1984: Bears Upset Redskins in NFC Divisional Playoff Game

The NFC Divisional playoff game on December 30, 1984 featured the Washington Redskins, a team known for offensive prowess that had won the NFC Championship the previous two years, and the NFL’s top-rated defensive team, the Chicago Bears.

The Bears had not won a playoff game since 1963 and had only two appearances in the interim, the last in 1979. Mike Ditka, who had been a player on that title-winning ‘63 team, was the third-year head coach and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan the architect of an aggressive unit that set a record with 72 sacks in ’84. The defense was especially strong on the line that was anchored by DT Dan Hampton and DE Richard Dent, the conference leader in sacks with 17.5, and at linebacker, where MLB Mike Singletary was a consensus first-team All-Pro.  

The key to the offense, as he had been for virtually all of his ten years with the Bears, was RB Walter Payton (pictured above), who surpassed Jim Brown as the career rushing leader during the season but, at age 31, was still formidable (1684 rushing yards, 2052 yards from scrimmage). QB Jim McMahon had been sidelined by a variety of injuries and a lacerated kidney finished him for the year ten weeks into the season. Bob Avellini, Rusty Lisch, and Greg Landry, in addition to Steve Fuller, who was starting against Washington despite a shoulder separation, had all seen action behind center for the Bears. Chicago won the NFC Central with a 10-6 record.

Washington, coached by Joe Gibbs, topped the NFC East at 11-5 and, while not as potent as the record-setting 1983 team that was upset by the Raiders in the Super Bowl, was still strong. The Redskins had an outstanding offensive line, dubbed “the Hogs”, and 35-year-old RB John Riggins rushed for 1239 yards and 14 TDs behind it. QB Joe Theismann passed for 3391 yards and 24 touchdowns while WR Art Monk set a NFL record with 106 catches. The Redskins could play defense effectively, too, and had ranked second to the Bears with 66 sacks.

There were 55,431 fans in attendance at RFK Stadium, where the Redskins were 7-0 in the postseason, and they started the contest with a 56-yard drive that resulted in Mark Moseley kicking a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Bears benefited from a turnover when a hard-charging SS Todd Bell caused RB Joe Washington to fumble. That led to a 34-yard field goal by Bob Thomas to tie the score.

Later in the period, the Bears finally put together a sustained drive, moving from their 30 to the Washington 19 and helped along by a roughing-the-passer penalty on DE Charles Mann after Steve Fuller completed a pass to FB Calvin Thomas for 13 yards. At that point, the Bears pulled a trick play as Walter Payton took a pitchout and faked a handoff on an apparent reverse to WR Dennis McKinnon coming around toward him. But Payton kept the ball and, taking advantage of the opposing safeties playing up close to defend against the run, threw an option pass to a wide-open TE Pat Dunsmore in the end zone for a touchdown. Bob Thomas added the extra point and the Bears were ahead by 10-3 at halftime.

On the second play of the third quarter, Fuller (pictured at left) threw a short pass to WR Willie Gault that the fleet-footed receiver turned into a 75-yard TD. Thomas missed the extra point, but the Bears now were up by 16-3.

The Redskins scored a touchdown on a one-yard carry by RB John Riggins to narrow the margin to 16-10. Chicago responded with a series that was kept alive by a roughing-the-kicker penalty on a punt, called on Washington DB Ken Coffey. Fuller completed back-to-back passes to McKinnon, the second for a 16-yard TD, and Thomas added the PAT to again make it a 13-point game. Just before the end of the period, Riggins scored another touchdown and, with Moseley again adding the extra point, the Bears entered the fourth quarter with a six-point lead of 23-17.

The defensive nature of the contest intensified in the final period. Three times the Redskins took possession in Chicago territory and came up empty, starting at the 36, 40, and 45 yard lines. Twice they were pushed back by the Bears and forced to punt and the last series ended with Moseley missing a 41-yard field goal attempt. The Bears took an intentional safety when punter Dave Finzer ran out of the end zone because Coach Ditka didn’t want to take a chance on kicking out of his own end zone with just over eight minutes remaining, which provided the only points of the final period. Chicago thus prevailed by a score of 23-19.

The Redskins held the edge in total yards (336 to 310) and first downs (22 to 13) while Chicago was slightly in front in time of possession (30:24 to 29:36). Each team turned the ball over one time, but both teams blitzed heavily on defense and the Bears recorded seven sacks, to five by Washington, with most coming in the fourth quarter.

Walter Payton rushed for 104 yards on 24 carries and threw a touchdown pass. Steve Fuller only went to the air 15 times, with 9 completions, but they were good for 211 yards and two TDs, with no interceptions. Dennis McKinnon had four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown and Willie Gault gained 75 yards and scored on his lone reception. On defense, DE Richard Dent (pictured at right) had three sacks and DT Dan Hampton was right behind with two.

For the Redskins, Joe Theismann was successful on 22 of 42 throws while facing relentless pressure, for 292 yards and no touchdowns and was picked off once. He also ran the ball five times for 38 yards due to being flushed out of the pocket. Art Monk caught 10 passes for 122 yards, TE Clint Didier added 85 yards on his four receptions, and WR Calvin Muhammad contributed 5 catches for 62 yards. John Riggins was held to 50 yards on 21 rushing attempts that included the two short TDs. On defense, LB Rich Milot was credited with 3.5 sacks.

“This is one heck of a football team we shut down today,” said Coach Ditka of the Bears. “We played relentless football and when you play that relentless some good things have to happen to you.”

“It was kind of like being on the freeway at rush hour…without a car,” summed up Joe Theismann.

The Bears were shut down 23-0 by the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, but the stage was set to achieve greater things in 1985, a season that would culminate in a Super Bowl triumph. Washington dipped to 10-6 in ’85, missing the playoffs, but returned to the postseason in 1986.

