1.) 1980, Bears vs. Packers: Walter Payton and the Chicago Bears offense account for 8 touchdowns in 61-7 blowout, most points surrendered by the Packers all time.
It’s the second biggest blowout in Packers history, and most points they have ever surrendered.
The 1980 season version of the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rivalry started off oddly. The teams’ squared
off in week 1, a largely defensive battle that was ultimately won in overtime by the Packers after a game winning field goal attempt was blocked, and then scooped up for a touchdown by Packers kicker Chester Marcol.
Flash forward to week 14, and the season for both teams have not gone they way that either team had planned. The Packers came into Soldier Field hoping to keep their dying playoff chances alive sitting at 5-7-1. The Bears were just trying to build momentum heading into the ‘81 season sitting at 5-8.
At the very least, for one week, the Bears were the best team in the league, and the Packers were the victims of it.
Each team played a scoreless 1st quarter, it wasn’t until the 2nd quarter that the Bears exploded, which included 4 straight touchdown drives. Walter Payton was the benefactor of two of those touchdowns, as Payton would go on to rush for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day.
Not to be outdone, Bears quarterback Vince Evans had a career day, completing 18 of 22 passes for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns, all for a flawless 158.3 passer rating.
It was a high water mark for a team on the cusp of it’s mid 80’s to early 90’s run of dominance, the most lopsided beating in the Bears vs. Packers rivalry.
Here’s to hoping this Sunday it’s replicated in our favor.
2.) 1993, Bears vs. Packer: Bears defense forces 4 Brett Favre turnovers, scored 3 touchdowns to move into 3 way tie for NFC Central lead.
The 1993 season was a landmark for change, Mike Ditka, Bears long time head coach was fired during the previous off-season, despite only posting 3 losing seasons in his 11 year run with the Bears, the 1992 season, however, being the worst aside from the strike shortened 1982 season in a season that saw the Bears win just 5 games.
In comes Dave Wannstedt to take over the reins from Ditka. The former Cowboys defensive coordinator had done a good job up to this point in his freshman year, piloting the Chicago Bears to a 6-5 record heading into week 14.
In come the Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre Green Bay Packers who at 7-4 were looking to try and separate themselves in a crowded NFC Central race. The tandem had surprisingly finished 2nd in the Central in 1992, giving Packers fans hopes that the post Lombardi dark days may be coming to and end.
But the Monsters of the Midway said “Hold off on those thoughts, at least for 1 more week.”
Despite being outgained 466 to 210 yards, the Bears defense bent, but didn’t break. It started with a nifty interception where linebacker Dante Jones stepped in front of a Brett Favre pass, picked it off, and lateralled to Jeremy Lincoln who capped the 80-yard return with a touchdown.
Dante Jones would get his own touchdown, recovering a Brett Favre fumble and taking it 32-yards for the score.
Not to be outdone, Bears safety Mark Carrier sealed the win with a 34-yard interception for a touchdown as the Packers were trying to drive to tie the game.
All told the Bears defense would force 5 turnovers, 4 from Favre alone, and would outscore the Green Bay offense 21-17 by their own merit. It was Chicago’s 4th straight win, an unfortunately, the last of the season as they would close out the ‘93 season losing their last 4 by averaging just 8.3 points a game.
The 4 turnovers are tied for the career high Favre has against the Bears, he would go on to throw 4 interceptions in a 17-24 loss in 2005.
3.) 2018, Bears vs. Rams: Bears defense stifles high powered Rams, clinch first winning season since 2012.
The 2018 season had a lot of high water moments, this game was no different.
The 11-1 Los Angeles Rams came to Soldier Field, a team many had said was the best team in the NFL, and were just 2 weeks removed from one of the most exciting and high scoring games in NFL history, when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 54-51.
But this Bears defense, and the Chicago winter were built different.
To say the high powered Rams offense struggled in the below freezing weather would be an understatement. The Rams offense was held to just 214 total yards, the only time any team held them under 300 on the regular season, and were limited to just 6 points. The second lowest point output they had in all of the 2018 regular season was 23 against the Eagles. The only other team to replicate this type of success were the Patriots, as they would use the blueprint the Bears built on how to beat Sean McVay’s offense, limiting the Rams to just 3 points and 260 yards of total offense.
