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). 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 pushed 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. The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... It has been suggested that Eamus catuli be merged into this article or section. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Big Blue Wrecking Crew, Big Blue, G-Men, the Giants, The New York Football Giants Team colors Royal Blue, Red, Gray, and White Head Coach Tom Coughlin Owner The Mara and Tisch Families General manager Ernie Accorsi League/Conference affiliations National Football League... City Chicago Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National Football League... Alvin Ray Pete Rozelle (March 1, 1926–December 6, 1996) was the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. ... George Stanley Halas (February 2, 1895 - October 31, 1983), nicknamed Papa Bear and Mr. ... Soldier Field is located on famous Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, and is currently home to the NFLs Chicago Bears and Major League Soccers Chicago Fire. ...  CDT or UTC-5 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ...

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. Allie Sherman (born February 10, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York) is a retired American football running back and head coach. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... Yelberton Abraham Tittle (October 24, 1926, Marshall, Texas) is a former American Football quarterback who played for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. ... Tackle during 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii A top cheerleader from each team takes part in the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ... Francis Newton Gifford (born August 16, 1930 in Santa Monica, California) was an American football player and one of the better-known American sports commentators in the latter part of the 20th century who made the transition from an athlete to broadcasting. ... A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football, in which the ball carrier causes the football to break the plane of the end zone, thus earning 6 points for his team (in both codes). ... Joe Morrison (1937-1989) was a National Football League football player who played for the New York Giants. ...

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 Catcavage, and John LoVetere; linebacker Tom Scott; and defensive backs Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Robert Lee Huff (born October 4, 1934, Morgantown, West Virginia) is a former football linebacker who played for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins after earning All-America honors at West Virginia University. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... There are different people named Tom Scott: Tom Scott, Scottish poet. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... Erich Barnes was a defensive back in the NFL. He was a 6 time Pro Bowler. ...

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.[1] The Monsters of the Midway is most widely known as the nickname for the National Football Leagues Chicago Bears -- particularly the dominant teams of 1940 and 1941. ... A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League (or at other levels of American football) who is in charge of the defense. ... George Herbert Allen (April 29, 1918 – December 31, 1990) was an American football coach in the NFL. * - Head Coach // Early life Allen was born in Detroit, Michigan, where his father, Earl Allen, was recorded in the 1920 and 1930 U. S. census records for Wayne County, Michigan as working as... Douglas Leon Atkins (Born May 8, 1930, in Humboldt, Tennessee) is a former American Football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. ... William J. George(born October 27, 1929, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania;died September 30, 1982, at age of 52)was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams George attented college at Wake Forest, being the Bears second-round draft pick in 1951. ... Richie Petitbon (born 1938) is a former head coach of the Washington Redskins. ... City Green Bay, Wisconsin Team colors Dark Green, Gold, and White Head Coach Mike McCarthy Owner 111,967 stockholders Chairman Bob Harlan General manager Ted Thompson Fight song Go! You Packers! Go! League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919-1920) National Football League (1921-present) Western Division (1933-1949) National Conference (1950... John Constantine Johnny Unitas (May 7, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – September 11, 2002) was a professional American football player in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. ... There have been two unrelated American football teams called the Baltimore Colts based in Baltimore, Maryland. ...

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 Billy 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. The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. ...

Game summary

The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when Y.A. Tittle led New York on an 83-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 deep in the Giants territory. However, later in the first period, Tittle suffered an injury to his left knee when Larry Morris hit him during his throwing motion. For the rest of the game, Tittle would never be the same. Morris then intercepted Tittle's screen pass and returned the bacll 61 yards to the Giants 6-yard line. Two playes later, Wade scored a touchdown on a two-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7. A quarterback sneak is a play in American football in which the quarterback, upon taking the center snap, dives ahead behind the offensive line. ...

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 comeback in the third period, but he needed Cortisone, Novocain, 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. At the end of the game defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense's spectacular play. Cortisone (IPA:ˈkôrtəˌsōn) is a steroid hormone. ... Procaine hydrochloride is a local anesthetic used primarily in dentistry. ... The end zone is a term in both Canadian football and American football. ...

Scoring summary

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

References

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