1945 Cleveland Rams season

The 1945 Cleveland Rams season was the team's eighth year with the National Football League and the ninth and final season in Cleveland.

The Rams franchise won their first NFL Championship.

Off season

NFL Draft

Schedule

Standings

Regular season

Week 2: vs. Chicago Cardinals

at League Park, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game attendance: 10,872

CLE - Waterfield 8 yard run (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Pritko 4 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Gillette 25 yard run (Waterfield kick)

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears

at League Park, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game attendance: 19,580

CLE - Waterfield 8 yard run (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Pritko 25 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick)
CLE - FG Waterfield 28

Week 4: at Green Bay Packers

at East Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Game attendance: 24,607

CLE - Benton 17 pass from Waterfield (kick failed)
GB - Comp 1 run (Hutson kick)
GB - Fritsch 3 run (Hutson kick)
CLE - Colella 6 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Greenwood 1 run (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Colella 5 run (Waterfield kick)

Week 5: at Chicago Bears

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Game attendance: 28,273

CLE - Greenwood 11 run (kick failed)
CLE - Colella 3 run (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Gehrke 10 run (Waterfield kick)
CHI - Margarita 1 run (Gudauskas kick)
CHI - Margarita 42 pass from Luckman (Gudauskas kick)
CHI - Gallameau 2 run (Gudauskas kick)
CLE - Greenwood 8 run (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Benton 21 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick)
CLE - Colella 18 paass from Reisz (Waterfield kick)

Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 7: at New York Giants

Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 9: at Chicago Cardinals

Week 10: at Detroit Lions

Week 11: vs. Boston Yanks

Post season

NFL Championship Game: vs. Washington Redskins

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH

• Game attendance: 32,178

In the first quarter, the Redskins had the ball at their own 5-yard line. Dropping back into the end zone, quarterback Sammy Baugh threw, but the ball hit the goal post (which at the time were on the goal line instead of at the back of the end zone) and bounced back to the ground in the end zone. Under the rules at the time, this was ruled as a safety and thus gave the Rams a 2-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Baugh suffered bruised ribs and was replaced by Frank Filchock. Filchock threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Steve Bagarus to give the Redskins a 7-2 lead. But the Rams scored just before halftime when rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jim Benton. Waterfield's ensuing extra point was partially blocked, with the ball teetering on the crossbar, but it dropped over to give Cleveland a 9-7 lead.

In the third quarter, the Rams increased their lead when Jim Gillette scored on a 44-yard touchdown reception, but this time the extra point was missed. The Redskins then came back to cut their deficit to 15-14 with Seymour's 8-yard touchdown catch from Filchock. In the fourth quarter, Washington kicker Joe Aguirre missed two field goals attempts, of 46 and 31 yards, that could have won the game.

Awards and records

• Adam Walsh, Coach of the Year
• Bob Waterfield, League Most Valuable Player
• Bob Waterfield, NFL leader, Touchdowns (14 – tied)^[1]

References

External links

• http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule?team=STL&season=1945&seasonType=REG