MVP Profile: Walter Payton, 1976

Running Back, Chicago Bears

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Bears

College: Jackson State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 203

Prelude:

Payton was a two-time All-American in college, rushing for 3563 yards and 66 touchdowns, and his 464 points set a NCAA record. Chosen by the Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft, he played hurt during his rookie season (and missed the only game of his career) as he accumulated 679 rushing yards.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 311 [1]

Most attempts, game - 36 (for 97 yds.) vs. Oakland 11/7

Yards – 1390 [2, 1st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 183 yards (on 27 carries) at Seattle 12/5

Average gain – 4.5 [13]

TDs – 13 [2, tied with Chuck Foreman, 1st in NFC]

100-yard rushing games – 7

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 15      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 42 yds.) at Minnesota 10/10

Yards – 149

Most yards, game - 42 (on 4 catches) at Minnesota 10/10

Average gain – 9.9

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1  

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

All-Purpose Yards – 1539 [4]

Scoring

TDs – 13 [3, tied with Steve Grogan]

Points – 78

Awards & Honors:

NFC Player of the Year: Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

1^st team All-NFC: AP, UPI, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Bears went 7-7 to finish second in the NFC Central, their best record since 1968.

Aftermath:

Payton followed up his breakout 1976 season by rushing for a league-leading 1852 yards, including a then-record 275 in a single game in ’77. He garnered MVP honors as well as being a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for the second year. Payton continued to be not only a highly productive rusher for a total of 13 seasons in the NFL, but was also an outstanding blocker and receiver out of the backfield, as well as an accomplished passer on option plays (he was even the club’s emergency quarterback). He led the NFC in rushing for five straight years, despite being part of a lackluster offense that had opposing teams keying on him, and totaled 10 thousand-yard rushing seasons. Payton was a consensus first-team All-Pro five times and was chosen to nine Pro Bowls. The even-tempered player known as “Sweetness” was also an unselfish team leader and hard worker, and was popular not only with Bears fans, but throughout the league. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards and also topped the list in carries (3838) and rushing TDs (110); his total of 125 touchdowns ranked second. Payton also caught 492 passes for 4538 yards and exceeded 2000 yards from scrimmage in four seasons. The Bears retired his #34 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1993. 

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

1978: Smith & Largent Star as Seahawks Overcome Bears

The Seattle Seahawks appeared to be a team on the rise as they faced the Chicago Bears on November 5, 1978. Head Coach Jack Patera’s squad, in its third NFL season, had a 4-5 record after a tough overtime loss to the Broncos the previous week, but considering that they won a total of five games in all of 1977, it marked definite improvement. Scrambling lefthanded QB Jim Zorn led an exciting offense that also featured WR Steve Largent and FB Sherman Smith (pictured at right). The revamped defense was playing well and two rookies, FS John Harris and OLB Keith Butler, were making significant contributions.

The Bears, for their part, had lost six straight games after a promising 3-0 start. Under first-year Head Coach Neill Armstrong, they were dependent on the running of HB Walter Payton and FB Roland Harper. The defensive backfield was strong, but there were questions regarding the defensive line and linebackers.

There were 57,359 fans at Soldier Field on a pleasant but windy afternoon. The Bears reached midfield on the game’s first possession but had to punt. Taking over at their 30 following a 14-yard punt return by HB Rufus Crawford, the Seahawks drove 70 yards in 15 plays. Seattle converted three first downs, including a third-and-13 at the Chicago 22 when Jim Zorn scrambled for an 18-yard gain. Sherman Smith ran effectively, carrying the ball seven times for 33 yards and including a one-yard touchdown carry to finish the series off. Efren Herrera added the extra point to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The teams traded punts as the game moved into the second quarter. Seattle put together another long and promising drive, starting at their 27. Zorn threw to Steve Largent for 20 yards and to WR Sam McCullum for 18 as the Seahawks moved methodically down the field. Smith and HB Al Hunter carried most of the load, but after reaching the Chicago eight, Smith fumbled and CB Virgil Livers recovered for the Bears.

The teams once again exchanged punts, and Zorn was sacked on back-to-back plays in Seattle’s next series. A shanked punt by Herman Weaver gave the Bears possession at the 50 and Avellini immediately threw to TE Greg Latta for 17 yards and followed up with a 14-yard completion to WR James Scott. The drive stalled at the Seattle 16 and the Bears got a break when Bob Thomas missed a field goal attempt but was roughed while doing so. While there were offsetting penalties, it still provided Thomas with a second chance from 33 yards and this time he was successful.

With 1:17 remaining to play in the half, the Seahawks struck quickly in response, taking just four plays to go 73 yards. Zorn threw to Smith for 17 yards and McCullum for 10, and then hit on back-to-back passes to Largent (pictured below). The second was good for a 26-yard touchdown and, with Herrera’s extra point, an extended lead of 14-3. In the last 30 seconds, the Bears had one last shot before halftime and, thanks to an Avellini completion to WR Golden Richards that picked up 17 yards, were able to get a 36-yard field goal by Thomas before time ran out. Seattle took a 14-6 lead into the intermission.

The Seahawks went three-and-out to start the third quarter and the Bears had good field position following the punt. Mike Phipps was now at quarterback and completed two passes, most significantly to Roland Harper for 16 yards. Thomas kicked a 39-yard field goal to narrow Seattle’s margin to five points.

The Seahawks came back with a seven-play, 72-yard drive. In a second-and-13 situation, Smith took off for a 21-yard gain into Chicago territory and three plays later Zorn connected with Largent for a 31-yard TD. Herrera added the PAT and it was a 20-9 game in favor of the visitors.

Phipps threw to Scott for a 26-yard gain to start the next series, but three plays later CB Dave Brown intercepted a pass at his own six yard line to end the threat. The Seahawks were unable to move on offense, however, and another short Weaver punt gave the Bears the ball back at the Seattle 38. They didn’t come up empty this time as Phipps connected with Harper for a 20-yard touchdown. Thomas added the extra point and it was once again a five-point game.

On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, Smith broke away for a 67-yard gain to the Chicago six. It was from there two plays later that Smith finished off the short series with a touchdown carry. Herrera’s kick made the score 28-16.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, the teams again traded punts before the Bears put together a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive. They kept the ball on the ground, with Walter Payton and Roland Harper running effectively. Payton ran the last seven yards for a TD, but a bad snap on the try for extra point forced holder Brian Baschnagel to try to run for the point. He failed and the tally stood at 28-22 with 7:33 remaining to play.

