1938 Green Bay Packers season

The 1938 Green Bay Packers season was their 20th season overall and their 18th season in the National Football League. The team finished with an 8–3 record in 1938 under head coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Division.[1][2]

1938 Green Bay Packers season
Head coachCurly Lambeau
Home fieldCity Stadium
Wisconsin State Fair Park
Results
Record8–3
Division place1st NFL Western
Playoff finishLost NFL Championship
(at Giants) 17–23

In the championship game at the Polo Grounds, the Packers lost to the New York Giants 23–17,[3][4] the first of only three losses the Packers have in 13 world championship games. The two teams met again in the title game the following year at Wisconsin State Fair Park, with different results.

This season marked the last Packers' win in Buffalo (where they defeated the Chicago Cardinals by two points on a late field goal on a Wednesday night).[5][6] Since then, they are winless in six attempts against the Buffalo Bills in western New York, the latest on October 30, 2022.

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record
1 September 11 Cleveland Rams W 26–17 1–0
2 September 18 at Chicago Bears L 0–2 1–1
3 September 25 Chicago Cardinals W 28–7 2–1
4 September 28 vs. Chicago Cardinals ^ W 24–22 3–1
5 October 9 Detroit Lions L 7–17 3–2
6 October 16 Brooklyn Dodgers W 35–7 4–2
7 October 23 Pittsburgh Pirates W 20–0 5–2
8 October 30 at Cleveland Rams W 28–7 6–2
9 November 6 Chicago Bears W 24–17 7–2
10 November 13 at Detroit Lions W 28–7 8–2
11 November 20 at New York Giants L 3–15 8–3
^ Played at Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday night.[5]

Playoffs

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Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue
Championship December 11 at New York Giants L 17–23 0–1 Polo Grounds

Standings

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NFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Green Bay Packers 8 3 0 .727 6–2 223 118 L1
Detroit Lions 7 4 0 .636 6–2 119 108 L1
Chicago Bears 6 5 0 .545 3–5 194 148 L1
Cleveland Rams 4 7 0 .364 3–5 131 215 W1
Chicago Cardinals 2 9 0 .182 2–6 111 168 W1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
New York Giants 8 2 1 .800 5–2–1 194 79 W1
Washington Redskins 6 3 2 .667 4–2–2 148 154 L1
Brooklyn Dodgers 4 4 3 .500 3–2–3 131 161 T1
Philadelphia Eagles 5 6 0 .455 3–5 154 164 W2
Pittsburgh Pirates 2 9 0 .182 2–6 79 169 L6
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

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  1. ^ "Lions upset by Eagles; Packers win title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 5, 1938. p. 11.
  2. ^ Burton, Lewis (December 11, 1938). "Packers, Giants meet for title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1B.
  3. ^ Burton, Lewis (December 12, 1938). "Giants defeat Packers, 23-17 for pro title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 13.
  4. ^ Gannon, Pat (December 12, 1938). "Giants' early attack defeats Green Bay for title, 23 to 17". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.
  5. ^ a b "Engebretsen's goal beats Cards". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 29, 1938. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Field goal wins for Green Bay". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. September 29, 1938. p. 29.

Further reading

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  • Cliff Christl, The Greatest Story in Sports: Green Bay Packers, 1919–2019. 4 volumes. Stevens Point, WI: KCI Sports Publishing, 2021.
  • Larry D. Names, The History of the Green Bay Packers: The Lambeau Years, Part Two. Wautoma, WI: Angel Press of Wisconsin, 1989.
  • Arch Ward, The Green Bay Packers. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1946.
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