1941 NFL playoffs

1941 NFL playoffs
Dates	December 14-21, 1941
Season	1941
Teams	3
Games played	2
NFL Championship Game site	Wrigley Field; Chicago, Illinois;
Defending champions	Chicago Bears
Champions	Chicago Bears
Runners-up	New York Giants
Conference; runners-up	Green Bay Packers;
NFL playoffs
	1943 →

The 1941 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the Western Division championship between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, requiring an unscheduled one-game playoff, making this the debut edition of the NFL playoffs. The two teams had finished the regular season with identical 10–1 records and had split their season series.^[1] The Bears were defending league champions, and the Packers had won the NFL title in 1939.

This divisional championship game was played on December 14 at Wrigley Field.^[2] The winner then hosted the New York Giants (8–3) on December 21 in the NFL Championship Game.

Tournament bracket

Chicago Bears 33, Green Bay Packers 14

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	0	7	0	14
Bears	6	24	0	3	33

Game information

First Quarter
- GB – Hinkle, 1 run (Hutson kick) GB 7–0
- CH – Gallarneau, 81 punt ret. (kick blocked) GB 7–6
Second Quarter
- CH – field goal Snyder 24 CH 9–7
- CH – Standlee, 3 run (Stydahar kick) CH 16–7
- CH – Standlee, 2 run (Stydahar kick) CH 23–7
- CH – Swisher, 9 run (Stydahar kick) CH 30–7
Third Quarter
- GB – Van Every, 10 pass from Isbell (Hutson kick) CH 30–14
Fourth Quarter
- CH – field goal Snyder 26 CH 33–14

This was the first postseason meeting in the history of the Bears-Packers rivalry.

Chicago Bears 37, New York Giants 9

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	6	0	3	0	9
Bears	3	6	14	14	37

at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

Game information

First Quarter
- CH – field goal Snyder 14 CH 3–0
- NY – Franck, 31 pass from Leemans (kick failed) NY 6–3
Second Quarter
- CH – field goal Snyder 39 6–6
- CH – field goal Snyder 37 CH 9–6
Third Quarter
- NY – field goal Cuff 16 9–9
- CH – Standlee, 2 run (Snyder kick) CH 16–9
- CH – Standlee, 7 run (Maniaci kick) CH 23–9
Fourth Quarter
- CH – Mcafee, 5 run (Artoe kick) CH 30–9
- CH – Kavanaugh, 42 fumble return (McLean kick) CH 37–9

^ "Bears beat Cardinals 34-24, tie for lead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 8, 1941. p. 16.
^ "Bears crush Packers, 33 to 14; enter playoff". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 15, 1941. p. 18.

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