Seattle came back to put more points on the board. Zorn threw to Largent twice, for 19 and 10 yards, and Herrera kicked a 34-yard field goal to increase the margin to nine points. Phipps went to the air on the next series and was picked off by CB Cornell Webster. A short series by the Seahawks ended with Zorn failing to complete a pass on a fourth-and-four play at the Chicago 37. With Payton running for 19 yards on the next play, the Bears drove 63 yards in eight plays and Harper carried for a two-yard TD. Thomas made the extra point this time to narrow the margin to two points, but there were just 35 seconds left on the clock.

Chicago had only one option, an onside kick, but they were set back 15 yards due to a taunting penalty on OT Lionel Antoine, who tapped Seattle LB Terry Beeson on the shoulder after the touchdown and then made a show of spiking the ball in front of him. As a result, the kickoff was from their 20, but the Bears successfully recovered the short kick. Following a penalty, Phipps threw to Scott for 22 yards but, after reaching the Seattle 46, a pass intended for Richards was intercepted by Webster to finally nail down the 31-29 win for the Seahawks.

The Bears led in total yards (401 to 389) and first downs (26 to 23). They also sacked Zorn five times, to two sacks of Chicago quarterbacks by the Seahawks. However, Chicago also turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by Seattle.

Sherman Smith had a big day, rushing for 152 yards on 23 carries that included two touchdowns. The yardage total set a new record for the young franchise. Jim Zorn completed 13 of 24 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted; he also ran for 25 yards on three carries. Steve Largent also had a big performance, catching 6 passes for 126 yards and two TDs.

For the Bears, Walter Payton ran for 109 yards and a TD on 18 carries and caught 5 passes for another 36 yards. Roland Harper had 13 carries for 57 yards and a score and contributed a team-high 6 pass receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. James Scott gained 88 yards on his 5 catches. Bob Avellini was successful on just 6 of 15 throws for 68 yards while Mike Phipps was 15 of 25 for 177 yards and a TD, but also tossed three interceptions.

The win over the Bears evened Seattle’s record at 5-5, and the Seahawks went on to win four of their last six to finish at a highly respectable 9-7, good for third place in the AFC West and barely missing the postseason. Chicago’s losing streak reached eight the week following the Seattle game, but the Bears then finished strong with four wins in their last five games to end up fourth in the NFC Central at 7-9.

Jim Zorn led the AFC in passing yards with 3283 while completing 56 percent of his passes and tossing 15 touchdowns – however, he also threw 20 interceptions and led the NFL by being sacked 44 times. Still, his mobility was a tremendous asset as he gained 290 yards and scored six TDs running the ball and certainly was a key to the team’s success.

Sherman Smith missed four games due to injury but rushed for 805 yards on 165 carries (4.9 avg.) and caught 28 passes for 366 more yards (13.1 avg.) and a total of seven touchdowns. Steve Largent had 71 catches for 1168 yards and eight TDs and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1985: McMahon Comes Off Bench to Rally Bears Past Vikings

The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings were both 2-0 as they faced off in Minneapolis on September 19, 1985. The Bears, coached by Mike Ditka, were well-established as a tough defensive club. Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan’s aggressive unit had led the NFL in total defense and set a record with 72 sacks in 1984. Colorful QB Jim McMahon (pictured above) was a tough and effective leader of the offense – when he was able to play. Injuries were a nagging problem, and back and neck injuries suffered in the previous week’s game put him in traction during the week and made him unlikely to face the Vikings; his backup, Steve Fuller, would start in his place.

The Vikings were coming off a dreadful 3-13 season under Head Coach Les Steckel, necessitating the return of his predecessor, the highly-esteemed Bud Grant, to right the ship. After missing 20 games due to injury over the course of the previous two years, QB Tommy Kramer was back and healthy and he had an exciting new target to pass to in WR Anthony Carter, a refugee from the USFL.

There were 61,242 fans in attendance for the Thursday night game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Bears got the first break when CB Leslie Frazier intercepted a pass by Kramer to give Chicago the ball at the Minnesota 37. Steve Fuller completed two 12-yard passes to WR Willie Gault but, after having first-and-goal at the eight, the Bears had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Kevin Butler.

The Vikings responded with a 10-play drive that covered 61 yards. They converted two third downs, on Kramer passes to WR Mike Jones for 13 yards in a third-and-four situation and to Jones again for 12 yards while facing third-and-six at the Chicago 29. Jan Stenerud kicked a 25-yard field goal and the score was 3-3 after a quarter of play.

The teams traded punts in the second quarter until the Bears advanced to the Minnesota 16. However, Fuller was sacked by DE Mark Mullaney for a loss of seven yards and a pass into the end zone was picked off by CB Carl Lee.

Chicago got the ball back four plays later when punter Greg Coleman dropped the snap and CB Shaun Gayle recovered at the Minnesota 22. Five carries by star RB Walter Payton gained 20 yards but the Bears were unable to penetrate the goal line and Butler kicked another field goal, this time from 19 yards.

Minnesota regained possession with 3:15 remaining in the half. Kramer threw to Anthony Carter for 16 yards to get the ball into Chicago territory and completions to TE Mike Mularkey and Carter picked up another 31 yards. Two plays later, Kramer connected with Carter in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard TD and, with Stenerud’s extra point, the Vikings took a 10-6 lead into halftime.

The Bears started off the third quarter with Fuller throwing to Gault for a 21-yard gain on the way to a 34-yard Butler field goal that narrowed Minnesota’s margin to 10-9. However, the Vikings turned around and went 66 yards in 10 plays. In a third-and-nine situation at his own 45, Kramer threw to WR Buster Rhymes for a 33-yard gain and the series ended with Kramer completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Mike Jones.

Down by 17-9, and with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter, Jim McMahon came off the bench to relieve Fuller. It didn’t take him long to make his presence felt. On his first play, McMahon went long to WR Willie Gault for a 70-yard touchdown that, with the successful extra point tacked on, narrowed Minnesota’s margin to 17-16.

Five plays into the Vikings’ next possession, Chicago LB Wilbur Marshall intercepted a Kramer pass. It set up another McMahon scoring pass, this time to WR Dennis McKinnon for 25 yards. In just two plays, McMahon had completed two passes for 95 yards and two scores.

