In , the Portsmouth Spartans appeared in the league championship game, the first playoff game in NFL history, losing to the Chicago Bears 9–0. With a record of 6–1–4 in 1932, the Spartans finished in a tie for the NFL title with the Chicago Bears. It was the first time in history that the season ended with two teams atop the league's standings. (Ties were omitted in calculating winning percentage.) Both games during the season between Portsmouth and Chicago had ended in ties; to determine a sole champion, the league office arranged for the first playoff game in NFL history.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Wrigley Field, the Bears' home stadium. Due to severe blizzards and sub-zero wind chill throughout the week, the game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium. The arena allowed only an 80-yard field (end lines) that came right to the walls, and the goal posts were moved from the end lines to the goal. The Bears won 9–0, scoring the winning touchdown on a two-yard pass from Bronko Nagurski to Red Grange in the fourth quarter. Attendance for the game was 11,198.
With the loss, Portsmouth dropped to third in the final league standings, behind the runner-up Green Bay Packers (10–3–1).
Season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 25 New York Giants W 7–0 1–0 Universal Stadium Recap 2 October 2 Chicago Cardinals T 7–7 1–0–1 Universal Stadium Recap 3 October 9 at Green Bay Packers L 10–15 1–1–1 City Stadium Recap 4 October 16 at Staten Island Stapletons T 7–7 1–1–2 Thompson Stadium Recap 5 at Staten Island Stapletons W 13–6 2–1–2 Thompson Stadium Recap 6 October 30 at New York Giants W 6–0 3–1–2 Polo Grounds Recap 7 November 6 at Brooklyn Dodgers W 17–7 4–1–2 Ebbets Field Recap 8 November 13 at Chicago Bears T 13–13 4–1–3 Wrigley Field Recap 9 November 20 Boston Braves W 10–0 5–1–3 Universal Stadium Recap 10 November 27 Chicago Bears T 7–7 5–1–4 Universal Stadium Recap 11 December 4 Green Bay Packers W 19–0 6–1–4 Universal Stadium Recap Playoff December 18 at Chicago Bears L 0–9 6–2–4 Chicago Stadium Recap
Standings
Roster 1932 Portsmouth Spartans final roster Backs 25 Gene Alford RB/CB/S 6 John Cavosie FB/LB 5 Ace Gutowsky FB/LB 2 Father Lumpkin RB/CB 20 Glenn Presnell RB/CB/S/K 8 Mule Wilson RB/CB
Ends 30 Harry Ebding 10 Bill McKalip Linemen 33 Bob Armstrong T/DT 16 Maury Bodenger G/DG 27 George Christensen T/DT 17 Ray Davis C/T/MG/DT 7 Ox Emerson G/DG 24 Buster Mitchell T/DT 4 Clare Randolph C/MG 31 Am Rascher G/DG 9 John Wager C/G/MG
Reserve 12 Dutch Clark RB/CB/S/K
rookies in italics
Playoff Game
Chicago Bears 9, Portsmouth Spartans 0
References
External links 1932 Portsmouth Spartans at Pro Football Reference 1932 Portsmouth Spartans at jt-sw.com 1932 Portsmouth Spatans at The Football Database
External links Spartans on Pro Football Reference