The 1947 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the Eastern Division title between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers; both finished the regular season at 8–4, requiring a one-game playoff.[1] They had split their two-game series in the season, with the home teams prevailing; the Steelers won by eleven on October 19,[2] while the Eagles carded a 21–0 shutout on November 30 at Shibe Park.[3]
| Dates | December 21-28, 1947 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 1947 | ||||
| Teams | 3 | ||||
| Games played | 2 | ||||
| NFL Championship Game site | |||||
| Defending champions | Chicago Bears (did not qualify) | ||||
| Champions | Chicago Cardinals | ||||
| Runners-up | Philadelphia Eagles | ||||
| Conference runners-up | |||||
| |||||
The Steelers and Detroit Lions opened their seasons a week before the rest of the ten-team league on September 21,[4] and completed their schedules on December 7.[5][6] Philadelphia needed a win over the visiting Green Bay Packers on December 14 to force a playoff the following week,[7] and won by fourteen points.[8][9]
This division playoff game was the Steelers' first (and only until 1972) postseason appearance, and was played on December 21 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.[10][11] The winner traveled to Chicago to play in the NFL championship game the following week against the Cardinals (9–3) at Comiskey Park. Originally scheduled for December 21, the playoff pushed the title game to December 28.
Scoring touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, the Eagles posted another 21–0 shutout to win the East title and advanced to the championship game in Chicago.[11][12][13]
Tournament bracket
edit| Eastern Division playoff December 21 | NFL Championship December 28 | ||||||||
| W | Chicago Cardinals | 28 | |||||||
| E | Pittsburgh | 0 | E | Philadelphia | 21 | ||||
| E | Philadelphia | 21 | |||||||
Eastern Division championship
edit| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Game information |
|---|
|
This remains the only postseason meeting between the Eagles and Steelers. This was also the first occurrence of a postseason matchup between two professional sports teams based in the state of Pennsylvania.
NFL Championship game
editReferences
edit- ^ Biederman, Les (December 15, 1947). "Steelers, Eagles in playoff Sunday". Pittsburgh Press. p. 24.
- ^ Biederman, Les (October 20, 1947). "Steelers lead Eastern Division after walloping Eagles, 35-24". Pittsburgh Press. p. 20.
- ^ Biederman, Les (December 1, 1947). "Steelers impotent without Clement". Pittsburgh Press.
- ^ Hughes, Carl (September 21, 1947). "Steelers favored to defeat Dudley and Lions". Pittsburgh Press. p. 37.
- ^ Biederman, Les (December 7, 1947). "Steelers must beat Yanks to stay in title fight". Pittsburgh Press. p. 43.
- ^ Biederman, Les (December 8, 1947). "Steelers regain loop lead". Pittsburgh Press. p. 24.
- ^ "Eagles battle to tie idle Steelers". Pittsburgh Press. December 14, 1947. p. 40.
- ^ "Van Buren stars in Eagle victory". Pittsburgh Press. December 15, 1947. p. 24.
- ^ "Packers are beaten by inspired Eagles who tie for title". Milwaukee Journal. December 15, 1947. p. 6, part 2.
- ^ a b Biederman, Les (December 21, 1947). "Eagles given edge over Steelers". Pittsburgh Press. p. 28.
- ^ a b c Biederman, Les (December 22, 1947). "Steelers disappoint in grid playoff". Pittsburgh Press. p. 28.
- ^ a b "Philadelphia Eagles defeat Steelers for right to play Cards next Sunday". Milwaukee Journal. December 22, 1947. p. 10, part 2.
- ^ a b "Philadelphia Eagles win Eastern division of National grid league". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 22, 1947. p. 8.
- ^ "Weather". Pittsburgh Press. December 22, 1947. p. 1.