1949 NFL Championship Game

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox NFLChamp

|type=nflc

|name=1949

|image=File:1949NFLChampionshipProgram.jpg

|visitor=Philadelphia Eagles

|home=Los Angeles Rams

|visitor_coach = Greasy Neale

|home_coach = Clark Shaughnessy

|visitor_conf = Eastern

|home_conf = Western

|visitor_abbr = PHI

|home_abbr = LA

|visitor_record = 11–1

|home_record = 8–2–2

|visitor_qtr1=0

|visitor_qtr2=7

|visitor_qtr3=7

|visitor_qtr4=0

|visitor_total=14

|home_qtr1=0

|home_qtr2=0

|home_qtr3=0

|home_qtr4=0

|home_total=0

|date=December 18, 1949

|stadium=Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

|city=
Los Angeles, California

|attendance=27,980 (paid); 22,245 (actual)

|network=ABC

|announcers=Harry Wismer, Red Grange

|HOFers=Eagles: Greasy Neale (coach), Chuck Bednarik, Pete Pihos, Steve Van Buren, Alex Wojciechowicz
Rams: Dan Reeves (owner), Tex Schramm (administrator), Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield

}}

{{Location map

|USA

|relief = 1

|label = Los Angeles

|lat = 34.014

|long = -118.287

|caption = Location in the United States

|position =

|marksize = 5

|float =

|background =

|width = 290

}}

The 1949 NFL Championship Game was the 17th title game for the National Football League (NFL), played on December 18 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/18/page/55/article/eagles-play-rams-today-for-n-f-l-title |newspaper=Chicago Sunday Tribune |last=Warren |first=Harry |title=Eagles play Rams today for N.F.L. title |date=December 18, 1949 |page=1, part 2}} It is remembered for the driving rain that caused the field to become a mud pit. Its paid attendance was 27,980, with only 22,245 in the stadium, which was a low in attendance not reached until 2020, which drew 24,835 because of global pandemic restrictions.{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/19/page/49/article/eagles-keep-title-in-los-angeles-rain |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Warren |first=Harry |title=Eagles keep title in Los Angeles rain |date=December 19, 1949 |page=1, part 3}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rFwbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6210%2C1499483 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Small payoff irks Eagles and Rams |date=December 19, 1949|page=22 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdZaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4763%2C1531713 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles submerge Rams for title, 14-0|date=December 19, 1949 |page=20}}

The game featured the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Eagles (11–1), the defending NFL champions, against the Los Angeles Rams (8–2–2), winners of the Western Division. This was the first NFL title game played in the western United States. The Rams had last appeared in a title game in 1945, a victory and the franchise's final game in Cleveland.

The Eagles were favored by a touchdown,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iFgaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CA0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7242%2C2142192|newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles, Rams battle for NFL title today |date=December 18, 1949 |page=2B }}{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/16/page/49/article/eagles-7-1-2-point-choice-for-title |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Warren |first=Harry |title=Eagles 7½ point choice for title |date=December 16, 1949 |page=1, part 4}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OM9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K0INAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C63367 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=United Press |title=Rams point for upset over Eagles |date=December 17, 1949 |page=7}} and won 14–0 for their second consecutive shutout in the title game. Running back Steve Van Buren rushed for 196 yards on 31 carries for the Eagles and their defense held the Rams to just 21 yards on the ground.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4s0LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2698%2C211869 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Independent |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Eagles retain title, beat Rams in rain |date=December 19, 1949 |page=21 }}

Philadelphia head coach Earle "Greasy" Neale did not like to fly, so the Eagles traveled to the West Coast by train.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TFlQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ilgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6595%2C3013312 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Independent |location=Florida |agency=Knight-Ridder Newspapers |last=Forbes |first=Gordon |title=Steve Van Buren |date=August 28, 1980 |page=6C}} On the way west, they stopped in Illinois for a workout at Stagg Field at the University of Chicago on Wednesday morning.{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/12/14/page/55/article/eagles-pause-in-chicago-for-drills-today |newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Warren |first=Harry |title=Eagles pause in Chicago for drills today |date=December 14, 1949 |page=1, part 4}}