The NFL contest in Green
Bay on October 14, 1945 was a faceoff between two
Western Division teams that had started off the season at 2-0. The Green Bay
Packers were the defending NFL Champions and still a potent squad, especially
after their all-time great end Don Hutson had been persuaded to put off
retirement and come back for another year. Coached by Curly Lambeau, the
franchise’s founder, the Packers were a team that was used to contending.
As for the visiting Cleveland Rams, they had never been
above .500 in any season since joining the NFL in 1937. But they had a new head
coach in Adam Walsh, who installed a T-formation offense, and a talented rookie
quarterback out of UCLA to run it in Bob Waterfield (pictured above). The Rams had an
outstanding receiver of their own in end Jim Benton, who was ably complemented
by Steve Pritko, plus a good group of running backs.
There were 24,607 fans in attendance at Green Bay ’s City Stadium on a bright and
clear day. The Rams scored on their first possession, driving 49 yards and
finishing with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Waterfield to Benton . While Waterfield’s first extra point
attempt was successful, it was nullified by a holding penalty and the second
try was no good when it sailed wide. Still, Cleveland was ahead by 6-0.
That remained the situation until the third quarter when
Rams HB Tom Colella fumbled and Green Bay tackle
Paul Lipscomb recovered at the Cleveland
25. FB Ted Fritsch ran three times to get to the one and tailback Irv Comp went
the last yard for a TD. Hutson kicked the extra point to put the Packers ahead
by 7-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Packers went 54 yards, with the
highlight a pass from tailback Roy McKay to Hutson for 24 yards. Fritsch plowed
through the middle for a three-yard touchdown and Hutson added the point after.
Down by 14-6 in the final period, the Rams had possession at
their own 27 and put together a seven-play scoring drive. Waterfield capped it
by passing to Colella for a nine-yard TD. Cleveland
then received a big break when Green
Bay ’s McKay fumbled and tackle Roger Eason recovered
for the Rams at the Packers’ 17. FB Don Greenwood, Colella, and Waterfield each
took a turn running the ball to get to the one yard line and Greenwood scored from there.
McKay and Comp took turns trying to connect on passes to Don
Hutson until DB Albie Reisz intercepted one and returned it to the Green Bay 5. Colella ran
the ball in from there for a touchdown that sealed the win for the Rams. Thanks
to the three fourth quarter TDs, and Waterfield’s successful conversions after
each, Cleveland
came away the winner by a final score of 27-14.
The Rams led in total yards (289 to 232) but Green Bay had the edge in
first downs (16 to 12). However, Cleveland
ran the ball more effectively (154 yards on 45 carries to 81 yards on 39
attempts) and the Packers turned the ball over six times, as opposed to four
turnovers by the Rams.
As usual, Don Hutson was Green Bay ’s
chief offensive weapon, catching 7 passes for 110 yards, but he was unable to
penetrate the end zone (he had done so four times in one quarter the previous
week against Detroit ).
Jim Benton caught 5 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown for the Rams.
The win moved the Rams into first place in the Western Division
and that’s where they stayed, going 9-1 and beating Washington for the NFL title. Green Bay dropped to
third with a 6-4 record.
Bob Waterfield overcame a severe rib injury to achieve
league MVP honors while passing for 1609 yards and leading the league in yards
per attempt (9.4) and touchdown passes (14, tied with Sid Luckman of the
Bears).
Jim Benton (pictured below) and Don Hutson were the NFL’s most productive
receivers. In his final season, Hutson led the league for the eighth time
(fifth consecutive) with 47 pass receptions while his 834 yards ranked second
to Benton ’s
1067. Benton
placed second to Hutson with 45 catches.
The 1945 season marked a change in direction for the two
franchises. Green Bay
went into a decline that wasn’t reversed until the arrival of Vince Lombardi as
head coach and general manager in 1959. The Rams, who moved to Los Angeles in 1946, won four division or
conference titles over the course of the next decade and a league championship
while regularly being among the NFL’s contending teams.
