THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

The 1948 NFL Championship game

Episode Details

At least one person thought the 1948 NFL championship game between the host Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Cardinals was going to be snowed out. Eagles running back Steve Van Buren looked out his window that morning at a raging blizzard and went back to bed. His coach had to call to tell him the game was on, so he caught three trolleys and walked several blocks in the storm to make the game, which started with 4 inches of accumulation that only got worse. It remains the second-lowest scoring postseason game in NFL history, with the Eagles winning 7-0 on a Van Buren TD run, as neither team could do much in the storm. The grounds crew needed the teams' players to help remove the tarp, and extra officials were used to assist with out-of-bounds calls. It was a big moment in NFL history as it marked the first time that the Championship Game was televised with Harry Wismer and Red Grange calling the action on ABC. However, the start of the game was put in jeopardy due to the heavy snow. There was even talk of postponing the game, but instead, the game started two hours late to allow more fans to attend the game. With four inches already on the ground, the Eagles offered any fan with a shovel a free ticket for helping to ready the field. Once the game began, it was obvious just how difficult it would be to play the game. Slick conditions, poor visibility which at times was less than a foot and accumulating snow made it hard for both teams to move the ball. The passing game was essentially eliminated by the whiteout conditions and blowing snow as the Cardinals and Eagles combined for just 19 yards through the air on five completions. Each team turned the ball over three times, as the game was scoreless through three quarters. One player who was able to put up big numbers as Steve Van Buren who had 98 yards on 26 carries. Late in the third quarter, Ray Mallouf attempting a handoff fumbled the ball setting up the Eagles on the Chicago 17. The Eagles were on the verge of scoring as the fourth quarter began, finally breaking the tie with a five-yard run by Van Buren. It would be the game’s only score as the Eagles won the game 7-0 to claim the NFL Championship. The Eagles would win a second straight championship in 1949, while the Cardinals would not win another playoff game until 1998 after moving through St. Louis and onto Arizona. The 7-0 score would be the lowest scoring NFL playoff game until 1970 when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions 5-0. Van Buren later said, "I was sure the game would be postponed."

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

The 1948 NFL Championship game

This Date in Weather History

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