Top 5 Chicago Bears games are a reminder of greatness
5. December 8, 1940 Chicago 73 Washington 0 NFL Championship Game
After the contest, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall told reporters that the Bears were crybabies and quitters when the going got tough. As the Bears prepared for the rematch, Chicago head coach George Halas fired up his team by showing them newspaper articles containing Marshall's comments.
Following the loss, the Bears vowed to get even. In the NFL Championship game held at Griffith Stadium in Washington, Chicago reverted to an offense that was used before the advent of the forward pass.(the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T")
The Bears controlled the game right from the start, using the T formation as their primary offensive strategy. On their second play from scrimmage, running back Bill Osmanski ran 68 yards for a touchdown. The Bears held a 28–0 halftime lead and then continued to crush the Redskins, scoring 45 points during the second half. After Halas took the team's starters out, the backup players continued to pile on the points. The Bears ended up recording 501 total yards on offense, 382 total rushing yards, and 8 interceptions—returning 3 for touchdowns.
So many footballs were kicked into the stands after touchdowns that officials asked Halas to run or pass for the PAT on the last two TDs.
This game also marked the last time that an NFL player (Bears end Dick Plasman) played without a helmet.
Chicago starting QB Sid Luckman attempted only 4 passes, completing 3. The Bears rushed 53 times with seven rushing touchdowns and 17 first downs. Washington threw 51 passes completing only 20, but did manage the same number of first downs as the Bears. However, eight interceptions, eight penalties and four fumbles ruined any chances of victory.
Two years later, Washington would beat the Bears in a rematch, 14-6. Many of the good players were serving in the Armed Forces during World War II, including Chicago Bears head coach George Halas, who was in the United States Navy.
Washington Post:
They outgained Washington on the ground 372-3. The headline called it "Redskin Waterloo."
4. December 15, 1946 Chicago 24 New York 14 NFL Championship Game
The game was played at the Polo Grounds in New York. Attendance was 58, 346 for the first NFL title game following World War II.
Wikipedia:
The day before the game, two players for the Giants, Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes, had been accused of taking bribes to fix the game from Alvin Paris. Mayor William O'Dwyer had Jack Mara, Wellington Mara and Bert Bell informed of the police evidence against the two. Hours later, the four then met at Gracie Mansion and the mayor interviewed the players one at a time. Under questioning, Hapes admitted that he was offered a bribe and Filchock denied being offered it. Several hours later, Paris was arrested and confessed to bribing the players. Hapes was suspended by Bell, but Filchock was allowed to play. During Paris' trial weeks later, Filchock admitting taking the bribe under oath.
Under heavy pressure all afternoon, the Chicago Bears defense caused two fumbles and six interceptions. Filchock would suffer a broken nose in the game, and was roundly booed throughout the contest. The bribe was for $2500 plus a bonus if Chicago would win by more than 10 points. The game ended in a betting tie for the gamblers.
QB Frank Filchock had thrown five interceptions in relief of Sammy Baugh in the 1940 NFL title game against the Chicago Bears. Following the game and the trial on sports gambling, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell suspended Filchock for three years. He would play in the Canadian Football League, and return to the NFL in 1950. Frank would later become the first head coach of the 1960 Denver Broncos in the newly formed American Football League.
3. December 29, 1963 Chicago 14 New York 10 NFL Championship Game
In one of the coldest games in NFL Championship history, Chicago hosted the New York Giants at Wrigley Field in 4 degree weather. Not since the 1948 NFL title game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Cardinals had field conditions been so poor. ProFootballHOF:
The conditions in 1948 completely eliminated the passing game as both teams combined for a measly 10 yards, still an NFL playoff low. Turnovers on either side of the ball were a common occurrence throughout the game but staunch defenses and missed field goals kept the game scoreless until the fourth quarter.
The 1963 NFL classic featured the the bone crushing Bears' defense that was known as "the Monsters of the Midway." The Bears allowed only 144 points in the 14 game season. The Giants were led by two time MVP, QB Y.A. Tittle. Y.A. had passed for a league record 36 touchdowns and had a league high QB rating of 104.8.
The attacking defense of the Bears intercepted Giants QB Y.A. Tittle five times. Tittle was injured twice on hits to his left knee by S Larry Morris. In one series that Y.A. was on the bench, the Giants punted on third down because they did not trust the backup, seldom used QB Glynn Griffing.
Wikipedia:
Tittle would come back in the third period, but he needed Cortisone, Novocaine, and heavy taping and bandaging just to continue. For the rest of the game, Tittle was forced to throw off his back foot (poor mechanics for a quarterback). An interception on another screen pass by the Bears' Ed O'Bradovich was brought deep into Giant territory, setting up Wade's 1-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 14–10 lead. The score would hold up, and the Bears iced the game on Richie Petitbon's interception in the end zone with 10 seconds left. It was Tittle's 5th interception.
The lone highlight for New York was the second quarter 14 yard TD pass from Tittle to WR Frank Gifford. The former running back had converted to wide receiver following the devastating hit by LB Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles that had forced Gifford to sit out the entire 1961 season.
The game ball is presented to defensive coordinator, George Allen. The future Hall of Fame coach would lead the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins to prominence during his tenure.
