1.) 2018, Bears vs. Packers: Bears clinch NFC North over rival Packers
Yes, I know it happened on week 15, and I may have purposely avoided posting this last week simply because the parallels are too strong here. First year HC and QB combo, Soldier Field, late season, a chance
to all but clinch the NFC North with a Bears win. I had to do it this week.
Week 15, 2018. The Green Bay Packers are looking to try and stay alive in the playoff picture while a win for the Bears will clinch the NFC North.
The Bears jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead, as their duo of running backs accounted for 2 early touchdowns, a 9-yard rush from Jordan Howard, and a 12-yard pass from Mitchell Trubisky to Tarik Cohen.
In true Packer fashion they staged a quick 3rd quarter rally, with a field goal and a touchdown with a 2 point conversion to boot, tying the game at 14 all with Jamaal Williams providing the tying touchdown.
But the Bears defense would buckle down. Aaron Rodgers was sacked 5 times on the day, and with 3:14 left in the game with a chance to cut the Bears lead to just 3, Aaron Rodgers threw an ill advised pass that was deflected and picked off by All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson.
The Packers would eventually get the ball back and kick a late field goal, but the onside kick attempt failed and the Bears clinched the NFC North with a 24-17 win.
It was 1 of only 3 times in Rodgers career he didn’t throw for a touchdown in a game against the Bears, and the 68.9 passer rating was the lowest mark of his career against the Bears.
Here’s to hoping history has a way of repeating itself tonight.
2.) 2010, Bears vs. Jets: Bears clinch division title and first round bye in shootout with Jets
Another division clinching game, seems like I might be developing a theme this week, or at least trying to manifest some good mojo.
in the midst of trying to clinch the division, the Bears squared off with a tough AFC East New York Jets squad, who were sitting on 10 wins looking to improve their playoff standing with a win in Chicago.
The Bears got out to an early 10-0 lead, aided by a 22-yard Matt Forte rushing touchdown, but the Jets exploded for 24 points in the 2nd quarter, including two touchdowns in the span of 1:04. Future Hall of Famer Ladainian Tomlinson would put the Jets up 21-10 with a 3-yard touchdown 8 minutes later in the quarter.
That’s when Jay Cutler activated.
Finally mounting a response, Cutler found his way into the endzone for a 2-yard rushing touchdown. The Jets would respond with a field goal before the end of the half to make it a 24-17 game.
The Bears, led by Cutler, would score 3 touchdowns in the matter of 7 minutes in the 3rd quarter, all 3 coming from the arm of Cutler, a 40-yard bomb to Johnny Knox, a 25-yard toss to future Hall of Famer Devin Hester, and finally 1 more to Johnny Knox for 26-yards to put the Bears up 38-31.
The Jets would only mount a field goal as the Bears defense would tighten up after uncharacteristically allowing 30+ points, the only other team to top that mark being the New England Patriots 2 weeks prior.
The win marked the 3rd time the Bears would win the NFC North in the matter of 6 seasons.
3.) 1963, Bears vs. Giants: Bears win NFL Championship power by defense and 2 Billy Wade rushing touchdowns
Okay, so I took a little more creative liberty with this one, but to be fair this was the 15th game played in the 1963 season for the Bears, so I feel like this is a valid rule bend.
Anyways!
The 1963 season was a special one, a season that saw the Bears lose just once, and a season that culminated in their last NFL Championship before the Super Bowl era was ushered in.
The 11-1-2 Bears were hosting the 11-3 New York Giants, lead by Y.A. Tittle, who absolutely lit the NFL passing world on fire in 1963. He lead the league with some pretty unheard of numbers in that era. Completing 60.2% of his passes for 3145 yards, an astounding 36 touchdown passes (this mark breaking his own NFL record of 33 just the year prior) to just 14 interceptions, and an NFL record 104.8 passer rating, for reference the league average passer rating in 1963 was a mere 71.7.
Many pundits felt Y.A. and the Giants offense would prove too much for the Bears, Vegas matched this sentiment putting the line at -1.0 for the visiting Giants.
But the Bears defense had other ideas.
While Tittle did throw a 14-yard touchdown to Frank Gifford on the Giants opening drive after a Billy Wade
Aided by a kickoff temperature of just 4 degrees and a windchill of -11, the Bears defense froze the Giants offense solid forcing 5 Tittle interceptions, who was hobbled after taking a hit late in the first half.
Bears quarterback Billy Wade ran in a pair of touchdowns, from 2 and 1 yard, famously in his Converse All-Stars. And the Chicago Bears defense pitched a second half shutout, limiting him to just 147 passing yards and a 26.7 passer rating. Richie Petitbon sealed the win with an interception on a last gasp throw from Tittle, giving Halas his 8th NFL Championship.
4.) 1985, Bears @ Lions: Defense pummels Lions to the tune of 7 turnovers an 6 sacks as Bears prepare for NFL playoffs
The ‘85 defense had a lot of hallmark games, but when the Bears visited the Detroit Lions at the Silverdome in week 16, the defense made one of it’s loudest statements.
In what was essentially a tune up game for the Bears, who had locked up the number 1 seed in the NFC in week 14 with a victory over the Colts. The Bears defense perhaps had their most dominant game on the season.
The Bears defense got to Lions quarterback Eric Hipple 6 times, and forced 3 interceptions, along with forcing, and recovering 4 fumbles, recovering them all for a total 7 turnovers forced.
Walter Payton did a little bit of everything on the day, rushing for 81 yards, hauling in 4 receptions for 55 yards, and even tossing a 50-yard pass to Willie Gault.
If you have the time, the entire game can be found in the video above, a fun watch to watch a masterclass of defense on the doorstep of the NFL playoffs.
5.) 2005, Bears @ Packers: Bears clinch NFC North division title on Christmas, forcing 4 Brett Favre interceptions
Like I said, I had a theme going.
This time we travel back to 2005, with the Bears visiting the Packers in Lambeau Field.
The Packers were mired in one of their worst seasons of the Brett Favre era, coming into the game sitting at just 3-11. After breaking his ankle before the season started in a preseason game against the Rams, Rex Grossman made his first and only start of the 2005 season. Some fans disagreed with this move, as backup quarterback Kyle Orton filled in admirably as an upside game managing quarterback winning 10 of his 15 starts as the Bears leaned on a good rushing attack and great defense to get them into the hunt for an NFC North crown.
Packers quarterback Brett Favre in turn put in his worst career start against the Bears. The Bears would force 4 interceptions, with safety Chris Harris getting a pair, while Mike Brown and Lance Briggs nabbed 1 of their own, Briggs’ going for 6 points. All this to the tune of a 44.3 passer rating for the long time Packers quarterback in a season where he threw a career high 29 interceptions to just 20 touchdowns.
Rex Grossman linked up with Mushin Muhammad for their duo’s first touchdown pass together, Thomas Jones rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown in a season in which he finished with 1335 yards and 9 touchdowns.
The 24-17 win would lock up the NFC North for the Bears. Interesting trend here, as they locked up the North in 2018 with that same score.
I could go for another one of those 24-17 wins tonight!
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.
