsmarted the ex-Bear George Trafton, in a battle of enemy lines. Trafton, joining the Packers this season as line coach, has been widely credited for the excellence of the 1944 team. Big George, who was a bruising player among bruisers in the early days of the National league, has transferred his own aggressiveness to his large, experienced charges. But in Sunday's test, Mr. Anderson's forward outblocked, outcharged and outhearted Trafton's burly young men. In the happy session after the game Anderson was showered with congratulations...BEARS PLAY LIKE CHAMPS: "All week long," said Hunk, "we kept repeating to our boys that the Bears still are the world champions. We were the champions - not the Packers. And I guess all those people who saw the game will agree that the Bears played like champs." "What brought Curly Lambeau down on the Packer bench in the second half?" someone asked. The Green Bay head coach has been taking a perch in the stands this season, phoning instructions to Trafton and Don Hutson on the bench. "What brought him down?" someone repeated. "That's easy - the Bears."...PACKERS TO MEET GIANTS: In the excitement of victory, some of the Bears suggested that there's still a chance to win out over the Packers for the western championship, though admitting it's a long shot. The New York Giants are prepared for the Packers' invasion of the Polo Grounds on Nov. 19. Two ex-Packers are with the Giants - Arnie Herber, the old passer, and Red Smith, the line coach who was at Green Bay for several seasons. Sunday the Packers play the Rams in Cleveland. The Rams have not lost three straight after having won three in a row. The Packers end the season in Comiskey park on Nov. 26 against the Card-Pitts, who have lost six straight in the league. The league's newest eleven, the Boston Yanks, come to Wrigley field Sunday and this game will wind up the Bears' home stay. On Nov. 19 they will play the Lions in Detroit; on Nov. 26 they will be in Philadelphia for a shot at the unbeaten Eagles, and on Dec. 3 play Card-Pitt in Pittsburgh. Most seriously injured of the Bears is Ed Sprinkle, freshman guard, whose arm was wrenched.
PACKER NOTES
NOV 7 (Milwaukee Journal) - Bill Paschal of the Giants, who busted through the Boston line for 113 yards Sunday, has replaced Frankie Sinkwich of the Lions as the best ball carrier in the National league...The pack is closing in on Don Hutson of the Packers in the National league scoring race. Hutson, who failed to score a point against the Bears Sunday, has 50 for the season and he can now feel the hot breath of Zimmerman of Philadelphia, who has 45, Benton of the Rams who has 42 and Aguirre of the Redskins who has 37...The Bears tried to be "cute" at the end of the first quarter on Sunday's game when, with the Packers slowly walking up the field to change goals, not knowing the referee had called a penalty on the last play of the quarter, the Bears tried hurriedly to line up and run another play before the Packers had returned to their positions. The referee dove on the ball before it could be snapped. Sporting of the Bears, eh?...Sunday's game between the Packers and Rams in Cleveland is expected to draw a crowd of 40,000.
