1942 NFL Semifinal-Pittsburgh Steelers-7, Chicago Bears-0

December 13, 1942

Weather-18 degrees, wind 12 mph WSW, light snow

For the second consecutive year, the Chicago Bears came steamrolling into the postseason as the top seed, favored to win an NFL Championship. And for the second time, they were unable to stop the run and were sent home in the semifinals, this time by Pittsburgh, 7-0. The Steelers used 190 rushing yards to control the clock, especially in the second half, when Pittsburgh had the ball for 21:31.

Pittsburgh plays a caveman style that featured 41 runs in 50 plays and a grand total of 2 passing yards for the game. Dick Riffle made the big plays for the Steelers, intercepting his fifth pass of the season in the fourth quarter, then slamming in from a yard away for the only score of the game on the ensuing possession.

The Steelers will travel to Washington for the NFL Championship. The Bears lose their chance for a perfect season and finish 11-1.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-4)-0-0-0-7-7
Chicago Bears (11-1)-0-0-0-0-0

Pit-Riffle 1 run (Niccolai Kick)

Rushing (season totals in parentheses)
Pit-Riffle-12-63-1 (127-530-5), Gonda-1-53-0 (18-200-2), Dudley-14-40-0 (176-736-5), Sandig-6-21-0 (56-137-3), Hoague-8-13-0 (73-181-1)
Chi-Famiglietti-16-61-0 (134-564-8), Gallarneau-9-47-0 (77-339-4), Maznicki-7-32-0 (61-375-1), Clarke-3-6-0 (61-279-4), Luckman-1-6-0 (14-0-0)

Passing
Pit-Dudley-8-3-9-0-0 (102-38-447-2-5)
Chi-Luckman-19-8-56-0-1 (124-65-1080-10-14), O'Rourke-6-1-36-0-0 (94-38-987-11-16)

Receiving
Pit-Kichefski-1-8-0 (16-197-0), Looney-1-1-0 (8-60-1), Sandig-1-0-0 (7-103-0)
Chi-Siegal-3-65-0 (16-329-2), Wilson-2-8-0 (11-97-0), Pool-1-9-0 (11-330-5), Nowaskey-1-8-0 (7-136-0), Berry-1-3-0 (5-32-0), Gallarneau-1-(-1)-0 (15-290-3)