How does a team adequately prepare for an NFL title game? Even more, so, how does a club prepare itself for the biggest game of the season when the name of the opposition is not yet known?
Such was the case for the Chicago Cardinals 75 years ago today on December 18, 1947. As the winners of the Western Division of the National Football League after a stirring 30-21 win over the Chicago Bears, the Cardinals were forced into an idle period of two weeks before the title game due to the Eastern Division winner of the NFL still needing to be determined.
Both the Eagle was and the Steelers finished the 1947 regular season with identical 8-4 records to conclude the campaign atop the Eastern Division. A one-game playoff between the two clubs was then scheduled for Sunday, December 21 to determine the outright champion in the east. The winner would then travel to Chicago on December 28 to face the Cardinals for the NFL crown.
Keeping the Cardinals Fired Up
The Cardinals endured their mini-layoff with some rugged practices under Coach Jimmy Conzelman. Despite not knowing the opponent until the Eastern Division playoff game was completed, Conzelman wanted to keep his player’s minds, as well as their bodies, in game-ready condition.
The Associated Press noted: “Jimmy Conzelman is faced with the task of keeping the Cardinals fired up while awaiting the outcome of the Eagle-Steeler playoff.”
Conzelman added: “This holiday season—don’t interpret it too literally. Holidays don’t mean us. It’s going to be work—and plenty of it!”
On the plus side, the time off would provide an opportunity for some of the Cardinals’ walking wounded to heal before the championship game. Reliable defensive end Frank Ivy suffered a separated shoulder during the Bears game and the club was already without lineman Caleb Martin from a previous season-ending injury. In addition, guard Garrard Ramsey and end Clarence Esser were also nursing injuries.
Harder Leads NFL In Scoring
Some good news reached the Cards’ camp on December 18 when the NFL announced that fullback/kicker Pat Harder topped the league in scoring in 1947. Harder, a graduate of Wisconsin, tallied 102 points via seven touchdowns, seven field goals, and 39 extra points.
Harder missed only one PAT throughout the season and his total of 102 was the fourth-highest in the history of the NFL. And, all of this was accomplished despite Harder missing two games during the season!
Meanwhile, East contenders Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were busy during this week 75 years ago and anxiously awaiting their “winner take all” match on December 21.
The Eagles had knocked off the Packers 28-14 on December 14 to force the deadlock and Philadelphia coach Greasy Neale remained confident in his charges, stating: “If we play like we did against Green Bay, there isn’t anyone going to beat us.”
It's Going To Be A Tough Game
On the other side of the state, Steelers’ coach Jock Sutherland was happy with the prospect of his favored single-wing attack doing some damage to the Philadelphia defense. He was, however, concerned with the status of star passer Johnny Clement who had suffered a dislocated elbow three weeks earlier.
Clement declared that he was ready for the Eagles, with the help of a specially designed brace: “I’ll be there from the start. The Eagles are pretty decent and I don’t look for anyone to bang my elbow. But they’re hustlers and it’s going to be a tough game.”
Coach Sutherland was eager for Clement to play but cautious about the circumstances: “We don’t want everybody thinking about his elbow and that goes for the Philadelphia team.” The two teams had split two games during the regular season with the Steelers winning in Pittsburgh 35-24 and the Eagles then grabbing some revenge with a 21-0 home victory in Philadelphia.
The title game would be staged in Pittsburgh with both clubs looking for their first divisional crown in a battle between the Steelers’ single wing and the Eagles’ T formation.
Kicking Like An Adagio Dancer
Back in Chicago, the Cardinals toiled on the practice field but without the stress of an imminent contest. An article appeared on the wire services outlining the reasons for the rapid rise of the Cardinals in the NFL. Reporter Charles Einstein traced the success of the Cards to a win over the Bears in the 1946 season finale at Wrigley Field.
With only seconds remaining in that game, the score was deadlocked at 28-28 and the Cardinals were poised for a game-winning field goal, at least in the mind of Coach Jimmy Conzelman.
Conzelman waved his arms as he ran down the sideline and began kicking wildly with his foot like “an adagio dancer,” according to Einstein. Quarterback Paul Christman noticed the flailing Conzelman and said to his teammates in the huddle: “Looks like the old man wants a field goal.”
Someone else said “Let’s pass instead,” before a third player added: “Whatever you do, nod ‘yes’ at Jimmy. That foot of his gives me the willies!”
Christman then nodded to Conzelman, indicating that he understood the demand for a field goal try. However, instead of taking the easy field goal, Christman decided to toss a five-yard scoring toss to Mal Kutner with just 14 seconds left in the game, giving the Cardinals a 35-28 win, a 6-5 record for 1946, and their first winning campaign in 11 seasons.
We’ll let writer Charles Einstein pick up the story from there, following the surprise touchdown pass:
The Threw Water On Conzelman
“They threw water on Conzelman to revive him. Driving away from the ballpark in a cab, Conzelman, his white mane askew and a glazed look in his eye, whispered strange nothings about his football team.
‘That ball club [the Cardinals] can win the title next year.’ Somebody said, ‘Yeah, Jimmy, but how?’ ‘How?’ Conzelman roared. ‘How do I know how? I’m only the coach!’ Events were to prove him right in every respect.”
And so, 75 years ago today, the Cardinals were indeed on the cusp of the NFL title. If the team only knew who it would be playing!
Thank you for joining us for this special bonus episode of “When Football Was Football” here on the Sports History Network. Please check back on December 21 for the next program focusing on the 1947 Cardinals NFL title chase!
Listen To All 1947 Championship Run Bonus Episodes
Author and Host - Joe Ziemba
Joe Ziemba is the host of this show, and he is an author of early football history in the city of Chicago. Here, you can learn more about Joe and When Football Was Football, including all of the episodes of the podcast.
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