McMahon and the Bears still weren’t done with third quarter scoring. Following a punt by the Vikings, and with 33 seconds remaining in the period, McMahon completed a six-play, 68-yard drive by connecting with McKinnon again for a 43-yard TD. McMahon had tossed three touchdown passes in a little more than seven minutes of action and the third quarter ended with Chicago in the lead by 30-17.

The reeling Vikings encountered more problems when their next series reached the Chicago 30 after Kramer completed a pass to Rhymes for 36 yards. They could move no further and a field goal try was aborted when the snap sailed over the holder’s head. The Bears gained possession at the Minnesota 44 and advanced to the 17 before Butler missed on a 34-yard field goal try.

Kramer threw to TE Steve Jordan for a 23-yard gain and two plays after that the Vikings got back on the board as Kramer connected with Carter for a 57-yard touchdown. There was still 9:19 remaining in the contest and it was a six-point game.

McMahon wasted no time in moving the Bears down the field. On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, he went deep to McKinnon for a 46-yard gain to the Minnesota 34. From there they moved to the 18 before Butler booted a 31-yard field goal.

Minnesota’s next series lasted just two plays as Kramer completed a short toss to Jordan, but the tight end fumbled it away. The Bears came up empty when Butler was wide on a 45-yard field goal attempt, but there were less than two minutes remaining and time ran out on the Vikings. Chicago won by a score of 33-24.

The Bears outgained Minnesota (480 yards to 445) but the Vikings had the edge in first downs (23 to 21). Minnesota had difficulty running the ball, gaining just 34 yards on the ground in 15 carries. Kramer was also sacked four times and the Vikings turned the ball over on five occasions, to just one suffered by Chicago.

In less than a half of action, Jim McMahon completed 8 of 15 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Steve Fuller was 13 of 18 for 124 yards with no TDs and one picked off. Willie Gault (pictured at right) had a huge performance with 6 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown and Dennis McKinnon was right behind with four receptions for 133 yards and two TDs. Walter Payton, hindered by bruised ribs, rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries and added 5 catches for 17 yards.

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer went to the air 55 times with 28 completions for 436 yards and three touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions. Anthony Carter caught four of those passes for 102 yards and two scores, Steve Jordan contributed 5 catches for 66 yards, and Buster Rhymes gained 89 yards on three receptions. RB Darrin Nelson led the miniscule ground game with 18 yards on 5 attempts.

“I didn’t plan to use Jim before the game, but he said he knew what was going on and said ‘you can use me if you need me’,” explained Mike Ditka of the decision to send McMahon into the game in the third quarter.

The Bears went on to post a 15-1 record on the way to winning a NFL title. The defense remained the dominant factor in the club’s success, and Jim McMahon missed a total of three games, but when healthy he completed 56.9 percent of his passes for 2392 yards and 15 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Willie Gault caught 33 passes for 704 yards (21.3 avg.) and Dennis McKinnon had 31 receptions for 555 yards (17.9 avg.) and seven touchdowns. Walter Payton, still great in his 11^th season at age 31, rushed for 1551 yards.

Minnesota recovered to win at Buffalo the following week but lost three of its next four games on the way to a 7-9 tally and third place in the NFC Central. Tommy Kramer passed for 3522 yards and 19 TDs, but also a league-leading 26 interceptions. Anthony Carter had a fine first year in the NFL with 43 catches for 821 yards (19.1 avg.) and eight touchdowns and Steve Jordan led the club with 68 pass receptions.

1980: Packers Beat Bears in OT as Marcol Scores TD on Blocked Field Goal

The Green Bay Packers faced their season-opening game on September 7, 1980 with some trepidation regarding the offense. The Packers had not scored a touchdown in their last three preseason games and a total of 17 points overall. Furthermore, there had been rumors in the media during the week leading up to the game that there was a great deal of dissension on the team. Entering his sixth season, there was talk that Head Coach Bart Starr’s job was in trouble.

The Packers were coming off a 5-11 record in 1979 after having contended the year before. QB Lynn Dickey regained his starting job from David Whitehurst late in the season and still held it. He had an outstanding target to throw to in third-year WR James Lofton. RB Eddie Lee Ivery, the previous year’s first draft pick, was back after a knee injury suffered in the first game of ’79 had cost him virtually the entire season.

The division-rival Chicago Bears were the opponents for the opening week. Coached by Neill Armstrong, the Bears had reached the playoffs as a 10-6 Wild Card team in 1979. The key to the offense was RB Walter Payton, who topped the NFC with 1610 rushing yards. QB Mike Phipps, a first-round disappointment with the Browns, had performed ably down the stretch. The defense, under the direction of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, was tough and well-balanced.

There were 54,381 fans in attendance at Lambeau Field. Green Bay’s offense continued to misfire against the Bears but the defense rose to the occasion. Chicago took the lead in the first quarter with a 42-yard Bob Thomas field goal, but big plays by the defense in the second quarter not only kept the visitors from adding more points but allowed the Packers to move in front.

Early in the second quarter the Bears advanced into Green Bay territory but LB Mike Hunt sacked Phipps, who fumbled. LB Mike Douglass recovered at his own 41. Once again the Bears moved into Green Bay’s side of the field but a Phipps pass intended for WR James Scott in the end zone was intercepted by DB Wylie Turner.

The biggest defensive play occurred when the Bears passed up a field goal attempt with a fourth-and-one situation at the Green Bay 14. Walter Payton, running a sweep, was tossed for a ten-yard loss by a hard-charging CB Mike McCoy. Lynn Dickey then threw to James Lofton to move the Packers into scoring territory in the waning seconds. Chester Marcol, who had gotten Green Bay on the board earlier in the period with a field goal from 41 yards, kicked another of 46 yards as time expired to give the Packers a 6-3 lead at the half.

The Bears did get another field goal from Thomas less than four minutes into the third quarter, this time from 34 yards, but that was it. The Bears again came up empty in Green Bay territory when McCoy picked off a Phipps pass at his 19 yard line. FS Johnny Gray intercepted another Phipps throw and returned it to midfield. With neither offense able to reach the end zone, the game remained tied at 6-6 after four quarters of play.