PACKERS BEGIN FULL SCALE WORK FOR CONTEST WITH CLEVELAND 11
NOV 8 (Green Bay) - The Packers began full scale preparations today for their battle against the Cleveland Rams in the Ohio city's huge Municipal stadium next Sunday afternoon. The Bays will be after their seventh victory in league competition while the Rams' side of the contest takes on a do-or-die aspect since they now have three victories and three defeats. The contest will be no pushover for the Bays, who will attempt to bounce back from their severe lacing at the hands of the Bears and commit several sorts of mayhem on Coach Buff Donelli's eleven. Those who saw the Rams in action here three weeks ago can appreciate the potency of their offensive attack, which brought them within seven points of a tie in the last quarter...TEAM LEAVES ON FRIDAY: Coach Curly Lambeau has ordered equal length drills on offense and defense though Friday, when the team will leave on a two-week tour, going to Bear Mountain, N.Y., from Cleveland to prepare for their Nov. 19 date against the New York Giants. The Green Bay coach had little else to say about preparations. No members of the squad were seriously hurt in the Bear fracas, an unusual thing that didn't occur when the same ball club tangled with Cleveland a week ago Sunday. In that tussle, end Steve Pritko sustained a broken nose on the first play and fullback John Huggins suffered a pair of cracked ribs. Both are on the mend. There still is some doubt in the Bay camp whether halfback Lou Brock will be able to play against the Rams. Lou, who has provided a spark in the team's running game, hurt his leg in the Ram game here. He has been working out but his running has been retarded. Now that Tony Canadeo has returned to Fort Bliss, Tex. only Joe Laws is available for the right halfback position...MCKAY IN UNIFORM: For the first time since an early September exhibition game, halfback Roy D. McKay, former University of Texas player, will be in uniform against the Rams. McKay sustained a leg injury and might have played against the Bears except for the NFL rule limiting squads to 28 players. He can kick, pass and run. The Rams can be expected to match fire with fire Sunday. Using an extremely deceptive T formation that has more variations than a dime store counter the Cleveland club mixes passes and runs with an unusual explosive quality. Twice before against the Packers they showed what their deception can do. The first score here probably will not be forgotten in some time by those who saw it. Tommy Colella, the offensive standout that day, took a direct pass from the center between the quarterback's legs while two of his backfield teammates faked into the line. Nobody knew Colella had the ball until he was beyond the line of scrimmage and racing down the south sidelines 75 yards for a score...PLAY WORKS TWICE: The same play worked in the second quarter, only Colella went inside the end from 25 yards out. The Rams tallied one other touchdown on a pass from Colella to Benton, who was all along in the end zone. The Packers had a 28-21 lead that looked slim until they received an automatic safety deep in the fourth quarter. Cleveland has been giving other rivals trouble. They tied the Bears 21-21 going midway into the fourth quarter, but the Bears won on a 66-yard gallop shortly after. Trailing Washington last Sunday by 14-3, they came back to shorten it to 14-10 and were knocking on the gate again as the final horn sounded. That's the kind of ball club the Packers must face.
PASCHAL BEATS OUT SINKWICH AS PRO FOOTBALL'S TOP RUSHER
NOV 8 (Chicago) - Bill Paschal, workhorse of the New York Giants' backfield and the NFL's leading ground gainer in 1943, battered his way through Boston's line 23 times last Sunday to pile up 113 yards to wrest the ball carrying lead from Frank Sinkwich of Detroit. Sinkwich dropped to third behind Paschal and John Grigas of the Card-Pitt combine as Grigas' burly line colleagues held the former Georgia star to 30 yards in ten attempts. Meanwhile, Grigas was getting 117 yards in 30 attempts, giving him a six game total of 431 yards, just 36 behind Paschal, who has gained 467 in five contests...GRYGO'S AVERAGE BEST: The best average among the leaders, however, still belongs to Al Grygo, the Chicago Bears' rookie, who has reeled off 245 yards in 34 attempts at a spectacular pace of 7.2 yards per try. Frank Filchock retained his comfortable margin over passers as Washington turned back Cleveland and Sid Luckman, with two touchdown passes against Green Bay, remained in second place while Irv Comp of the Packers moved up to third. Leroy Zimmerman of Philadelphia displaced Cleveland's Jim Benton as the No. 1 pursuer of Don Hutson among scorers, narrowing the Packer veterans' lead to five points as the Bears broke Hutson's string of holding him scoreless for the first time in 42 consecutive games Hutson now has 50 points against Zimmerman's 45...JOHNSON BEST PUNTER: Cecil Johnson of
Brooklyn took over first place in punting, dropping Len Younce, the Giants' kicking guard, to second place. Johnson also entered the select circle in punt returns for the first time, jumping up to second behind Bob Davis, by handling three kicks against the Eagles.
