Today’s NFL playoff system involves a wild-card round, a divisional round and a conference championship before the Super Bowl contenders are decided.  The playoff system has resulted in exciting games year after year and also allows for underdogs to become champions.  Before the current system was introduced, divisional playoff games only occurred when two teams had a tied regular season record.

On this day, December 14th, in 1941, the Bears and Packers met in the first ever NFL division playoff game. Seeing as their regular season ended in a tie, the western division playoff was played in Chicago. Chicago’s home field advantage appeared helpful as the Bears beat the Packers 33-14.

The Bears went on to win the NFL Championship, beating the East Division Champion New York Giants 37-9.