NFL Championship Game, 1934

Infobox NFLChamp
year = 1934
visitor = Chicago Bears
home = New York Giants
visitor_total = 13
home_total = 30

visitor_qtr1 = 0
visitor_qtr2 = 10
visitor_qtr3 = 3
visitor_qtr4 = 0

home_qtr1 = 3
home_qtr2 = 0
home_qtr3 = 0
home_qtr4 = 27

date= December 9, 1934
stadium=Polo Grounds
city=New York City
attendance =
referee =
network =
announcers =
radio =
radioannouncers = The 1934 National Football League Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City on December 9, 1934. The final score was New York Giants 30, Chicago Bears 13. It was the 2nd annual NFL championship game.

A freezing rain the night before the game froze the Polo Grounds's field, much like the Ice Bowl years later. After one of the players made a remark suggesting that sneakers would provide better footing on the frozen playing surface, Giants' head coach Steve Owen sent equipment manager Abe Cohen to purchase sneakers. Cohen was unable to find an open sports equipment store and arrived at half time with 8 pairs of sneakers borrowed from Manhattan College's basketball team.

The Giants started the game wearing their regular cleats, but trailed 10-3 midway through the third quarter. So it was decided to switch out of the cleats for the sneakers. Then after the Bears increased their lead to 13-3, Giants quarterback Ed Danowski threw a touchdown pass to Ike Frankian to make the score 13-10. On the Giants next drive, running back Ken Strong scored on a 42-yard touchdown run. Later an 11-yard run by Strong was turned into another touchdown for the Giants. Finally the Giants closed it out with Danowski's 9-yard touchdown run. The game ended with the Giants ahead: 30-13.

Many of the participants have been interviewed since the game took place, most notably Bronko Nagurski of the Bears and Mel Hein of the Giants. Generally, players from both sides have attributed the Giants' second half dominance to their selection of footwear. A mini-documentary of the game, narrated by Pat Summerall, can be seen in the 1987 video "Giants Among Men."

coring summary

*NY - FG Strong 38
*CHI - Nagurski 1 run (Manders kick)
*CHI - FG Manders 17
*CHI - FG Manders 22
*NY - Frankian 28 pass from Danowski (Strong kick)
*NY - Strong 42 run (Strong kick)
*NY - Strong 11 run (kick failed)
*NY - Danowski 9 run (Molenda kick)

References

*"Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League" (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
* "The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995" (ISBN 0-89204-523-X)