Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Late in the game, Cid Edwards of the Cardinals ties up the score at 17-17 with his 1-yard TD run. With less than a minute left to play, it appears the result of the game will be a tie. But wait, on the ensuing kickoff Cards coach Bob Hollway directs Jim Bakken to try an onside kick. The Chargers recover, John Hadl completes a pass, and Dennis Partee makes a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expires.

Monumental blunder by Hollway, or clever attempt at stealing a win?

It was definitely a blunder, though not monumental considering it was a battle between a pair of 3-5 teams. What made it stupid was that the Cardinals had no time outs and only 16 seconds to try and get 10-15 yards--even if they had somehow beaten the odds and gotten the onside kick.

Blunder.

Pretty sure Don Meredith picked this game as one of his favorites on a MNF 10th Anniversary show.

I have the game, haven't seen it in forever but I enjoyed seeing players I like, the uniform matchup, and it was a good game.

The same thing happened in the final game of the 1946 season, Bears vs. Cardinals, and this time the Cardinals were the beneficiaries.

The Cardinals led 28-21, but the Bears tied it at 28 with 55 seconds left, then tried an onside kick, which the Cardinals recovered. The Bears were penalized 15 yards for arguing the call about who came up with the ball, and then Paul Christman completed two passes to Mal Kutner, the second for the game-winner with 14 seconds to go.

The Bears had already clinched the western division title, and I wonder if George Halas just didn't like the idea of settling for a tie against his crosstown rivals. As it turned out, the Bears also lost the final game to the Cardinals in 1947 and '48, and in each case the Cardinals' victory put THEM in the championship game.