1941 NFL playoffs

The 1941 National Football League (NFL) playoffs occurred after the conclusion of the regular season to determine the champion of the 1941 NFL season. At the conclusion of the regular season, there was 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. The teams had developed a rivalry; the Bears were defending league champions and the Packers had won the NFL title in 1939.

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

Regular season

The 1941 season was the 22nd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The league's ten teams were split into two divisions of five teams each: the Eastern and Western Divisions. Each team played a regular season schedule of 11 games, for a total of 55 regular season contests. Prior to the start of the season, the NFL bylaws were changed to provide for playoffs in cases where division races are tied after the regular season and new rules for sudden-death overtimes in case a playoff game was tied after four quarters were added. The Eastern Division was won by the New York Giants with a record of 8–3, beating out the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Washington Redskins. In the Western Division, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears—who were the defending NFL Champions—battled throughout the season for the division lead. The two teams, who had developed a rivalry, played each other twice, splitting the games and giving them each their only loss of the season. Each team finished with a record of 10–1, both coming-from-behind in their last game of the season. The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred the same day the Bears won to tie the Packers' record. With the same record, a playoff game was scheduled to determine who would go to, and host, the 1941 NFL Championship Game.

Postseason

Western Division championship

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears – Western Division playoff

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

at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

• Date: December 14, 1941
• Game attendance: 43,425
• Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

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.

NFL Championship game

New York Giants vs. Chicago Bears – NFL Championship Game

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

at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

• Date: December 21, 1941

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