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player ready...Across 10 decades in the NFL, chronicled in the baiduhai’s “Bears Decade-by-Decade, 2nd Edition,” the Monsters of Midway have broken league records, amassed Super Bowl victories, dominated on defense and won the allegiance of millions of fans. The Bears have had their fair share of picture perfect moments. Here are five of their best moments.
Almost perfect
The ’85 Bears dominated the field, taking home the Lombardi Trophy after a 46-10 victory in Super Bowl XX over the New England Patriots. After the thrilling game, Otis Wilson and Richard Dent raised their defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan on their shoulders. After eight seasons, this was Ryan’s final game with the Bears, and a memorable one at that. The Bears defense came out in full force with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle saying, “The Monsters of the Midway have really returned.” It was a big day for Chicago. Twenty-three years had passed since the 1963 Bears won Chicago’s last title in a major professional sport.
“And here he goes! It’s Hester!”
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester, already an All-Pro as a rookie with the team, tore up the field in Super Bowl XLI. According to “Bears Decade-by-Decade, 2nd Edition,” it was “the most electric Bears moment of the 21st century.” Sprinting 92 yards down to the end zone after catching Indianapolis Colts’ Adam Vinatieri’s kickoff at the 8-yard line, Hester hypnotized fans in the opening moments of the game. While the moment remains unforgettable to Bears fans, it wasn’t enough to bring home a Super Bowl victory. The Bears lost 29-17. Hester spent eight seasons with the Bears, but remained in the NFL for 11.
Super Bowl-bound
The Bears were already celebrating their NFC championship triumph over the Rams when they decided a lead late in the fourth quarter wasn’t enough. To put the cherry on top of the stellar win, they went with a defensive touchdown. Richard Dent sacked Rams quarterback Dieter Brock, and it was linebacker Wilber Marshall who picked up the ball. Marshall rushed 52 yards to the end zone to score a defensive touchdown in the 1986 game. “I can still see it in slow motion,” said Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary of the play. And with a 24-0 final score, history was made. The Bears were headed to the Super Bowl for the first time.
Super Bowl-bound… again
Snow couldn’t stop the Bears in a 39-14 victory against the Saints in their NFC title game in 2007. Running back Thomas Jones scored two touchdowns. Placekicker Robbie Gould kicked three field goals. Quarterback Rex Grossman hit wide receiver Bernard Berrian on a deep touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. And it was a team effort on these astonishing plays that brought the Bears back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 21 years.
275
After being sick earlier in the afternoon, Walter Payton destroyed the single-game NFL record for rushing by rushing 275 yards against the Vikings on Nov. 20, 1977. It really was the “Walter Payton Show” that day. Payton had 40 carries on a day while the Bears passed only seven times. The Bears narrowly escaped with a 10-7 win at Soldier Field.
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