The Bears had the first possession in overtime but again the scrappy Green Bay defense came through and they were forced to punt. A clipping penalty nullified a 16-yard return by WR Fred Nixon. Still, the Packers moved to the Chicago 17 in four plays highlighted by Dickey throwing to Lofton for a 32-yard gain.

On the ensuing field goal attempt, Chicago DT Alan Page blocked the low kick but it bounced directly back to Marcol, who grabbed it in midair and ran around left end with no defenders between him and the goal line (pictured at top). Marcol’s astounding 25-yard run with the blocked kick gave Green Bay a 12-6 win at six minutes into the extra period.

Chicago outgained the Packers (268 yards to 214) and had more first downs (18 to 12). The Bears also sacked Dickey four times. However, they turned the ball over four times to one suffered by Green Bay.

Lynn Dickey completed 10 of 22 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and one intercepted. James Lofton (pictured below) caught 5 of those passes for 77 yards. Eddie Lee Ivery rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries. SS Steve Luke had a notable performance, accounting for 10 tackles, but the defense as a unit played very well.

For the Bears, Walter Payton was held to 65 yards on 31 rushing attempts while gaining 38 more yards on four pass receptions. Mike Phipps was successful on 17 of 30 throws for 174 yards and no TDs but with three interceptions. Wide receivers Brian Baschnagel and James Scott each pulled in 5 passes, for 59 and 58 yards, respectively.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Chester Marcol of his touchdown – the only one of his nine-year career. “It was a very fortunate thing. This is probably the biggest moment of my life.”

“If we had lost, people would have brought up a lot of things that the offense did wrong,” said James Lofton. “And they would be right. But since we won, a lot of things can be overlooked today.”

The amazing overtime win did not mark an improvement in fortunes for the Packers. They lost their next three games on the way to a 5-10-1 record that placed them at the bottom of the NFC Central. Chicago also had a disappointing year, ending up third in the division at 7-9.

Chester Marcol, who scored a total of 521 points for Green Bay and twice led the league in scoring, failed to make it through the season with the Packers. He was waived after five games and picked up by the Houston Oilers in what was his final year in the NFL.

Despite the team’s inconsistency and chronic problem with scoring points, Lynn Dickey went on to have a good year in many respects as he passed for 3529 yards and 15 touchdowns – although he also tossed 25 interceptions. James Lofton was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the second time after catching 71 passes for 1226 yards (17.3 avg.) with four TDs. 

MVP Profile: Walter Payton, 1985

Running Back, Chicago Bears

Age: 31

11^th season in pro football & with Bears

College: Jackson State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 202

Prelude:

Chosen by the Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft, Payton played hurt during his rookie season (and missed the only game of his career) as he accumulated 679 rushing yards. He broke out in ’76, running for 1390 yards on a league-leading 311 carries and scoring 13 touchdowns, and followed that up with a MVP season in 1977 in which he rushed for 1852 yards, including a then-record 275 in a single game. Over the course of the next seven seasons, Payton rushed for over a thousand years in all but strike-shortened 1982 and led the NFC in rushing for five straight years, despite being part of a lackluster offense that had opposing teams keying on him. In 1984 he surpassed Jim Brown’s NFL career record of 12,312 rushing yards. Payton was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and was a consensus first-team All-Pro on four occasions prior to ‘85.  

1985 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 324 [4]

Most attempts, game - 28 (for 192 yds.) at Green Bay 11/3, (for 53 yds.) at NY Jets 12/14

Yards – 1551 [3]

Most yards, game – 192 yards (on 28 carries) at Green Bay 11/3

Average gain – 4.8 [8, tied with James Brooks & Eddie Lee Ivery]

TDs – 9 [8, tied with Roger Craig & Larry Kinnebrew]

100-yard rushing games - 10

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 49      

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 37 yds.) vs. Tampa Bay 9/8

Yards – 483

Most yards, game - 69 (on 4 catches) vs. Detroit 11/10

Average gain – 9.9

TDs – 2

Passing

Attempts – 5

Completions – 3

Yards – 96

TDs – 1

Interceptions – 0

All-Purpose Yards – 2034 [4]

Scoring

TDs – 11 [9, tied with Mike Quick]

Points – 66

Postseason: 3 G

Rushing attempts – 67

Most rushing attempts, game - 27 vs. NY Giants, NFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 186

Most rushing yards, game - 93 vs. NY Giants, NFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 2.8

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 8

Most pass receptions, game - 7 vs. LA Rams, NFC Championship

Pass receiving yards - 52

Most pass receiving yards, game – 48 vs. LA Rams, NFC Championship

Average yards per reception – 6.5

Pass Receiving TDs - 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: NEA, Bert Bell Award

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Bears went 15-1 to finish first in the NFC Central with the conference’s best record while leading the NFL in rushing (2761 yards) and NFC in scoring (456 points). Won NFC Divisional playoff over New York Giants (21-0), NFC Championship over Los Angeles Rams (24-0), and Super Bowl over New England Patriots (46-10).

Aftermath:

Payton played two more seasons, and was selected to the Pro Bowl once more in 1986. Not only a productive ground gainer, he was an outstanding blocker and receiver out of the backfield, as well as an accomplished passer on option plays (he was even the club’s emergency quarterback). Payton ultimately totaled 10 thousand-yard rushing seasons. He was a consensus first-team All-Pro five times and was chosen to nine Pro Bowls. The even-tempered player known as “Sweetness” was also an unselfish team leader and hard worker, and was popular not only with Bears fans, but throughout the league. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards and also topped the list in carries (3838) and rushing TDs (110); his total of 125 touchdowns ranked second. Payton also caught 492 passes for 4538 yards and exceeded 2000 yards from scrimmage in four seasons. The Bears retired his #34 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1993. 

