The fifteenth NFA Championship Game featured the same teams from the 1952 game. This time Chicago hosted the Ironmen. Also many writers favored the Packers to defeat the Ironmen even though on paper the Ironmen were a better team with more experience. The Ironmen would win the NFA East for the third straight season with a 10-2 record. Since Week 2, Pittsburgh solely held first place and never lost it. In the NFA West, Chicago did the same. They would finish 11-1 and would never fall from first place. Prior to the 1953 Season, many writers felt there would be a rematch between the Packers and the Ironmen. Their predictions would be right and round 2 between these two franchises would become an instant classic.
GAME SUMMARY
The game would start off with Pittsburgh receiving the ball. Harold Tisch would be able to command his team across midfield quickly, but they would be pushed back by 2 offensive holding penalties. Chicago's defense would also step up big and tackle Tisch for a 7 yard loss. Facing a 2nd and 27, Tisch would hand the ball off to Joe Salem. Salem would be quickly wrapped up by Chicago's defensive end Peter Dietz. The hit from Dietz would cause Salem to fumble the ball. Dietz would be able to fall on it and recover it for the Packers. Already in field goal range, Chicago's offense was in perfect position to take the lead of the game early. On first down, William Watson would be tackled for a loss by Barry Sandusky. On second down, Watson would throw a 33 yard bomb towards the end zone which would be caught by Eric Bauer for a touchdown. After the extra point, Chicago took a 7-0 lead. This would not be the only score Chicago had in the opening quarter. After forcing Pittsburgh to punt, Chicago would score again with a 9 yard rush by Bradley Stone. At the end of the first quarter, Chicago led 14-0. Pittsburgh's coach Mitch Andrews did not panic being down by 14 early. He knew and kept reminding his players that there was still a lot of football left to play. Tisch would throw an interception in the second quarter, but Chicago would fail to capitalize with it. Midway through the second quarter, Pittsburgh still trailed 14-0 but they were moving the ball across midfield and had a great rhythm going. Tisch would end the drive with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Edward Tole. After the extra point, Pittsburgh now only trailed by 7. Chicago would be able to answer just before the half though with a field goal to give themselves a 10 point lead at the half. Chicago felt confident going into the locker room leading 17-7. In the third quarter, momentum started to change. Chicago would have a difficult time containing Pittsburgh's rushing attack. Mitch Andrews would have Barry Sandusky play both sides of the ball and would have him block on the left end of the offensive line to help Salem rush for at least 5 yards each attempt. Even though every time Sandusky came into the game the Packers knew a rushing play to the left was coming, Chicago couldn't stop it. This would lead to a seven yard rush by Joe Salem for a touchdown. After the extra point, Pittsburgh now only trailed by 3. On Chicago's next possession they would turnover the ball for the first time in the game. On their own 30 yard line, William Watson would hand the ball off to Bobby Daniels on a 3rd and 2. As Daniels rushed up the middle, a Pittsburgh defender was able to knock the ball out of Danels's hands. The Ironmen would recover the ball at the bottom of the pile and put their offense in field goal range. Chicago would be able to hold the Ironmen to a field goal which would tie the game after 3 quarters of play. In the final quarter of the game, Chicago would strike first and regain the lead. On their first possession of the quarter starting from their own 11 yard line, Bradley Stone would have a huge rushing gain of 42 yards to put the Packers across midfield. The Pittsburgh defense was unable to catch their breath as William Watson threw a 27 yard pass to Otto Graham for a touchdown. After the extra point, Chicago took a 24-17 lead. Pittsburgh wasn't done yet though. The 2 time NFL Championship team would start their next drive from their own 20 after a touch back. The first play of their drive was a surprise "flea flicker". Harold Tisch would toss the ball to Joe Salem. Salem would rush towards the right and then toss the ball back to his quarterback. Tisch would then find Daniel Williams wide open. Williams would catch the ball and be tackled at the Chicago 39. The play completely caught the Packers defense off guard and kept them on their heels the rest of the drive. The Ironmen would be able to end the drive with an 11 yard rush by Thomas Reading to tie the game at 24. With time running out, Chicago had the ball and was looking to end the game. William Watson would have a difficult time finding open receivers though and would have to rush multiple times to avoid a loss of yards. He would be able to avoid being tackled for a loss mostly, and would find Bradley Stone open for a 17 yard reception to put the Packers at midfield at the Ironmen 44. Their drive would end in disaster though. With time running out in the game, Watson would try to throw the ball on first and second downs. He would throw an incomplete pass on first down and on second he would be tackled for a 3 yard loss. On 3rd down and 13, Watson would have great protection at the line and would hold on to the ball a while as he attempted to find an open receiver. With no receiver open, Watson would throw the ball towards Otto Graham who was being covered by both Steve McCaffrey and Barry Sandusky. The ball would be picked off by McCaffrey who would then break a tackle and start sprinting towards the Chicago endzone. It looked for a moment that McCaffrey was going to be able to score if he beat Packers lineman Jefferson Burns, but McCaffrey would be tackled and the 4th quarter would end. For the first time in NFA Championship Game history, the game would go into an overtime period. In Overtime, Chicago won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball of course. With the Pittsburgh defense now fired up after the interception to end regulation, Chicago would have a difficult time getting their offense together. Watson was noticeably nervous after throwing the pick. On first down, the Packers would rush the ball from their own 22 yard line for a 5 yard loss. Watson on second down would look to throw, but his pass was very wobbly and dropped by Jake Marble at the 20 yard line. On third down, Watson would attempt to hand the ball off to Bradley Stone. The exchange was sloppy and the ball would end up on the ground for a fumble. The Ironmen would be able to recover the ball at the Chicago 12 yard line. The Chicago fans were silent. Packers head coach Mark Watney and his players on the sideline stood in disbelief of what just occurred. They wouldn't have to wait long for the final nail in the coffin. On the next play, Joe Salem would rush to the left. With Sandusky blocking, Salem would rush in for a touchdown to end the game. Pittsburgh would win their third consecutive NFA Championship, the first franchise to do so.