Cards' success a long time coming

The last time the Cardinals had a home playoff game, the CIA was two months old, "Miracle on 34th Street" was a new hit movie and Jackie Robinson had just completed his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

It was 1947 and the Chicago Cardinals were the talk of the NFL.

Owner Charles Bidwill didn't live to see his team beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 in that NFL title game at Comiskey Park. But his generosity three months before his death at age 51 played a role in that championship.

On Jan. 16, 1947, Bidwill signed Georgia All-America running back Charlie Trippi to the most lucrative contract in the 27-year history of the NFL. It was $100,000 over four years.

Trippi joined quarterback Paul Christman and running backs Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg and Elmer Angsman in what became known as Bidwill's "Million-Dollar Backfield." It was money well spent. Trippi and Angsman each scored a pair of touchdowns in beating the Eagles for the championship.

The Cardinals won that game in part because they decided to wear tennis shoes. It was Dec. 28 and the field was frozen. Trippi scored touchdowns of 44 and 75 yards. Angsman added a couple of 70-yarders.

A crowd of 30,759 fans watched the game. They will remain the last to see the Cardinals play a postseason home game until January 2009 when the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals play host to a wild-card qualifier at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Even the team's current players have a hard time comprehending that.

"I really got faced with a lot of facts this week," receiver Steve Breaston told reporters after Sunday's 34-10 victory over the visiting Rams.

The Cardinals are a one-dimensional team the Vikings should be able to beat in Arizona on Sunday. Arizona ranks No. 1 in scoring (28.6 points per game) and No. 2 in passing (301 yards per game), but it also has the league's worst running game (75.4) and 10th-worst scoring defense (24.8), and is 2-5 against teams that currently have winning records.

The Cardinals also could suffer a letdown. After all, they are in the playoffs for the first time since 1998. And they have won their first division title since 1975, when they were in St. Louis.

The Vikings and Cardinals realistically are playing for the third and fourth seeds in the NFC playoffs. The third seed plays the No. 6 seed, which currently is Dallas, in a wild-card game. The fourth seed plays the No. 5 seed, which currently is Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers lost at Carolina on Monday night.

Bidwill is the son of current owner Bill Bidwill, 77. The Cardinals have been in the Bidwill family since Charles bought it in 1932.

The Cards are the NFL's oldest team. They were formed in 1898 and played more than 20 seasons before the NFL began in 1920.

It's been mostly a bumpy ride for the Cardinals. They have more losses than any other team. Even the Lions have more than 100 fewer losses, although they are gaining ground quickly.

The Cardinals' playoff appearance this season will be their seventh since 1920. Seven in 89 seasons.

They have one win, a 20-7 victory over the Cowboys during the 1998 postseason, since winning that title in 1947. One.