Evening star., 1940-11-17
Tilt Crucial for Both
Squads Driving for
Divisional Titles
Apt to Prove Preview
Of Ployoff for 1910
Loop Championship
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.

and the Redskins clash at Griffith
Stadium this afternoon in probably
the biggest "grudge" grid battle the
Capital ever has known.
Widely touted as one of the great
est football squads of all time and
one of pro footballs three oldest
teams. the Bears will be making their
debut in Washington for an official
league game, although they played
an exhibition here Is years ago dur
ing Red Oranges first season with
them.
For those reasons Griffith Stadium
will be taxed to the limit of its seat
ing capacity for the opening kickoff
at o'clock, One-half hour earlier
than previously. With standing room
unavailable at any price the park
has been a Sellout for the past u
days.
Bears Hold Series Edge.
Even we're the Redskins and Bears
not striving to sew up the champion
ships of the Eastern and Western
divisions the game would be a
natural" based on the last two
tumultouS meetings of the teams
in 1897 and '38. In 81 the Redskins
and Bears were combatants in a
neVer-to-be forgotten playoff game
on an ice-coated gridiron in Chi
cago'S sub-zero weather. Then the
Redskins prevailed, 1921, for the
world title.
The following year, however, the
Redskins moved into Chicago again
only to be crushed, 7-31, in a riotous,
flst-finging affair. In the au-time
series between the teams which
started with the Redskins entry into
the league in 1882, the Bears have
won five of the eight games, the
first encounter ending in tie.
To say that todays game is crucial
for both Chicago and Washington,
with the victor in fair way to
clinch its division title, is putting it
mildly. But of the individual plights
the Bears is the more desperate
AS play starts today the Chicagoans'
lead over the champion Green Bay
Packers in the Western division only
Is one game, with the Packers heavy
favorites to whip the Giants at New
York, a deadlock would result were
the Bears to lose here, assuming a
Packer victory.
On the other hand, the Redskins
nearest rivals. the Brooklyn Dodgers.
are two games behind and couldn't
attain first-place tie even if they
were to beat the Cleveland Rams
and the Redskins lost.
But the Redskins definitely could
CLnch the Eastern crown by a victory
coupled with loss or even a tie by
the Dodgers. A Redskin win would
eliminate the Giants, no matter what
they did to the Packers. while the
Dodgers could remain in the running
only with victory.
In the final analysis todav's game
shapes up as a contest between Red
skin aerial artistry and sheer Bear
power. The visitors have no passer
even to be compared with the
ln1mltable Sammy Baugh, but on the
other hand the hosts have no such
brulslng line-smashers as Bill Os-
manskl,, Gary Famiglietti. Joe Ma
nlacl, Ray Noting and George
McAfee. Sid Luckman. the old Co
Iumola star now in his sophomore
year is the Bears most dependable
paSser. but it is universally known
that George Halas' team depends
less on passing than any team in
the league.
Dry Field Is Skins Hope.
Thanks to the surprisingly rapid
drying-out of the gridiron after the
weeks early rains, the Redskins
running attack may not be at such
a disadvantage against the Bears
reputed ground-gaining game. with
sure footing, the Redskins may
shake Dick Todd loose once or twice
and If they do, it's liable to be fatal
to the Bears.
For the most part, however, the
Indians offensive should rest upon
the throwing arms of Baugh and
Frank Filchock and the sure-fn-
gerednesS and fleet feet of such re-
celVerS as Ed Justice, Jimmy John
ston, Wayne Millner, Charley Ma
lone. Bob McChesney and Bob Mas
terson.
In the matter of rookie talent the
Bears will go the Redskins one bet
ter when it comes to starting line
ups. The Skins will open with Bob
Iltchenal and Bob Hoffman at CEN
ter and quarterback, respectively,
While the Bears will have freshmen
at center, right tackle and right
halfback.
Clyde BULLDOG Turner from
Hardln-SlmmonS is Chicago's new
f1rst-string snapper-back: Lee Ar
toe. 218-pound tackle from Cali
tornla, will pair up with all-League
Joe Stydahar, and George McAfee,
Duke Uniyersity's outstanding star
last year, will be in the opening
backfeld.
And although the Bears don't in
sert complete new teams at one time
Ia RedSkir-Giant fashion, they've
enough reserve talent to match theil
4lOStc. VI VII illt SIllCdSO De1CI
will be such guys as automatic
Jack Manders, a kicking specialist
and the greatest point-getter Pre-
footballs ever known; Bob Swisher
a fast, scat back from Northwestern;
Bernie MasterSon, an eight-year vet.
eran quarterback from Nebraska
Ken Kavanaugh, L. S. US all-Amer-
lea end last year; George Washing
tons own Bob Nowaskey, whom
Halas yesterday described as "s
fine boy, with plenty of ability;
Jack Torrance, another L. S. U
product, who holds the world recorc
for the 16-pound shotput; George
(Moose) Musso, several times an all.
league guard, and Frank pete
Bausch, who used to play center
for the Redskins when they were
In Boston.
Local bookmakers weren't offerinl
either team as a favorite last night
With either team liable to run wild
there was little to choose, with tn,
,,,art -l,oor ri nllot tion heirU So (