Climb aboard the Gridiron Time Machine as we revisit three memorable Week 9 performances from Chicago Bears history!
1.) 1990, Bears @ Buccaneers: Testaverde throws it to everybody
November 4, 1990 | Bears win 26-6
The Bears entered Week 9 of the 1990 season at 7-1 and firmly in control of the NFC Central.
Tampa Bay quarterback Vinny Testaverde probably wishes this particular Sunday had gone a little differently.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Chicago finally broke through with a 12-yard touchdown run from Brad Muster. Neal Anderson added another score later
in the quarter, while Kevin Butler’s 30-yard field goal sent the Bears into halftime with a 17-0 advantage.
The offense did its part, but the defense completely took over the afternoon.
Testaverde completed just 10-of-24 passes for 149 yards while throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble. Rookie safety Mark Carrier grabbed two of those interceptions within a two-minute span late in the second quarter, helping set up 10 Chicago points. Richard Dent, Shaun Gayle and Ron Rivera each added interceptions of their own.
Jim Harbaugh quietly put together a solid afternoon on the other side, completing 14-of-23 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. His 19-yard scoring strike to Dennis Gentry helped extend the lead to 23-0 in the third quarter.
Chicago piled up 378 yards of offense, including 187 on the ground, while controlling the football for more than 38 minutes. Tampa Bay did not finally reach the end zone until the fourth quarter, long after the game had been decided.
The Bears walked out of Tampa with a 26-6 victory and an 8-1 record.
Five interceptions, six total takeaways and another dominant performance from a defense loaded with familiar names.
That sounds like a pretty good Sunday against Tampa Bay.
2.) 2013, Bears @ Packers: McCown gets it done at Lambeau
November 4, 2013 | Bears win 27-20
Walking into Lambeau Field without your starting quarterback is generally not an ideal recipe for success.
The Bears found a way anyway.
With Jay Cutler sidelined, veteran backup Josh McCown made his first start since the end of the 2011 season against a Packers team sitting atop the NFC North.
The complexion of the game changed almost immediately when Shea McClellin sacked Aaron Rodgers on Green Bay’s opening possession. Rodgers suffered a fractured left collarbone on the play and did not return, leaving Seneca Wallace to finish the game.
That turned Monday Night Football into a battle of backup quarterbacks, and McCown was more than ready for it.
He completed 22-of-41 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Brandon Marshall caught seven passes for 107 yards and a score, while Matt Forte rushed for 125 yards and another touchdown.
Green Bay managed to turn a 17-10 halftime deficit into a 20-17 lead in the third quarter without Chicago’s offense touching the football, scoring a touchdown before recovering a surprise onside kick.
McCown answered.
He found Alshon Jeffery for a six-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put Chicago back in front 24-20. From there, the Bears put together a clock-killing fourth-quarter drive that eventually ended with a Robbie Gould field goal and a 27-20 victory.
McClellin finished with three sacks, matching his career total entering the night, while Chicago’s defensive ends combined for five sacks overall.
The win snapped Green Bay’s six-game winning streak against the Bears and created a three-way tie atop the NFC North at 5-3.
A backup quarterback, Lambeau Field and Monday Night Football.
Not a bad time for one of the best performances of McCown’s Bears career.
3.) 2018, Bears @ Bills: The defense does the scoring
November 4, 2018 | Bears win 41-9
The 2018 Bears were beginning to figure out just how dangerous their defense could be when they traveled to Buffalo in Week 9.
The Bills got the full experience.
Chicago’s offense managed just 190 total yards, Mitchell Trubisky threw for only 135 yards, and the Bears possessed the football for less than 26 minutes.
Naturally, they scored 41 points.
After a scoreless first quarter, Jordan Howard punched in a one-yard touchdown to give Chicago the lead. Then the defense decided to handle the scoring itself.
Eddie Jackson stripped tight end Jason Croom, recovered the football and raced 65 yards for a touchdown. On Buffalo’s next possession, Kyle Fuller broke up a pass that Adrian Amos intercepted.
Watch the full game below:
One possession later, Fuller did it again.
This time the deflection landed in the hands of Leonard Floyd, who returned the interception 19 yards for another touchdown.
Chicago had forced turnovers on three straight Buffalo possessions, scored twice on defense and suddenly held a 21-0 lead. Howard added another touchdown before halftime to make it 28-0.
The Bears defense finished with four takeaways, three interceptions and four sacks. Jackson and Floyd accounted for 14 points by themselves, while the Bills offense scored just nine.
Chicago cruised to a 41-9 victory, improving to 5-3 and maintaining its lead in the NFC North.
There may not be a stat that sums up the 2018 Bears better than this one:
41 points. Just 190 yards of offense.
Sometimes the easiest way to fix an offense is to let the defense score instead.
Gary Baugher Jr. is a second year 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.