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

MVP Profile: Walter Payton, 1977

Running Back, Chicago Bears


Age: 23
3rd season in pro football & with Bears
College: Jackson State
Height: 5’10” Weight: 204

Prelude:
Chosen by the Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft, Payton played hurt during his rookie season (and missed the only game of his career) as he accumulated 679 rushing yards. He broke out in ’76, running for 1390 yards on a league-leading 311 carries and scoring 13 touchdowns. For his efforts, he achieved consensus first-team All-NFL honors and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1977 Season Summary
Appeared and started in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 339 [1]
Most attempts, game - 40 (for 275 yds.) vs. Minnesota 11/20
Yards – 1852 [1]
Most yards, game – 275 yards (on 40 carries) vs. Minnesota 11/20
Average gain – 5.5 [1]
TDs – 14 [1]
200-yard rushing games – 2
100-yard rushing games - 10

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 27
Most receptions, game – 6 (for 23 yds.) at NY Giants 12/18
Yards – 269
Most yards, game - 107 (on 4 catches) at Detroit 11/24
Average gain – 10.0
TDs – 2
100-yard receiving games – 1

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 2
Yards – 95
Average per return – 47.5
TDs – 0

All-Purpose Yards – 2216 [1]

Scoring
TDs – 16 [1]
Points – 96 [2, 1st in NFC]

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at Dallas)
Rushing attempts – 19
Rushing yards – 60
Average gain rushing – 3.2
Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3
Pass receiving yards - 33
Average yards per reception – 11.0
Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 3
Yards – 57
Average per return – 19.0
TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, NEA
NFL Offensive Player of the Year: AP
NFC Player of the Year: Sporting News
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st team All-NFC: UPI, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Bears went 9-5 to finish second in the NFC Central and secure a wild card berth in the playoffs while leading the NFL in rushing yardage (2811). Lost to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Divisional playoff (37-7).

Aftermath:
Payton continued to be not only a highly productive rusher for another 10 seasons in the NFL, but was also an outstanding blocker and receiver out of the backfield, as well as an accomplished passer on option plays (he was even the club’s emergency quarterback). Payton led the NFC in rushing for five straight years, despite being part of a lackluster offense that had opposing teams keying on him, and totaled 10 thousand-yard rushing seasons. He was a consensus first-team All-Pro five times and was chosen to nine Pro Bowls. The even-tempered player known as “Sweetness” was also an unselfish team leader and hard worker, and was popular not only with Bears fans, but throughout the league. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards and also topped the list in carries (3838) and rushing TDs (110); his total of 125 touchdowns ranked second. Payton also caught 492 passes for 4538 yards and exceeded 2000 yards from scrimmage in four seasons. The Bears retired his #34 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1993.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).

[Updated 2/12/14]
[Updated 11/28/14]

1980: Sipe & Pruitt Propel Browns Past Bears

There was a big crowd of 83,224 present at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium on November 3, 1980 for a Monday night game between the host Browns and Chicago Bears. Hopes were high for the Browns, coached by pass-oriented Sam Rutigliano, who were riding a three-game winning streak coming into the contest, overcoming a slow 2-3 start and giving them an overall record of 5-3. The key to the offense was 31-year-old QB Brian Sipe (pictured at right), who had slowly developed into a daring and exciting passer capable of pulling games out in the final minutes. FB Mike Pruitt provided power and pass receiving ability out of the backfield, and the receiving corps of TE Ozzie Newsome and wide receivers Dave Logan and Reggie Rucker was reliable.

Meanwhile the Bears, coached by Neill Armstrong, were 3-5 after losing at Philadelphia the week before. The offense was heavily dependent on RB Walter Payton, who had led the NFC in rushing in each of the past four seasons (and the entire NFL once, in 1977) and came into the game against the Browns ranked third. QB Vince Evans, who had taken over for ineffective veteran Mike Phipps, was mobile and could throw long. The defense was typically rugged and had given up a total of just 37 points over the previous four games.

A steady rain was falling throughout the contest. Following a three-and-out possession by the Bears to start the game, the Browns scored the first time they had the ball, moving from their 41 yard line to the Chicago 14, but a penalty wiped out an apparent scoring pass to Rucker and they settled for a 23-yard field goal by Don Cockroft.

The Browns again drove into Chicago territory, but LB Jerry Muckensturm intercepted a Sipe pass at the 17. However, the Cleveland defense stifled the Bears in the first half - Chicago didn’t get its initial first down of the game until six minutes into the second quarter.

Sipe, who wasn’t sharp in the first half, was intercepted a second time in Bears territory. It snuffed out a promising drive, as CB Len Walterscheid picked off the pass at the 14. The Bears were unable to capitalize when Bob Thomas missed a 35-yard field goal attempt. The Browns took over with 3:22 on the clock and put together a nine-play, 80-yard drive in which Sipe completed four passes and HB Greg Pruitt had a 15-yard run. Sipe finished it off by throwing to Rucker, who made a shoestring catch for a four-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the half.

Cleveland had only a 10-0 lead at halftime despite dominating the Bears in the first half, with 241 yards and 18 first downs to Chicago’s 62 yards and two first downs.

The Browns took the second half kickoff and drove 56 yards in 14 plays. However, after getting a first-and-goal on the nine, on third-and-seven Sipe was sacked by DE Mike Hartenstine for a 16-yard loss and Cockroft ended up kicking a second field goal from 42 yards through the rain and swirling wind.

Still in the third quarter, the Bears finally got on the board. Evans threw to TE Robin Earl for a 24-yard gain, ran for 12 yards, and then finished off the seven-play, 54-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring run with 1:10 left in the period. The Bears were also helped along the way by a late hit call on Browns SS Clarence Scott.

The Browns were forced to punt on their next series, but it was a good one by Johnny Evans that traveled 56 yards and gave the Bears the ball on their own 18. The Bears again moved down the field, but Vince Evans was intercepted by CB Ron Bolton at the Cleveland 16. The Browns then drove 84 yards in 13 plays, capped by Mike Pruitt scoring from a yard out midway through the fourth quarter.

Chicago fought back, however, as Evans threw to WR Brian Baschnagel for a 17-yard TD three minutes later, again making it a six-point game. Following a 24-yard kickoff return by HB Dino Hall, the Browns took over at their own 35. Mike Pruitt ran for five yards and then Sipe threw to Rucker for four.

With the Bears defense massed at the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Pruitt took a pitchout and swept around the right side on a third-and-one play from his own 44, broke a tackle, received an outstanding block from WR Willis Adams, and then had nothing but open field as he ran 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:35 left on the clock.