WEATHER MAN IMPEDES PACKERS' PREPARATIONS FOR RAM CONTEST
NOV 9 (Green Bay) - The weather man was the Packers' principal opponent today as the ball club was stymied in its preparations for the important Sunday contest against the Cleveland Rams. The game will be the first of two the Bays will play on a 10-day road trip which will carry them to the eastern seaboard before they return west for their final game against the Card-Pitts in Chicago. All during the fall campaign the Bays have been blessed with good practice weather and they have also been fortunate in that the only contest played in inclement weather was against the Detroit Lions in Milwaukee. But this week, when all-out workouts were scheduled, the rain had to intervene to slow up their preparations. Coach Curly Lambeau took the adverse weather philosophically, however. While checking the weather report to find out how long the downpour was scheduled to last, he said, "We'll have a workout today regardless of the rain. Besides that, it might do us some good because we may have to play in the rain, or maybe snow, and the boys can get accustomed to it.".. RUN THROUGH SIGNALS: The workout would be confined to running through signals and giving punters the feel of the slippery ball, the coach said. A lengthy meeting this morning was given over to lessons on assignments. The Packers expect to have their hands full with the Rams, whose execution of trick maneuvers in the backfield has been the talk of the circuit this season. The team will leave here Friday afternoon at 5:20 on the Milwaukee road and will arrive in Cleveland Saturday morning in time for a last drill before the game. At least that's the traveling schedule now although it is subject to change without warning. This happened on a trip to Detroit two weeks ago, when an overnight stay in Chicago was forced following cancellation of Pullman reservations. Physical condition of the squad is about like it has been before this season, Coach Lambeau said. Halfback Lou Brock, who sustained a knee injury against the Rams here, will make the trip but if he is used against the Cleveland team it will be sparingly, the coach said. Otherwise, everybody will be available for concentrated action. An effort has been made by the coaching staff this week to get the ball club in the proper frame of mind for the Rams, who gave considerable difficulty in their previous meeting with the Packers. Line coach George Trafton has been doling out extra doses of work to his charges to get them to produce the way they did in the first six games. It will be recalled that those games were victories, for which much of the credit should go to the forward wall. While the Rams have Tommy Colella and Albie Reisz to spark their attack, Line Coach Joe Benda has fashioned a line that has performed admirably well considering that a number of the players are first-year men. The defensive work of the front line workers has accounted for the lack of disparity between the Rams' scored and those of their opponents. In six games, divided as to victories and defeats, the Rams have tallied 121 points to their opponents' 124. Cleveland has not been soundly trounced all season although it should be be mentioned that they have won three games by small margins, including defeats of Card-Pitt by 30-28, Detroit by 20-17 and the Chicago Bears by 19-7...LOSSES WERE CLOSE: The losses were equally close. The Packers won, 30-21, the Bears gained revenge for the previous licking by 28-21 and last Sunday Washington managed to eke out a 14-10 victory by staving off a last minute Ram rally that had Coach Buff Donelli's team rapping at the gate in the dying minutes. One thing is certain - the Rams never know when they're licked. Standouts in the forward wall have been ends Jim Benton and Steve Pritko, tackle Riley Matheson, center Mike Scarry, who has shown a world of stuff in his first big league season, and Tom Corbo, a guard.
