The Sommer Frieze

In 1947, the Chicago Cardinals won the NFL title 28-21 over the Philadelphia Eagles for their only NFL title to date.

In 1948, they returned to the title game, but lost the rematch to the Eagles 7-0. Now you may have heard of the 1934 Sneakers game (Giants over Bears), or the 1967 NFL title game (Ice Bowl, GB over Dallas) the 1981 season’s AFC title game in Cincinnati (Bengals over SD) or last year’s NFC title game in the “frozen tundra” won by the Giants over the Packers in OT. All brutal weather games. Snow and/or ice and cold. Even the 1975 AFC title game in Pittsburgh (Steelers 16, Raiders 10)

But have you ever read or heard about the 1948 “Blizzard Bowl”? Check the photo below.

Yup, that’s what they played in, and it seemed like it would be a cold day in you-know-where when the Cardinals would play in another NFC title game. After all, the Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis from 1960-1987 and never got in one in their whole time in St. Louis. Heck, they didn’t even win a playoff game while in St. Louis.

That 1948 NFL title game was the last NFL or NFC title game in which the Cardinals franchise has participated in….until now. It’s been SIXTY years since the Cardinals got into an NFL or NFC title game. Two cities ago. Sixty years.

Well, hell has frozen over. The Cardinals are in this year’s NFC title game after upsetting the Carolina Panthers in an embarrassingly easy victory, 33-13. It was over by the half. Shocking because the Arizona Cardinals were 10 point underdogs and were given a chance for the upset by…..practically no one.

The Panthers’ Jake Delhomme threw five interceptions and the Panthers were shockingly awful at home. The Cardinals had gone 0-5 on the east coast this year before this win. In fact, the Cardinals were embarrassingly awful in what seemed like a “mail it in” loss to the Patriots not too long ago.

But they are in the NFC title game. If the Eagles win tomorrow, they host it.

But if the Giants win….I have to wonder and fear. For if the Giants host it, I’m not that far from the Meadowlands. About a two-hour drive. I don’t know what the weather forecast is for the Meadowlands for next Sunday the 18th. But if it would be a cold day in you-know-where for the Cards to make the NFC title game, I better bundle up pretty well next Sunday. Thermals, lots of layers…fear of frostbite….you know the drill.

Either that or Arizona won’t know what will hit them. For they’ll feel a chill never before felt in those parts. Well, maybe once. In the Ice Age.