A Bear Hit in Bear Weather: The Last Time Chicago Played the Rams in the Playoffs
It was a Bear hit in Bear weather against an overwhelmed team in the NFC Championship. It was the last time the L.A. Rams played the Chicago Bears in the playoffs, exactly 40 years ago in the most recent Bears title run.
On a 3rd and 1 early in the game, Mike Singletary pursued Eric Dickerson and brought him down for no gain in a hit you could hear on TV (6:55 mark on the video). The hit and the raucous celebration afterward epitomized that Bears team and their 1985 season.
It was pure confidence, pure strength, pure teamwork (look how many guys ended up assisting in the tackle). And pure genius: Singletary was famous for knowing a team’s play call ahead of time based on their pre-snap formation.
Chicago won the game 24-0 (after blanking the New York Giants the week before 21-0) and punched their ticket to Super Bowl XX. Two shutouts in a row in the playoffs is unheard of, by the way.
Playoffs? You’re talking to me about the playoffs?
I just hope the Bears can win a game. This is a different Bears team and a different Rams team squaring off Sunday night. Since ‘85, the Rams have moved to St. Louis and back. And I think they have a different coach now. Thankfully Mike Ditka is still coaching the Bears. I’m pretty sure.
January 12, 1986 was 36 degrees at game time and snowing by the end. This Sunday at Soldier Field it’s supposed to be a high of 20 with snow. Bear weather.
You still have to play the game, though. Which I prefer not to think about at the moment. Which is why my thoughts drift back to January ‘86…
The Rams’ longest drive of the day was 27 yards. They lost 2 fumbles and threw one interception. They got down to the Bears’ 12 yard line once, but time ran out in the first half before they could run another play or kick a field goal. They gave up a 16 yard touchdown scramble to the always-hobbled Bears quarterback Jim McMahon. Dale Hatcher of the Rams punted 11 times.
And the icing on the cake was late in the 4th when Rams QB Dieter Brock was sacked by Richard Dent and lost the ball. Wilber Marshall picked it up, wrenched himself away from Eric Dickerson, and ran 52 yards for a touchdown with snow now pelting the field (19:05 mark of the video).
Photo by Bob Langer, Chicago Tribune
It was party time for a team that now enjoys mythical status in Chicago.
Bears coach Mike Ditka, always the intellectual, summed it up after the game: “There’s a poem, something about we’ve come many miles but still have miles to go.”
We’ll see if we end up getting any Frost this Sunday.
Bonus material:
Speaking of Ditka, the “Chicago Tribune Book of the Chicago Bears” has a good story about him as a kid playing baseball in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania: “One day [Ditka’s father] witnessed a remarkable scene. Mike was catching and younger brother Ashton was pitching. Ashton walked ‘one, maybe two batters.’ Mike ordered a conference on the mound and the two switched positions. This worked until the shortstop made an error. Mike switched to shortstop."
Bears founder, player, longtime coach, and owner George Halas sounds like fun to play for. In 1963, after they won the NFL championship under Halas’ coaching (their last title before 1985), the Chicago Tribune printed this account: “The Bears were champions. And they didn't know how to act. They didn’t even know how to cheer. One by one they edged, almost self consciously, past the hysterical fans and into their Wrigley Field quarters. But there was no loud, spontaneous uproar. There was no uproar, that is, until their leader entered the room. George Halas walked in, and George Halas set the pace for the post-game celebration, just as he had called the shots all year. ‘Go!’ screamed Halas. Then, and only then, did the Bears start yelling. They hollered magnificently.”
Anybody remember the Nintendo game Tecmo Bowl? One of the post-touchdown graphics on the game was taken from this William Perry/Walter Payton photograph from a preseason game in 1986. Real ones know.
Photo by Edward Wagner, Chicago Tribune