2. December 12, 1965 Chicago 61 San Francisco 20
Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune:
The sky was gray that day-a dirty, ugly kind of gray. Dismal gray. And rainy, off and on. Drizzle, then downpour. All day. It was mild, especially for December, temperatures in the mid-50s, but so muddy and dingy that you`d almost rather it were snowing. It was the kind of day the psychiatrists say produces a higher rate of suicides.
``The Bears really didn`t have a passing offense then, `` recalls 49ers defensive end Clark Miller-even though Bear quarterback Rudy Buckich led the National Football League that year in passing. ``You knew what their strength on offense was. They were going to try to run and, by this game, we knew who was going to be running.``
San Francisco had handled the Bears on September 19th, 52-24. The 49ers had practiced all week with the sole purpose of stopping the Chicago running game. The first year defensive assistant coach for San Francisco was the recently retired star, QB Y.A. Tittle from the New York Giants. Y.A. had devised a game plan for his defense to stay in their lanes, and not chase the gifted running back. His veteran defensive unit was so flustered that this also affected the 49ers top ranked offense. San Francisco turned the ball three times, and was able to rush for only 58 yards.
Sayers carried the ball just 9 times from scrimmage for 113 yards. He had touchdown runs of 1, 7, 21 and 50 yards. He caught a TD pass of 80 yards from QB Rudy Bukich. Gale also had an 85 yard punt return for a touchdown. For the day, he had 336 total yards.
Late in the game, Sayers was put back in to return a punt due to an injury to the backup. Receiving the ball at the Bears 19, Gale worked his way through tacklers and broke free at midfield. He was alone and headed for his 7th TD when he slipped on the muddy field. ``Funny, it was the first time I`d slipped all day,`` recalls Sayers.
1. January 26, 1986 Chicago 46 New England 10 Super Bowl XX
It started out so poorly for the Bears. On the first play from scrimmage, Bears RB Walter Payton fumbled and Patriots LB Larry McGrew recovered at the Bears 19. A sure TD pass from Patriots QB Tony Eason to TE Lin Dawson was incomplete at the goal line. Dawson's left leg buckled as the ball arrived. The Patriots had to settle for a 36 yard field goal from barefooted K Tony Franklin.
On the ensuing series, Patriots LB Don Blackmon dropped an easy interception that would have been returned for a touchdown. Just two minutes into Super Bowl XX, two golden opportunities had slipped through New England's hands.
With the early game jitters out of the way, Chicago buried the Patriots with 44 consecutive points. The Bears would allow only seven yards rushing on 11 carries. They would sack New England QB's seven times, and Patriots starting QB Tony Eason would finish 0 for 6 passing. Backup QB Steve Grogan would fare better than the starter, but he was under a constant barrage of pressure. He would throw two interceptions.
The Bears would catch a break from the officials just before halftime. A run by QB Jim McMahon was stopped at the New England seven yard line with seconds remaining. Handing the football to the linesman for placement, McMahon spiked the ball before the referee had put the ball back in play. K Kevin Butler kicked a 24 yard field goal as time expired. With much confusion and no replay, the three points added to the onslaught making the halftime score, 23-3. The Patriots had compiled -19 yards in total offense.
The second half featured a 28 yard interception return for a TD by Bears CB Reggie Phillips. DT William "Refrigerator" Perry added a one yard TD run in a shortage situation late in the third quarter. The 350 lb. nose tackle bowled his way into the end zone to make the score, 44-3. Perry had been stopped for a one yard loss in the first quarter while attempting a pass.
The 46 defense used by the the Bears was the work of defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan. His defense limited New England to one first down rushing. DE Richard Dent was in the New England backfield all day, and his two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked pass won him MVP of the Super Bowl.
The 1985 Chicago Bears finished 18-1 following the 46-10, Super Bowl XX rout of New England. The only blemish was a 38-24 regular season loss to the Miami Dolphins in the Orange Bowl.
Wikipedia:
The nation's recognition of the Bears' accomplishment was overshadowed by the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster two days later, an event which caused the cancellation of the Bears' post-Super Bowl White House visit; the surviving members of the team eventually would be invited to the White House in 2011.
The Chicago Bears may be the Monsters of the Midway, but their compassion is what makes them great.
Sportsecyclopedia:
After Sayers injury back up Running Back Brian Piccolo did not want to get the job because of an injury. Piccolo, who was a popular figure for years in the Chicago area, was roomed with Sayers for a few years on road trips. This feat was unique in the fact it was one of the first black-white parings in NFL history. During the entire off-season Piccolo pushed Sayers to get his knee back into football playing shape. Thanks to the workouts Sayers was back, and Piccolo was back on the bench when the season started. Sayers would go on to rush for 1,000 yards, and would earn NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. Despite Sayers comeback, the Bears would finish with a franchise worse 1-13 record. However the worse news came when Brian Piccolo started expiring breathing problems, a hospital physical would later reveal the worst fears Lung Cancer. On June 16, 1970 just seven months after being diagnosed Brian Piccolo loses his battle with Lung Cancer at the age of 26. The Bears would go on to establish the Piccolo fund which raises money through various events annual for cancer research. In November of 1971 TV Movie entitled "Brian's Song" airs on ABC. The movie that stars James Caan as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers details the friendship between the two Bears Running Backs. The tearjerker would go on to become one of the most beloved sports movies of all time.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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