Pruitt’s long scoring run effectively put the Browns out of reach. The Bears went 70 yards in 10 plays on their next drive and Evans threw a touchdown pass of six yards to Earl with 37 seconds to play, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Browns to extinguish any remaining threat. Cleveland came away with a 27-21 win.

The Browns significantly outgained Chicago (432 yards to 275) and had more first downs (31 to 20). The defense did a good job of keeping the Bears in the game, in particular sacking Sipe – who had been sacked only six times in the previous games – a total of three times for 36 yards in losses. The Browns were hindered by the loss of OT Doug Dieken to a knee injury early in the contest.


Brian Sipe spread the ball around to eight different receivers as he completed 23 of 39 passes for 298 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Ozzie Newsome led the receivers with 5 catches for 97 yards. Mike Pruitt ran the ball 27 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Bears, Vince Evans was successful on 18 of 33 throws for 201 yards with two touchdowns and one intercepted. The Cleveland defense held Walter Payton to 30 yards on 11 carries, and he carried only twice in the second half, although he co-led the club with 5 pass receptions, for 31 yards. Robin Earl also caught 5 passes and gained 63 yards with a TD.

The Browns continued to play well the rest of the way and won the AFC Central title with an 11-5 record. They lost a heartbreaker in the Divisional playoff round against the Raiders. Chicago continued to play inconsistently and finished at 7-9 and in third place in the NFC Central.

Brian Sipe had a career year as he led the league in passing (91.4 rating) and lowest percentage of interceptions (2.5) while ranking second in pass attempts (554), completions (337), yards (4132), and TD passes (30, tied with San Diego’s Dan Fouts and Vince Ferragamo of the Rams). He was named MVP by the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers of America, and The Sporting News, was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

Mike Pruitt ranked eighth in the NFL with 1034 yards on 249 carries (4.2 avg.) and scored six touchdowns; he also led Cleveland with 63 pass receptions. Despite being stymied by the Browns, Walter Payton led the NFC in rushing for a fifth straight year with 1460 yards on 317 attempts (4.6 avg.) and six TDs, although the mobile Vince Evans led the club with 8 rushing touchdowns. Like Pruitt, Payton also led his team in pass receiving with 46 catches for 367 yards.

1986: Bears Totally Demolish Patriots in Super Bowl XX

In 1985, the Chicago Bears put together one of the greatest seasons in pro football history. Coached by Mike Ditka, they had blazed through the regular season with a 15-1 record, typically dominating opponents along the way – in one three-game stretch in November, they outscored the Lions, Cowboys, and Falcons by a combined total of 104-3. QB Jim McMahon (pictured below left), who missed three full games due to injury, provided leadership on offense along with legendary RB Walter Payton (1551 rushing yards, 49 catches for 483 yards receiving). But the heart of the team was its defense, under the direction of Buddy Ryan with his aggressive “46” scheme.

From the line anchored by ends Richard Dent and Dan Hampton to the linebacker corps that featured Mike Singletary and the backfield that included safeties Dave Duerson and Gary Fencik, there was hardly a weakness to be found in the defensive unit. The numbers sustained that impression – the Bears ranked at the top of the league in fewest points allowed (198), fewest total yards allowed (258.4 per game), fewest rushing yards allowed (82.4 per game), and had the best turnover ratio (+23).

Much media attention during the season focused on DT William “The Refrigerator” Perry, the 305-pound (or so) first draft choice. While initially dismissed by Ryan as “a wasted draft pick”, he worked his way into the defense as an effective run-stopper and was occasionally used on offense as a short-yardage fullback.


Despite any distractions caused by the animosity between Ditka and Ryan (Ditka inherited Ryan, who had been defensive coordinator for four years prior to Ditka’s arrival in 1982) and McMahon’s occasionally eccentric behavior, the team stayed focused on winning as it methodically rolled through the schedule, losing just once along the way (see Dec. 2). In the playoffs, the Bears shut out both the Giants in the Divisional round (21-0) and Rams in the NFC Championship game (24-0).

Their opponent for Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986 was the New England Patriots. The Patriots, under Head Coach Raymond Berry, had finished with an 11-5 record and, due to tiebreakers, in third place in the AFC East. Still, it was good enough for a wild card spot in the playoffs, and they defeated the Jets, Raiders, and – most stunningly – the Dolphins to win the AFC title. While not in the same class as the Bears, they had a solid defense headlined by linebackers Andre Tippett and Steve Nelson, CB Raymond Clayborn, and FS Fred Marion. Veteran QB Steve Grogan had performed capably when starter Tony Eason went down with an injury, the offensive line boasted G John Hannah and OT Brian Holloway, and FB Craig James ran for 1227 yards.

The 73,818 fans in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, as well as those watching the telecast, anticipated a big win by the Bears, and that is what they got. The high point of the game for the Patriots came when Payton fumbled during the second play of the contest and LB Don Blackmon recovered for New England at the Chicago 19 yard line. However, TE Lin Dawson couldn’t catch Eason’s throw on the first play, and after going three-and-out, they had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Tony Franklin. They would not score again until the fourth quarter, when it no longer mattered.

Coach Berry had hoped to surprise the Bears by coming out throwing, and the Patriots did so in their first six plays – the result was five incompletions and a sack. Meanwhile, the Chicago offense took command. McMahon threw a 43-yard pass to WR Willie Gault that set up a 28-yard Kevin Butler field goal. The Bears defense forced turnovers, including two fumbles on successive plays forced by Dent, and after a second Butler field goal and 11-yard run by FB Matt Suhey, the score was 13-3 at the end of the first quarter.

It was 23-3 at halftime, with McMahon having scored on a two-yard run and Butler adding a third field goal. New England was held to -5 rushing yards and -14 net passing yards for an overall result of -19 total yards and one first down in the first half. Eason had already been replaced by Grogan after going 0 for 6 passing and being sacked three times.

If there was any doubt that the Bears would prevail, it was removed in the third quarter as they accumulated three more touchdowns – one by McMahon, one on an interception return by CB Reggie Phillips, and one by Perry (to the annoyance of Walter Payton, who didn’t get to join the scoring parade in this, the only Super Bowl appearance of his long and great career).

