The 1948 Chicago Cardinals season was the 29th season in franchise history. The franchise appeared in the NFL Championship for the second consecutive year. The Cardinals, however, lost to the Eagles, 7-0 in Philadelphia. The Cardinals made their final postseason appearance before relocating to St. Louis in 1960. It would be another 26 years before they would return to postseason.
The Cardinals scored 395 points in 1948 (32.9 points per game), the most in the NFL, and the second most all-time in a 12-game season. The Cardinals also led the league in offensive yards, yards per play, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. The team's plus-169 point-differential remains the best in franchise history.
The 1948 NFL season produced more points-per-game per team than any other season, and according to Cold Hard Football Facts:
"Jimmy Conzelman's Chicago Cardinals were the best of the bunch. They led the NFL in scoring that year (32.9 ) and they produced what was probably the greatest four-week stretch of offense in pro football history. From October 17 to November 7, the 1948 Cardinals beat the Giants 63-35; the Boston Yanks, 49-27; the L.A. Rams 27-22; and the Lions, 56-20. That's a four-week average of 48.8 for those of you keeping score at home.
"Yes, turnovers were common in 1948, so maybe that fact made life easier for offense. The Cardinals, for example, picked off 23 passes in 12 games. But they scored just two defensive touchdowns all year, while adding four on special teams. Mostly, they ripped off touchdowns, a remarkable 47 on offense. They kicked a mere eight field goals.
"Mostly, the offense was virtually unstoppable and it didn't settle often for the cheap, soccer-style field goals that pad offensive team totals today."
The Cardinals had three players in the top six in rushing in 1948: halfbacks Charley Trippi (690 yards), and Elmer Angsman (638), and fullback/linebacker/placekicker Pat Harder (554). Harder led the league in scoring in 1948, with 110 points (6 rushing touchdowns, 7 field goals, and 53 extra points). He was named the league's MVP by United Press International.
Read more about 1948 Chicago Cardinals Season: Awards and Records
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