1932 Portsmouth Spartans season

In 1932, the Portsmouth Spartans appeared in the league championship game, the first playoff game in NFL history, losing to the Chicago Bears 9–0.[1] With a record of 6–1–4 in 1932, the Spartans finished in a tie for the NFL title with the Chicago Bears.[2] It was the first time in history that the season ended with two teams atop the league's standings. (Ties were omitted in calculating winning percentage.) Both games during the season between Portsmouth and Chicago had ended in ties; to determine a sole champion, the league office arranged for the first playoff game in NFL history.[2]

1932 Portsmouth Spartans season
Head coachGeorge Clark
Home fieldUniversal Stadium
Results
Record6–2–4
League place3rd NFL
Playoff finishLost NFL Championship
(at Bears) 0–9

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Wrigley Field, the Bears' home stadium. Due to severe blizzards and sub-zero wind chill throughout the week, the game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium.[3] The arena allowed only an 80-yard field (end lines) that came right to the walls, and the goal posts were moved from the end lines to the goal.[4] The Bears won 9–0, scoring the winning touchdown on a two-yard pass from Bronko Nagurski to Red Grange in the fourth quarter.[5][2] Attendance for the game was 11,198.[6]

With the loss, Portsmouth dropped to third in the final league standings, behind the runner-up Green Bay Packers (10–3–1).

Season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 25 New York Giants W 7–0 1–0 Universal Stadium Recap
2 October 2 Chicago Cardinals T 7–7 1–0–1 Universal Stadium Recap
3 October 9 at Green Bay Packers L 10–15 1–1–1 City Stadium Recap
4 October 16 at Staten Island Stapletons T 7–7 1–1–2 Thompson Stadium Recap
5 October 20 at Staten Island Stapletons W 13–6 2–1–2 Thompson Stadium Recap
6 October 30 at New York Giants W 6–0 3–1–2 Polo Grounds Recap
7 November 6 at Brooklyn Dodgers W 17–7 4–1–2 Ebbets Field Recap
8 November 13 at Chicago Bears T 13–13 4–1–3 Wrigley Field Recap
9 November 20 Boston Braves W 10–0 5–1–3 Universal Stadium Recap
10 November 27 Chicago Bears T 7–7 5–1–4 Universal Stadium Recap
11 December 4 Green Bay Packers W 19–0 6–1–4 Universal Stadium Recap
Playoff December 18 at Chicago Bears L 0–9 6–2–4 Chicago Stadium Recap

Standings
NFL standings
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Chicago Bears 1 7 1 6 .875 160 44 W3
Green Bay Packers 10 3 1 .769 152 63 L2
Portsmouth Spartans 1 6 2 4 .750 116 71 L1
Boston Braves 4 4 2 .500 55 79 W2
New York Giants 4 6 2 .400 93 113 L1
Brooklyn Dodgers 3 9 0 .250 63 131 L4
Chicago Cardinals 2 6 2 .250 72 114 L5
Staten Island Stapletons 2 7 3 .222 77 173 L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

1 The Bears and Spartans records include the result of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game; thus, the Spartans are ranked third behind the Packers.

Roster
Portsmouth Spartans roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • currently vacant

rookies in italics

Playoff Game
Further information: 1932 NFL Playoff Game

Chicago Bears 9, Portsmouth Spartans 0

Awards and records

References
  1. "Reference at www.ohiohistorycentral.com".
  2. "Portsmouth Spartans – Sports Ecyclopedia".
  3. Dunkley, Charles W. (December 19, 1932). "Bears beat Spartans, 9-0; win pro title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 13.
  4. Kuechele, Oliver E. (December 19, 1932). "The Bears won 9-0, but what was it all about?". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2.
  5. "Chicago Bears pro champions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Chicago Tribune). December 19, 1932. p. 14.
  6. "Reference at www.nflhistory.org".
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