1945 Championship

[Mark]

I have two questions regarding this game.

1) It never seems to get mentioned [that I have noticed] as one of the coldest NFL games. A couple of sources indicate it was minus 8. Is that incorrect or is that actually the wind chill?

2) The Redskins had sneakers but the Rams did not. The Redskins coach made an agreement with the Rams to not use theirs so the game would be played on equal terms. Why didn't the Rams have sneakers? I would have expected them to be better prepared for the weather. I also would be curious if anyone is interested in sharing would they have done the same as the Redskins did and why or why not?

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Windchill factor was a brand new concept in 1945 and wasn't well known. There might be some recording of it or estimation on the National Weather Service site, but it likely wasn't considered when the game was played.

[Bryan]

I've seen it written that it was 6 degrees at the start of the game.

[Mark]

I've seen it written that it was 6 degrees at the start of the game.

Yes I think I have see a variety of temps listed. Before positing I just checked two sources and they both stated minus 8 so I just went with that and wondered if anyone had something more official. Perhaps the inconsistency in temperatures given is the reason it isn't often mentioned.

Of course the temp can change during the game so I guess that could be at play but I do not know if I usually see that mentioned. Maybe I should reread some accounts of the game.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

National Weather Service says 8 was the high in Cleveland on Dec 16, 1945, -3 was the low:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=cle

Click on "Clevleand Area" then "Daily Almanac" and choose the date. You can do this for pretty much any game in history on the site.

[Cali_Eagle]

National Weather Service says 8 was the high in Cleveland on Dec 16, 1945, -3 was the low:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=cle

Click on "Cleveland Area" then "Daily Almanac" and choose the date. You can do this for pretty much any game in history on the site.

With the game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium right on Lake Erie on a day where the temperature range was 8 to -3... you bet it was really really cold re: the wind chill factor. I was at the 1980 playoff game with the Browns vs. Raiders, and it was so cold that day, I went home at 1/2 time and watched the rest of it home. I had my GF with me and even with her on the couch with me it took me forever to really warm up.

[JuggernautJ]

...The Redskins had sneakers but the Rams did not. The Redskins coach made an agreement with the Rams to not use theirs so the game would be played on equal terms...

Can you imagine anyone doing that nowadays?
Equal terms? Fairness?
Saps. Losers... they'd be drummed out of the league.

What a wonderful world we live in...

(And considering the game was won by a one point margin you have to consider that that decision may've cost Washington the Championship.)

[Bob Gill]

(And considering the game was won by a one point margin you have to consider that that decision may've cost Washington the Championship.)

On top of that, a day before the game the Rams suggested moving the goal posts back to the end line. But the Redskins said it would be too much trouble, and besides, how could the goal posts have any effect on the game?

[Throwin_Samoan]

FWIW, some highlights exist (though, sadly, not of the fateful play that provided the eventual winning margin.)

https://youtu.be/WIvaEXPgw5g

[Bob Gill]

FWIW, some highlights exist (though, sadly, not of the fateful play that provided the eventual winning margin.)

True, but on the plus side it did have the extra point that hit the crossbar and bounced over, which I'd never seen.