1963 NFL SEASON
1963 NFL Season
Leaders
Passing Yards: Snead (WAS) - 3,999...Tittle (NYG) - 3,598...Unitas (BAL) - 3,179...Johnson (SLC) - 3,120...Morrall (DET) - 2,740
Rushing Yards: Brown (CLE) - 1,707...Taylor (GNB) - 1,183...Brown (PHI) - 969...Smith (SFO) - 832...Childress (SLC) - 796
Receiving Yards: Cogdill (DET) - 1,469...Mitchell (WAS) - 1,456...Retzlaff (PHI) - 1,131...Ditka (CHI) - 1,094...Dial (PIT) - 1,014
Scoring: Groza (CLE) - 109...Chandler (NYG) - 108...Brown (CLE) - 102...Brown (PHI) - 102...Bakken (SLC) - 96
Interceptions: Lunch (NYG) - 11...Lebeau (DET) - 10...Hillebrand (NYG) - 10...Taylor (CHI) - 10...McRae (CHI) - 10
Sacks: Davis (GNB) - 12...Modzelewski (NYG) - 10...Atkins (CHI) - 9...Hawkins (MIN) - 9...Marshall (MIN) - 9
Division Winners
Eastern - New York (12-2)
Western - Chicago (13-1)
Passing Yards: Snead (WAS) - 3,999...Tittle (NYG) - 3,598...Unitas (BAL) - 3,179...Johnson (SLC) - 3,120...Morrall (DET) - 2,740
Rushing Yards: Brown (CLE) - 1,707...Taylor (GNB) - 1,183...Brown (PHI) - 969...Smith (SFO) - 832...Childress (SLC) - 796
Receiving Yards: Cogdill (DET) - 1,469...Mitchell (WAS) - 1,456...Retzlaff (PHI) - 1,131...Ditka (CHI) - 1,094...Dial (PIT) - 1,014
Scoring: Groza (CLE) - 109...Chandler (NYG) - 108...Brown (CLE) - 102...Brown (PHI) - 102...Bakken (SLC) - 96
Interceptions: Lunch (NYG) - 11...Lebeau (DET) - 10...Hillebrand (NYG) - 10...Taylor (CHI) - 10...McRae (CHI) - 10
Sacks: Davis (GNB) - 12...Modzelewski (NYG) - 10...Atkins (CHI) - 9...Hawkins (MIN) - 9...Marshall (MIN) - 9
Division Winners
Eastern - New York (12-2)
Western - Chicago (13-1)
NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - New York Giants vs Chicago Bears
Sunday, December 29, 1963 at Wrigley Field
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/4/6/18466176/images_13_orig.jpg)
In a game the Chicago Bears lead almost throughout, they need a late game winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to beat the New York Giants 21-16 and win the 1963 NFL Championship.
The first quarter of the game was incredibly sloppy as the teams combined to turn the ball four times in the first five offensive possessions. Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle threw and interception and fumbled while Bears quarterback Billy Wade threw two interceptions. It was the Giants that finally put together a scoring drive as Don Chandler kicked a 10 yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
Tittle and Wade were back to their old tricks in the second quarter as they each threw interceptions. Chicago was able to cash in on a short field after intercepting Tittle and they took the lead on a 33 yard run by Rick Casares. At the half Chicago led the game 7-3.
Chicago extended their lead in the third quarter as Willie Galimore ran in from nine yards out to make it 14-3. Late in the quarter Chandler kicked his second field goal of the game for the Giants to make it 14-6 as the game headed to the fourth quarter.
The Giants began the fourth quarter with the ball and Phil King ran in from 17 yards out. With just over 12 minutes left in the game the Bears had a slim 14-13 lead. After forcing a three and out, the Giants got the ball back and Chandler kicked his third field goal of the game to give the Giants a 16-14 lead with just over seven minutes remaining.
The two teams exchanged three and outs and the Bears got the ball back with just under four minutes remaining. Wade led the Bears down the field and and with just over two minutes left they had a first and goal from the Giants five yard line. After a sack by Bob Taylor pushed them back to the 11 yard line. Wade tossed a screen pass to Galimore who went all the way for a touchdown. With 1:42 left in the game, the Bears were back in front 21-16. Title led the Giants out for a shot at a game winning drive but on third down he dropped the snap and Doug Atkins fell on the ball for Chicago. That was the 13th turnover in the game. A fitting way for this sloppy championship game to end.
MVP: Willie Galimore (CHI)....Rushing: 22 yards, TD...Receiving: 2 catches 18 yards, TD
For New York...Tittle 18/29, 220 yards, 4 INT...King 46 yards rushing...Shofner 65 yards receiving
For Chicago...Wade 11/26, 94 yards, TD, 4 INT...Casares 54 yards rushinig, TD...Farrington 28 yard receiving...
The first quarter of the game was incredibly sloppy as the teams combined to turn the ball four times in the first five offensive possessions. Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle threw and interception and fumbled while Bears quarterback Billy Wade threw two interceptions. It was the Giants that finally put together a scoring drive as Don Chandler kicked a 10 yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
Tittle and Wade were back to their old tricks in the second quarter as they each threw interceptions. Chicago was able to cash in on a short field after intercepting Tittle and they took the lead on a 33 yard run by Rick Casares. At the half Chicago led the game 7-3.
Chicago extended their lead in the third quarter as Willie Galimore ran in from nine yards out to make it 14-3. Late in the quarter Chandler kicked his second field goal of the game for the Giants to make it 14-6 as the game headed to the fourth quarter.
The Giants began the fourth quarter with the ball and Phil King ran in from 17 yards out. With just over 12 minutes left in the game the Bears had a slim 14-13 lead. After forcing a three and out, the Giants got the ball back and Chandler kicked his third field goal of the game to give the Giants a 16-14 lead with just over seven minutes remaining.
The two teams exchanged three and outs and the Bears got the ball back with just under four minutes remaining. Wade led the Bears down the field and and with just over two minutes left they had a first and goal from the Giants five yard line. After a sack by Bob Taylor pushed them back to the 11 yard line. Wade tossed a screen pass to Galimore who went all the way for a touchdown. With 1:42 left in the game, the Bears were back in front 21-16. Title led the Giants out for a shot at a game winning drive but on third down he dropped the snap and Doug Atkins fell on the ball for Chicago. That was the 13th turnover in the game. A fitting way for this sloppy championship game to end.
MVP: Willie Galimore (CHI)....Rushing: 22 yards, TD...Receiving: 2 catches 18 yards, TD
For New York...Tittle 18/29, 220 yards, 4 INT...King 46 yards rushing...Shofner 65 yards receiving
For Chicago...Wade 11/26, 94 yards, TD, 4 INT...Casares 54 yards rushinig, TD...Farrington 28 yard receiving...