1952 Championship Game vs. Chicago Bears

Lore & Background

The Bears dominated the rivalry in the early days from the 1930s to the 1950s, when they were a perennial powerhouse team under head coach George 'Papa Bear' Halas. Through the 1966 season, the final season before the first Super Bowl was played, Chicago was 47–22–4 against Detroit. However, the series has been far more even since then, with Detroit holding a 60–58–1 lead since then. The Bears lead the overall series, 105–82–5. The two teams have not met in the playoffs. The 1932 NFL Playoff Game, despite its name, is included in the final standings of the regular season.

Reader's Guide

The 1952 NFL Championship Game was played between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.

Did You Know?

• The Bears and Lions have met a total of 20 times on Thanksgiving, all in Detroit, with the Bears holding a 11–9 record in the Thanksgiving meetings.
• Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed on the field on October 24, 1971, and was pronounced dead. He remains the only player in NFL history to have died on the field.
• The 1932 NFL Playoff Game was the first ever playoff game in NFL history, played indoors at Chicago Stadium due to severe weather.