WR Irving Fryar scored the only touchdown for the Patriots early in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard pass from Grogan. The Bears added two more points when reserve DT Henry Waechter sacked Grogan in the end zone, and the final score was 46-10. It was the biggest Super Bowl winning margin up to that time.


The Bears overwhelmed New England in every way, accumulating 408 total yards to 123. Richard Dent (pictured at right) was singled out as the game’s MVP, but the entire defensive unit had recorded seven sacks and forced four fumbles – all of which they recovered – plus two interceptions. As had occurred all season, the defense had overshadowed the offense, and certainly the offense benefited greatly from the turnovers and inability of the Patriots to move the ball. Jim McMahon completed 12 of 20 passes for 256 yards with no TDs or interceptions. Walter Payton had 61 rushing yards on 22 carries, and Matt Suhey was right behind with 11 attempts for 52 yards and a TD. Willie Gault (pictured at bottom) ripped the Patriots secondary for 129 yards on four pass receptions.

Playing catchup long after the game had effectively been decided, Steve Grogan completed 17 of 30 passes for 177 yards with the late TD and two interceptions. WR Stanley Morgan led the receivers with 7 catches for 70 yards. The Patriots ran the ball just 11 times for a grand total of 7 yards.

The forced coaching marriage of Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka ended in the offseason when the brash defensive coordinator was hired to coach the Philadelphia Eagles; he was replaced by Vince Tobin. The Bears went 14-2 in 1986 but lost to Washington in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Patriots again went 11-5, this time winning the AFC East, but also lost in the Divisional round.

The Chicago Bears displayed plenty of swagger and personality as they dominated the NFL from beginning to end in 1985; their rugged legacy of excellence has not dimmed over the ensuing years.

1985: Dolphins Hand Bears Only Loss of Season

The December 2, 1985 showdown at Miami’s Orange Bowl between the Dolphins (8-4) and Chicago Bears (12-0) may have been a regular season contest, but had all the feel of a playoff game. The game was scheduled for a Monday night, thereby increasing the exposure and hype (it remains the highest rated telecast in the history of Monday Night Football).

Under Head Coach Mike Ditka, the Bears not only had a perfect record coming into the game, but had typically dominated opponents throughout the season. The offense was solid, but the defense was what made the team special; utilizing defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan’s attacking 46 Defense, the team rolled up scores of 45-10 over Washington and 26-10 over the defending champion 49ers. They had recorded dominating back-to-back shutouts of the Dallas Cowboys (44-0) and Atlanta Falcons (36-0) in the previous two games.

The Dolphins, reigning AFC champs, weren’t in the same class defensively but featured an excellent passing game guided by third-year QB Dan Marino, who was coming off a record-setting year in 1984. Miami also was the only NFL franchise to have a team go undefeated throughout a season and continue on to win a championship, in 1972, a fact of which Head Coach Don Shula made sure his players were well aware. The frenzied crowd of 75,000 in attendance certainly was.

The Bears hadn’t allowed a touchdown in 13 quarters going into the game, but Marino ended that streak four minutes into the first quarter by firing a 33-yard TD pass to WR Nat Moore. Bears QB Steve Fuller, making his fourth consecutive start in place of injured starter Jim McMahon, hit WR Willie Gault on a 69-yard pass play down to the Miami 11 yard line and then tied the game with a one-yard TD on a quarterback sneak that tied the score at 7-7. However, when Fuad Reveiz responded with a 47-yard field goal, the Dolphins took the lead and never relinquished it.

Miami effectively put the game away in the second quarter. RB Ron Davenport scored twice from a yard out, with a 30-yard Kevin Butler field goal for the Bears sandwiched in between. The second Davenport score had been set up when the Dolphins converted two third downs – first, a 52-yard gain on a pass from Marino to WR Mark Duper on third and 12, and then 26 yards from Marino to WR Mark Clayton to the one yard line on third and 7. Shortly after the second Davenport TD, CB William Judson blocked a Maury Buford punt to give the Dolphins the ball at the Chicago six yard line. This set up Marino’s second TD pass to Moore to make the score 31-10 at halftime. Miami had scored on each of its first five possessions.

The Bears scored twice in the third quarter, but any possible comeback was negated by a poor kickoff by Kevin Butler after the first TD, giving the Dolphins good field position at the Chicago 46. Three plays later, Clayton scored on a 42-yard pass play from Marino (the ball was actually tipped by DE Dan Hampton) for a 38-17 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, and in the end it was a stunning Miami victory at 38-24.

In the statistical battle, the Bears outgained the Dolphins with 343 total yards to 335 and accumulated more first downs as well (23-17). But Chicago turned the ball over four times, three on interceptions, and Miami capitalized on the opportunities. They also out-sacked the Bears, 6 to 3.

Dan Marino completed just 14 of 27 passes, but they were good for 270 yards with three touchdowns against one interception. All of the receptions were made by wide receivers – Mark Duper and Mark Clayton each caught five passes, with Duper leading in yards with 107 to Clayton’s 88, and Nat Moore contributed 4 receptions for 75 yards, including two TDs. Miami gained 90 rushing yards on the tough Bears defense, with RB Tony Nathan leading the way with 74 yards on 15 carries. Chicago’s great RB Walter Payton had a typically solid performance in a losing cause, gaining 121 yards on 23 attempts; it was his record-setting eighth consecutive hundred-yard rushing game.

For the season, Marino didn’t match his awe-inspiring statistics of 1984, but all the same led the NFL in pass completions (336), passing yards (4137), and TD passes (30). Clayton caught 70 passes for 996 yards and four TDs while Duper, injured for half the season, hauled in 35 passes for 650 yards and three scores. The 34-year-old Moore had 51 catches for 701 yards – his highest totals since 1977 – and led all Miami receivers with 7 touchdown catches.

The Bears went undefeated the rest of the way, finishing at 15-1 and winning the NFC Championship. Miami also won its remaining regular season games, closing out at 12-4 atop the AFC East, but the anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the teams was derailed when New England upset the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game. Chicago easily won the ensuing Super Bowl over the Patriots by a 46-10 margin.