The Monsters of the Midway would continue to dominate the 1940s. George Halas returned from his service in the Navy and took over the coaching reins. Led by Sid Luckman, the Bears won the NFL West Division with a record of 8-2-1. Luckman would throw for a league-leading 1,826 yards during the regular season. Just to get a sense how different the game is today, in 2013, Peyton Manning threw for 5,477 yards.
The Bears would meet the New York Giants, the winners of the NFL East, on December 15 at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. In a scene reminiscent of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, two Giants, quarterback Frank Filchock and fullback Merle Hapes, were approached by gamblers offering cash in exchange for throwing the game. League officials became familiar with the proposition and questioned both players prior to the game. Inexplicably Filchock was allowed to participate. Hapes, however, was sent packing. Filchock would go on to play the game hard, showing no signs that he had accepted the bribe.
Regardless of Filchock's determination, it wouldn't be enough to slow down Luckman and the Bears. Luckman completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Ken Kavanaugh. Later, Bears defender Dante Magnani would pick off Filchock and return it for a 39-yard touchdown. The Giants went on to score two touchdowns, and the game was tied going into the fourth quarter. After driving down the field, the Bears found themselves on the Giants 19. Luckman wasn't known for running, but that's exactly how the Bears found the endzone to take the lead. According to Luckman, "That was the first time I had carried the ball this year." The Bears would hold onto the lead and go on to win their seventh NFL championship, 24-14.
Learn more about Sid Luckman's heroics by checking out Chicago Bears by Lew Freeman and The Chicago Bears by Richard Whittingham.
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