STATISTICS SHOW BAYS HAVE EDGE ON RAMS
NOV 10 (Green Bay) - The Packers have outdistanced the Cleveland Rams in every department of play during the season to date but they realize the important thing when the last whistle blows in their contest at Cleveland next Sunday is how the scoreboard reads. The offensive and defensive totals make little difference at that particular moment. Allowing for the difference in number of games played - the Bays have toiled in seven and the Rams in six - league statistics still show that the Green Bay eleven has the upper hand both on offense and defense. If they can keep that margin and still have the larger number on the scoreboard at the end of Sunday afternoon's workout, all will be well once again. The team was to leave at 5:20 this afternoon on a Milwaukee road train on the first leg of a 10-day tour which will carry them into New York for a game Nov. 19 against the formidable Giants. Arrival in Cleveland is scheduled for Saturday morning, when a last drill is scheduled in Municipal stadium on the lake front, site of the contest...AHEAD ON OFFENSE: To get back to the statistics, the record shows that Green Bay has compiled 108 first downs, 2,123 yards total gain divided into 1,122 by rushing, 997 by passes and 1,122 by laterals. They have attempted 172 passes and completed 71 for a .412 completion percentage. The Packers' point total remains at 161 points on 13 touchdowns running, 10 passing and a safety. Coach Buff Donelli's team's offensive statistics included 68 first downs, 1,448 total yards gained spread between 798 rushing and 650 passing. The Rams have attempted 122 passes, completed 54 for a .442 completion record. Cleveland has scored 121 points while allowing its opponents to collect 124. The Bays have held their foes to 90 points. Almost equal division between the strength of the Rams' running and passing games is shown in totals cited above. Their principal scoring weapon through the air has been the Tommy Colella to Jim Benton combination, which clicked for a fourth period touchdown in the game here in October. The touchdown was one of seven Benton has scored this season to put him third in the league's scoring totals with 42 points, eight behind Don Hutson's top total of 50...COLELLA IS STANDOUT: Colella and Albie Reisz, also a left halfback, are No. 6 and 7 in the passing statistics. Reisz has connected for 27 of 58 attempts while Colella has been more effective so far as touchdown pitches is concerned with four completions for scores and a total of 22 good passes of 53 attempts. Colella, in addition, has an even five yards per attempt running with 180 in 36 tries. Defensively, the Packers are also better than the Rams. Comparison shows the following: first downs allowed - Green Bay 90, Cleveland 124; opponents' yards gained - Green Bay 1,762, Cleveland 1,786; opponent passes completed - Green Bay 71, Cleveland 53. The Packers have allowed their foes 792 yards on the ground and 912 in the air. The Rams have given up 907 running and 868 passing. Green Bay held its last workout here this morning. Delayed Thursday by the heavy rain, they worked two and a half hours in the afternoon, held to 49 yards running and 97 yards in the air last Sunday against the Bears. It goes without saying that they'll have to do better than that against the Rams to mark up their seventh victory, needed to move them closer to the pennant clincher. If the Packers knock off Cleveland, they can gain the undisputed possession of the Western division flag by
whipping the New York Giants. If they lose, however, they must beat both the Giants and the Card-Pitt combine in Chicago Nov. 26. Less than two victories in their three remaining games would give the Bears a chance since they have won three, lost two and tied one.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE SET FOR MEETING NOV. 18
NOV 11 (Pittsburgh) - Roland Payne, president of the United States Football League, said today the new organization would meet in Baltimore Nov. 18-19 to complete plans to begin play in 1945. Representatives from New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Akron, Honolulu and Cincinnati, which have been issued franchises, would attend, Payne said, and that franchise seekers from Milwaukee, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh also would be there.
PACKERS TO ATTEMPT COMEBACK AGAINST CLEVELAND
NOV 11 (Cleveland) - The Green Bay Packers arrived here this morning and immediately plunged into a full day of football activity to get themselves in top shape for Sunday's Western division tussle against the Cleveland Rams in Municipal stadium. A crowd in excess of 25,000 fans is expected to see the contest, second this year between the two elevens. The Packers figure they are due for an upsurge after their defeat at the hand of the Chicago Bears last Sunday. A victory over Coach Buff Donelli's Rams would eliminate the latter from the title race and would also put the Bays in a good spot to clinch the pennant. They would then need only one more victory to take the flag...HAVE TWO MEETINGS: Coach Curly Lambeau scheduled two meetings for a final going over of assignments and one practice at Municipal field on the lakefront this afternoon. He, like the