1963 NFL Championship Game The 1963 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 29 , 1963 at Wrigley Field in Chicago . The game pitted the visiting New York Giants ( 11 – 3 ) against the Chicago Bears ( 11 – 1 – 2 ) in the 31st annual championship game . Originally , NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle asked Bears owner / coach George Halas to move the game to Soldier Field due to increased seating capacity as well as lights , in case the sun would set during the game . When Halas refused , Rozelle pushed the starting time of the game to 12 : 05 pm Central Time . The championship was also played on a day when the game time temperature was between 9 – 11 degrees Fahrenheit . Background . The Giants , coached by Allie Sherman , were known for their powerful offense , which scored 448 points in 14 games . They were led by quarterback Y . A . Tittle who threw 36 touchdown passes during the season , then an NFL record . Other contributing players on offense were Pro Bowl ers Del Shofner and Frank Gifford . Wide receiver Shofner caught 64 passes for 1 , 181 yards and 9 touchdowns . Although he normally was a running back , and only recorded four rushing attempts in 1963 , Gifford had 42 receptions for 657 yards and 7 touchdowns . The Giants also used a plethora of players at running back , with the main two being Phil King and Joe Morrison . Although neither one had significant individual statistics , they combined for 1 , 181 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns . The Giants defense allowed 280 points , ranking 5th overall in the NFL . This group was led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff . Other contributing players on defense were defensive linemen , Jim Katcavage , and John LoVetere ; linebacker Tom Scott ; and defensive backs Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch . Meanwhile , the Bears were known for their defense , nicknamed the Monsters of the Midway . Led by defensive coordinator George Allen , this unit yielded 144 points in 14 games . The defensive line consisted of Ed O ' Bradovich , Fred Williams , Stan Jones , and future hall of famer Doug Atkins . The linebacking core was led by Joe Fortunato , Bill George , and Larry Morris , while the defensive backs were led by Richie Petitbon and Rosey Taylor . Accomplishments by the Bears defense during the regular season included surrendering only 1 touchdown in two games versus the Green Bay Packers , and not allowing any passing touchdowns in its two games against quarterback Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts . Writers in New York were especially fearful of the trio at linebacker , stating that Tittle had yet to see a group like them all year . Chicago ' s offense did not come close to the Giants offense in terms of points scored or yards gained . The group only scored 301 points , ranking 10th out of the league ' s then - 14 teams . Led by quarterback Bill Wade , the number 1 overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft . Wade ran a simplified game plan , nicknamed " three yards and a cloud of dust " , in which they would play it safe by running the ball in almost every play instead of giving up an interception . Occasionally Wade would throw short passes to tight end Mike Ditka and wide receiver , Johnny Morris . Game summary . The Giants opened the scoring in the first quarter when Y . A . Tittle led New York on an 41 - yard drive that was capped off by a 14 - yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford . The drive was set up by Billy Wade ' s fumble on the Bears ' 41 yard line . However , later in the first period , Tittle suffered an injury to his left knee when Larry Morris hit him during his throwing motion . For the rest of the game , Tittle would never be the same . Morris then intercepted Tittle ' s screen pass and returned the ball 61 yards to the Giants 6 - yard line . Two plays later , Wade scored a touchdown on a two - yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 7 . In the second quarter , the Giants retook the lead , 10 – 7 , on a 13 - yard field goal . But on New York ' s next drive , Tittle reinjured his left knee on another hit by Morris . With Tittle out for two possessions , the Giants struggled , only able to advance 2 yards in 7 plays . Allie Sherman even punted on third down , showing no confidence in backup Glynn Griffing . However , the score remained 10 – 7 at halftime . Tittle would come back in the third period , but he needed Cortisone , Novocaine , and heavy taping and bandaging just to continue . For the rest of the game , Tittle was forced to throw off his back foot ( poor mechanics for a quarterback ) . An interception on a screen pass by the Bears ' Ed O ' Bradovich was brought deep into Giant territory , setting up Wade ' s 1 - yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14 – 10 lead . The score would hold up , and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon ' s interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left . It was Tittle ' s 5th interception . The play occurred right after Shofner dropped a pass in the end zone . At the end of the game defensive coordinator George Allen was given the game ball due to his defense ' s spectacular play . Although the young American Football League was completing its fourth season , the NFL still regarded itself as the premiere professional league of American football , as reflected in WGN radio broadcaster Jack Quinlan ' s comment as the click ticked to 0 on the final play : " The Chicago Bears are world ' s champions of professional football ! " It would be another twenty - two years before the Bears would win another championship . References . Riger , Robert . " Best Plays of the Year : 1963 . " Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey : Prentice - Hall . 1964 . External links .