The NFL Championship game on December 16, 1945 featured a postseason newcomer, the Cleveland Rams, against the Washington Redskins, a team that regularly contended for the title.
The Rams had never had a winning season since coming into
the league in 1937, but topped the Western Division with a 9-1 record in ’45.
Head Coach Adam Walsh implemented the T-formation and had the good fortune of
having rookie QB Bob Waterfield (pictured above) to operate it. The first-year player out of
UCLA was the league MVP after performing well not only as a passer, but as a
defensive back, kicker, and overall team leader. Halfbacks Fred Gehrke and Jim
Gillette and FB Don Greenwood fueled the ground attack while end Jim Benton led
the NFL with 1067 yards on his 45 catches.
The Washington Redskins, coached by Dudley DeGroot,
topped the Eastern Division for the fourth time in six seasons with an 8-2
tally. QB Sammy Baugh was well-established as the league’s outstanding passer,
having set a record with his 70.3 completion percentage during the season, and
there were good receivers led by HB Steve Bagarus. However, Baugh had been
injured in the season finale against the Giants and was not at his best.
There were 32,178 fans in attendance on a bitterly cold
and windy day at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The field had been covered
with bales of hay in the days leading up to the game, and there were also big
piles of snow on the sidelines.
The Redskins had the game’s first possession and punted. Cleveland
moved the ball well in its initial series as Fred Gehrke ran for a 16-yard gain
and Bob Waterfield completed two passes to Jim Benton, who was covered by
rookie HB Bob DeFruiter. The second was good for 30 yards to the Washington 15,
but the Redskins held the Rams up at their five yard line, with Jim Gillette
stopped short on a fourth down play to regain possession. On second down, Sammy
Baugh, dropping back into his end zone and feigning a punt, threw a pass that
hit the goal post and bounced back. Under the rules at the time, the play was declared
a safety and the home team had an early 2-0 lead.
Baugh was injured shortly thereafter and returned to play
for only a few minutes during the second half. Following an interception by
Washington LB Ki Aldrich early in the second quarter, QB Frank Filchock,
subbing for Baugh, threw long to Steve Bagarus (pictured at left) for a 38-yard touchdown. Joe
Aguirre added the extra point and Washington was ahead by 7-2.
With less than four minutes to play in the first half,
Waterfield connected with Jim Benton for a 37-yard TD that capped a six-play,
70-yard series in which Gillette had a 19-yard run and Benton caught a pass for
14 yards. Waterfield’s extra point attempt was partially blocked and hit the
crossbar, but it bounced over and the Rams took a 9-7 lead.
The Rams had another chance with a minute remaining in
the first half when LB Pat West intercepted a pass, but Aldrich picked off
another Waterfield throw and the score remained unchanged at halftime.
In the first series of the third quarter, Waterfield
threw a long, arching pass that Jim Gillette caught for a 44-yard touchdown that
concluded an 81-yard series. This time the extra point attempt failed but the
Rams were in front by 15-7.
Late in the period, a Waterfield punt had the Redskins
starting from their five yard line, but they moved effectively down the field.
Following a 15-yard carry by DeFruiter, Filchock threw to Bagarus for a 50-yard
gain that set up an eight-yard TD pass to wide-open FB Bob Seymour. Aguirre
added the point after to make it a one-point contest.
Washington had two chances in the fourth quarter, but
Aguirre missed field goals from 31 and 44 yards. The first followed a Filchock
pass to end Les Dye that gained 44 yards to the Cleveland 31 and three running
plays that picked up seven more yards. With time running out, Filchock threw
long from deep in his own territory and DB Albie Reisz intercepted to nail down
the 15-14 win for the Rams.
Cleveland gained more total yards (372 to 214) and led in
first downs as well (14 to 8). The Redskins were held to 35 rushing yards on 34
attempts while the Rams were well balanced with 180 yards on the ground and 192
through the air. Cleveland turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by
Washington. But the game came down to two plays involving the goal posts, with
one leading to a safety and the other a kick that just made it over the
crossbar for an extra point.
Bob Waterfield completed 14 of 27 passes for 192 yards
and two touchdowns, giving up two interceptions, and was excellent with his
play-calling and punting, too. Jim Gillette (pictured at right) rushed for 101 yards on 17 carries
and also caught two passes for 45 yards and a TD. Jim Benton had 9 catches for
125 yards and a score.
Sammy Baugh ended up completing just one of six throws
for seven yards. In his place, Frank Filchock was 8-of-14 for 172 yards and two
touchdowns as well as two interceptions. Steve Bagarus caught three passes for
95 yards and a TD. HB Merl Condit led the rushers by gaining 18 yards on 9
attempts.
The Rams, having lost money despite putting together a
championship season, left for Los Angeles the following year and placed second
to the Bears with a 6-4-1 record. They next reached the Championship game in
1949. Washington went into a long period of decline, dropping to 5-5-1 in 1946
and not reaching the postseason again until 1971.