members of the squad, had a full appreciation of the Rams' intricate and explosive offense which has rolled to three victories. Although Cleveland lost three games, all were by close margins. All was not bright, however, in the Green Bay camp. Halfback Lou Brock definitely won't be used on running plays where contact is likely, Lambeau said. But the ex-Purdue ace may see action, especially in the signal calling department. Brock hurt his knee against the Rams in Green Bay. He came here with the team from Chicago, where he was examined Friday by a specialist. With Brock out of the heavy action, the Bays will have to rely on the veteran Joe Laws for signal calling. He is also the only veteran right halfback available although Paul Duhart, a rookie this year, has been working at that spot as well as at left half, his regular position. Lambeau said Duhart seemed to fit well into the offense at right...LAWS IS INJURED: Incidentally, Laws is not in the best of shape either. He pulled a muscle before the Bear contest and has been having some trouble running, Lambeau said. Otherwise, though, all team members are in good shape, including halfback Roy D. McKay, who will get his first taste of league ball since he sustained a knee injury in an exhibition in September. The Rams have been working on a defense all week to stop the Packers and Coach Donelli pronounced them ready Friday for their do-or-die chance. He will pin his hopes on Tommy Colella, the running and passing ace of the team who is enjoying his best year since breaking into the pro game with Detroit two years ago. He was obtained in a trade with the Lions this fall. Another offensive workhorse for the Rams is end Jim Benton, who has scored six touchdowns on passes and one on running. The big wingman has worked especially well with Colella in the passing department. To offset this, of course, the Packers will be relying on the Irv Comp to Don Hutson combination through the air with the probability that Harry Jacunski, the other starting end, will be Comp's target more frequently than before this season...PACKERS GIVEN EDGE: The Packers are conceded the edge principally because they defeated the Rams in Green Bay, 30-21, at a time when the Cleveland eleven was hot. Lambeau reported that Green Bay workouts Thursday and Friday were characterized by sufficient spirit to indicate the team is coming back from the Bear lacing. The line functioned well, he said, and the backfield was running plays with precision. The Green Bay coach said he would start a lineup consisting of Hutson and Jacunski, ends; Tiny Croft and Paul Berezney, tackles; Buckets Goldenberg and Glen Sorenson, guards, and Charley Brock, center. The backfield will be composed of Comp and Laws at halves, Ted Fritsch at fullback and Larry Craig at the blocking back spot. Donelli will stand pat on the lineup he used against the Packers at Green Bay. The forward wall includes Steve Pritko and Floyd Konetsky at ends; Chet Pudolski and Jake Fawcett, tackles; Riley Matheon and Chuck Riffle, guards, and Mike Scurry, center. With Colella in the backfield will be Johnny Karrs at quarter, Mike Kabealo at right half and Harvey Jones at full. The Packers will leave here immediately after the game for New York City, arriving there Monday morning. They will leave for Bear Mountain, 40 miles up the Hudson river, Monday afternoon for a week's intensive drills for the tussle against the Giants on Sunday.
RAMS TO SHOOT WORKS AT PACKERS ON SUNDAY
NOV 11 (New York) - Green Bay and Cleveland will clash at Cleveland Sunday in the highlight game of the NFL, with the Rams eager to avenge a previous defeat by the league leading Packers. Previous to the 30-21 setback by the Packers the Rams had won three in a row. Since then they have dropped three straight. Coach Buff Donnelli will shoot his able Reisz-Jim Benton pass and catch combination against Irv Comp, Don Hutson and Co. Green Bay tasted a 21-0 defeat after six victories last week when Hutson was held scoreless by the Chicago Bears for the first time in 42 consecutive games. Second in important Sunday will be the clash of New York and Philadelphia. The Giants are rankled by their 24-17 defeat at the hands of the Eagles at New York two weeks ago, a loss which dropped them out of the eastern division lead and spoiled their unbeaten record. Greasy Neale's undefeated Eagles, who have only a tie with their co-leaders, the Washington Redskins, to mar their otherwise perfect record, will attempt to stop Bullet Bill Paschal, the league's leading ground gainer, who showed a net gain of 138 yards in their previous clash. Leading the Eagles at home will be Rocket Roy Zimmerman, former San Jose back, who is second to Green Bay's Don Hutson in scoring. Unbeaten Washington will try to repeat its triumph over Brooklyn of two weeks ago, and the Chicago Bears, revived by the return of Luckman, will seek their third straight victory at the expense of the Boston Yanks at Chicago. A Green Bay defeat plus a Bears triumph would put last year's champions in a position to repeat. Detroit and Card-Pitt will engage in their second half of the home and home series, with the Card-Pitts out to reverse last week's 27-7 setback by Frank Sinkwich and the Lions at Pittsburgh.
