[ad_1]
It took the Philadelphia Eagles three days to reach Los Angeles just over seventy-five years ago in the winter of 1949 by train. But Head Coach Greasy Neale didn’t want to fly. The train ride to the Los Angeles and then to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum allowed the Eagles to even stop and practice at Spratt Field at the University of Chicago.
What the 1948 World Champion Eagles found when they arrived in Los Angeles was the prospect of another Championship Game in inclement weather. A year earlier — they prevailed in blizzard conditions to defeat the Chicago Cardinals. Now — to win back-to-back championships — they would need to contend with both driving rain and ankle-deep mud.
The 8–2–2 Rams were dawning red jerseys and helmets at home games (the only time that they did this in their history.) During the last week of the 1949 regular season — the Rams had demolished Washington 53–27. Now they were looking to dethrone the Eagles and Coach Neale.
The 11–1 Eagles were on the top of their game. Philadelphia was undefeated at home — and in addition to their existing roster — would draft University of Penn star Chick Bednarik. Ironically in the same year — the Rams would draft Norm Van Brocklin — who would eventually lead the Eagles to the 1960 NFL Championship.
In front of just over 22,000 fans — the Eagles would strike first in the second quarter with a 31-yard connection from Tommy Thompson to Pete Pihos. For the next three quarters — Steve Van Buren scampered for 196 yards on 31 carries — while the Eagles defense held the Los Angeles ground game to just 21 yards. A blocked punt in the third quarter then was scooped up for another score by the Eagles Leo Skladany for a 14–0 advantage and the last score of the game.
The outcome of the game wasn’t just the only back-to-back championship for the Eagles. It marked the first ever NFL Championship won on the West Coast. It would also net players of both teams only a third of what was expected to be payed out for Player’s Shares — as owner Bert Bell would not allow the delay of the game. It would also be the first NFL game ever broadcast on TV (West Coast only.)
A win over the Rams today could be another stop along the path to the franchise’s second back-to-back championships — seventy-five years later.
Categorized:Eagles More PHL News Unique Columns
[ad_2]
Michael Thomas Leibrandt
Source link