Jared Goff was awful, being sacked 3 times, and throwing 4 interceptions in a game he was coming into throwing just 7 all year. His 19.1 Passer rating remains the lowest mark of his career. Prince Amukamara, Roquan Smith, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson all victimized Goff for picks.
It wasn’t just Goff that struggled, either.
Todd Gurley, who had 19 total touchdowns heading into the game was limited to just 58 total yards from scrimmage, rushing 11 times for 28 yards and hauling in 3 passes for 30.
It was a banner day for a league leading defense, and the win would seal the Bears’ first winning season in 6 years.
4.) 2013, Bears vs. Cowboys: Ditka Day, Josh McCown goes off for 5 touchdowns as Bears dismantle Cowboys on Ditka’s number retirement day.
Another frigid December night, another Bears victory over a domed team. But this time, it was the Bears offense that did it all.
It was Marc Trestman’s first season coaching the Chicago Bears, and the offense looked every bit as promised as the CFL prodigy, who was lauded for his offensive acumen, had the 2012 Bears sitting as the second best offense in the league.
All this despite losing his starting quarterback Jay Cutler in a week 7 shootout to the Commanders, who tore a groin muscle after being sacked midway through the game.
McCown was masterful in his stead, completing 66.5% of his throws for 1829 yards, 13 touchdowns and just 1 interceptions boasting a stellar 109.0 Passer Rating in relief.
But the Monday Night Football matchup with the Cowboys was the best of them all.
McCown was masterful despite the below zero windchill. Throwing for 348 yards, 4 touchdowns, and running in a 5th all good for a 141.9 quarterback rating.
The best throw of them all came in the closing seconds of the 1st half, a perfectly placed ball to Alshon Jeffrey in the back corner of the endzone. The 25-yard throw put the Bears up 24-14 heading into the half.
The Bears offense was masterful, gaining 490 total yards, converting 8 of 11 third downs, and controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
McCown had a journeyman’s career, ultimately playing snaps for 9 NFL teams, but his team in Chicago by far stands out as his best stop.
Really makes you wonder what magic McCown and Trestman were cooking?
5.) 2006, Bears @ Rams: Devin Hester returns 2 kickoff’s for touchdowns, setting NFL record for return touchdowns in a season
“Devin Hester, you are ridiculous!” There can be a lot said about Devin Hester. Anytime, The Windy City Flyer, whatever you call him, call him a hall of famer, and the best to ever do it at his position.
And if there was ever a rookie season that showed us just what a player was destine for, it was Devin Hester’s 2006 season, a year that saw him break the all time season mark for return touchdowns, and he would do so in St. Louis against the 5-7 Rams. The future Superbowl Bears were rolling, sitting at 10-2 with a league leading special teams and defensive unit.
Traveling to St. Louis for a Monday night showdown, the Bears looked to try and further cement their hold on the NFC’s #1 seed, just a week after locking down the NFC North championship with a win over the division rival Minnesota Vikings
And “Anytime” saved his best for primetime.
After getting routed up for a 1-yard touchdown by one of the games best wide receivers in Torry Holt, Hester would immediately respond, taking the ensuing kickoff for 94-yards, and a record tying return touchdown, his 5th on the year.
Rex Grossman would toss two touchdowns, one to Bernard Berrian who split the defense and took a slant to the house, and the other a perfectly lofted ball to Mushin Muhammad for 14-yards.
Bears running backs Thomas Jones and the real Adrian Peterson would both score touchdowns pushing the Bears lead to 35-13 early in the 4th quarter. Torry Holt would add another touchdown reception.
But Hester went stride for stride with Holt, once again returning the ensuing kickoff after a Holt touchdown for a touchdown of his own, this time 96-yards, high stepping the last 20-yards into the endzone, a nod to his idol “Primetime” Deion Sanders, and putting him in sole possession of the all time return touchdown record.
A record that Hester would tie the immediate season after, and a mark that still stands to this day.
Gary Baugher Jr. is a rookie contributor to WCG, bringing football insight backed by over 16 years of experience in organized football and more than 30 years as a passionate fan of the game. You can follow him on Twitter at @iamcogs.