GIANTS AND EAGLES EVENLY MATCHED IN SUNDAY'S PRO FOOTBALL'S HEADLINER
NOV 11 (Chicago) - If team statistics can be taken as a criterion, that should be a ding-dong affair when unbeaten Philadelphia and once beaten New York of the NFL meet in Shibe park, Philadelphia, Sunday. The two teams have played five games each, and their offensive statistics are strikingly similar except in the passing department. For example, the Giants have made 49 first downs to 50 for the Eagles - 36 from rushing to 37 for Philadelphia. The Eagles have rushed the ball 210 times for an average of 4.1 yards a rush. New York's figures are 208 rushes and an even four yard average. In punting the Giants have averaged 39 yards on 31 kicks; Philadelphia 39.2 yards on 33 punts. Each has returned 20 opponents' punts; the Giants for a 12.5 yard average; the Eagles for 13.4 yards. In passing, however, the Eagles had a .447 percentage, compared to New York's .361, and it may be in this department Philadelphia again may dump the Giants to clarify the eastern division title chase somewhat. The Eagles won the first meeting between the two clubs, October 29, 24-17. Official statistics of the pro league revealed that the Giants, although beaten by Philadelphia, have turned in the best defensive performance in the circuit. The Giants have given up but 41 points and 945 yards in their five league games. And there again is another parallel between New York and Philadelphia. The Eagles have yielded 42 points, but only 43 first downs. And the two teams head the league in number of yards yielded - 945 for New York and 989 for Philadelphia. Green Bay, beaten by the Chicago Bears Sunday, but still heading the western division, continued to lead in most offensive departments of the league. The Packers have marked up 108 first
downs in seven game, 2,123 yards gained by both rushing and passing, and 23 touchdowns. Their total of 1,122 yards gained passing topped the rest of the league. Cleveland led this week in punting, with an average of 40.2 yards, one-tenth of a year ahead of Brooklyn. The Rams also led in kickoff returns, with an average of 22.3 yards, one-tenth of a year more than Philadelphia.
PACKERS PLAY RAMS, MCKAY WILL START
NOV 12 (Chicago) - Knocked out of their complacency by the Chicago Bears last week, the Green Bay Packers arrived here Saturday morning in an ugly mood and eager to get underway in the return engagement with the tough Cleveland Rams at municipal stadium Sunday afternoon. It has suddenly dawned on the men of Lambeau U that despite what at one time looked to be an entirely safe lead in the western division of the league, they still have the championship to win. It has dawned on them that no dream about one thing - and a week ago against the Bears they only dreamed - and to win it is quite another. They were primed as they arrived, therefore, for an all-out effort and not so sure that even it will be enough against a team which in Green Bay three weeks ago gave them a fit. As against the Bears, the Packers will go into the game without their stellar right halfback, Lou Brock, who is still on the sidelines with an injured knee and whose absence hurt so much a week ago. Brock may play but he will not start. His place will be taken by the veteran Joe Laws or Kahler. But for the first time this season the team will have one of the men Lambeau has counted upon from the beginning to become one of the stars of the league - rookie Roy McKay. McKay was injured on the exhibition trip through the east early in September and has not seen a minute of league action so far. He was finally ready Saturday, however, and was due to open at left half. Except for Brock, the rest of the team was in fairly good shape. Fullback Ted Fritsch still nursed a slightly bruised ankle and tackle Baby Ray a slight muscle pull, but both were ready to start. The Rams, while without any title hopes themselves since they lost to the Packers, Bears and Redskins in succession, were no less eager than Green Bay to get into action. They felt they might have won the first game in Green Bay, and before the home folks they hoped to prove it. They, too, were in good shape except for bumps any team gets playing three such tough teams as they did in the last month. Green Bay ruled a slight favorite. A crowd of 30,000 was expected. The game here will be one of a complete schedule of five. In others, Philadelphia will play host to the New York Giants, Brooklyn to the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears to the Boston Yankees and Detroit to the hapless Card-Pitts about whom Congress ought to do something if their owners, Art Rooney and Charlie Bidwell, will not. Philadelphia, Washington, the Bears and the Lions were all favorites.
