The 1938 Green Bay Packers season was their 20th season overall and their 18th season in the National Football League. The team finished with an 8–3 record in 1938 under head coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Division.
In the championship game at the Polo Grounds, the Packers lost to the New York Giants 23–17, the first of only three losses the Packers have in 13 world championship games. The two teams met again in the title game the following year at Wisconsin State Fair Park, with different results.
This season marked the last Packers' win in Buffalo (where they defeated the Chicago Cardinals by two points on a late field goal on a Wednesday night). Since then, they are winless in six attempts against the Buffalo Bills in western New York, the latest on October 30, 2022.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 11 Cleveland Rams W 26–17 1–0 City Stadium 8,247 Recap 2 September 18 at Chicago Bears L 0–2 1–1 City Stadium 15,172 Recap 3 September 25 Chicago Cardinals W 28–7 2–1 Wisconsin State Fair Park 18,000 Recap 4 v. Chicago Cardinals † W 24–22 3–1 Buffalo Civic Stadium 10,687 Recap 5 October 9 Detroit Lions L 7–17 3–2 City Stadium 21,968 Recap 6 October 16 Brooklyn Dodgers W 35–7 4–2 Wisconsin State Fair Park 11,892 Recap Associated Press, "Green Bay Routs Brooklyn, 35 to 7: Andy Uram Nets Score for Packers," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 17, 1938, p. 12. 7 October 23 Pittsburgh Pirates W 20–0 5–2 City Stadium 12,142 Recap 8 October 30 at Cleveland Rams W 28–7 6–2 League Park 18,843 Recap 9 November 6 at Chicago Bears W 24–17 7–2 Wrigley Field 40,208 Recap 10 November 13 at Detroit Lions W 28–7 8–2 Briggs Stadium 45,139 Recap 11 November 20 at New York Giants L 3–15 8–3 Polo Grounds 48,279 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents in bold. • † -
Post-season Week Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Sources Championship December 11 at New York Giants L 17–23 Polo Grounds 48,120 Recap Roster 1938 Green Bay Packers final rosterBacks 5 Hank Bruder RB/S 38 Arnie Herber RB/CB 30 Clarke Hinkle FB/LB/K 49 John Howell RB/CB 17 Cecil Isbell RB/CB 7 Eddie Jankowski FB/LB 15 Swede Johnston RB/S 24 Joe Laws RB/CB 3 Paul Miller RB/CB/S 50 Bob Monnett RB/CB/K 51 Herm Schneidman RB/S 8 Andy Uram RB/CB 33 Dick Weisgerber FB/LBLinemen/Linebackers 35 Frank Butler T/DT 34 Tiny Engebretsen G/DG/K 43 Buckets Goldenberg G/DG 11 Leo Katalinas T/DT 40 Bill Lee T/DT 29 Darrell Lester C/LB 46 Russ Letlow G/DG 48 Ookie Miller C/LB 18 Lee Mulleneaux C/LB 44 Baby Ray T/DT 41 Champ Seibold T/DT 21 Pete Tinsley G/DGEnds/Receivers 32 Wayland Becker 22 Milt Gantenbein 14 Don Hutson K 19 Carl Mulleneaux 36 Bernie Scherer
Rookies in italics
Standings
References
Further reading Cliff Christl, The Greatest Story in Sports: Green Bay Packers, 1919–2019. 4 volumes. Stevens Point, WI: KCI Sports Publishing, 2021. Larry D. Names, The History of the Green Bay Packers: The Lambeau Years, Part Two. Wautoma, WI: Angel Press of Wisconsin, 1989. Arch Ward, The Green Bay Packers. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1946.
External links Sportsencyclopedia.com