1.) 1979, Bears @ Vikings: Walter Payton makes history (again)
On a cold and blustery October afternoon, the 3–4 Chicago Bears squared off against the 3–4 Minnesota Vikings. In a back-and-forth battle, the Bears jumped out to an early 14–3 lead, highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown strike from Walter Payton to Brian Baschnagel, which would be the first of eight career touchdown passes for the Hall of Fame running back.
Chicago followed up with another score, this time a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bob Avellini to Payton.
The Vikings answered in the second half, rallying behind two touchdown passes from Tommy Kramer to take a 17–14 lead in the third quarter.
But the Bears refused to fold. Kicker Bob Thomas connected on a pair of field goals, and Payton added another touchdown with a two-yard rushing scramble. That final score gave him one passing, one receiving, and one rushing touchdown in the same game, making him just the eighth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. To this day, he remains one of only twelve players ever to do so. The Bears would unfortunately fall to the Vikings as Tommy Kramer found Rickey Young for a 5-yard touchdown pass with just 13 seconds remaining, giving the Vikings a 30-27 win.
All three touchdowns, and game highlights can be found in the video above.
Touchdown Pass: 54-yard touchdown pass to Brian Baschnagel
Touchdown Reception: 2-yard touchdown reception from Bob Avellini
Touchdown Run: 2-yard touchdown rush off right tackle
2.) 2012, Bears vs Panther: Tim Jennings, Jay Cutler and Robbie Gould stun the Panthers
What could have been for the 2012 Chicago Bears. A team that started 7–1 only to falter down the stretch, finishing 10–6 and missing the playoffs. Longtime head coach Lovie Smith was dismissed after the season, marking the end of an era.
Before that collapse, though, the 5–1 Bears hosted the 1–5 Carolina Panthers, who were led by former Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
The game started well enough. Matt Forte opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. But the Panthers tightened up defensively and rattled off the next 19 points, putting the Bears in a 12-point hole entering the fourth quarter.
Midway through the final frame, Jay Cutler found tight end Kellen Davis over the middle for a 12-yard touchdown. And on the very next snap, Cam Newton fired a pass intended for longtime Bears nemesis Steve Smith, but Smith slipped, and cornerback Tim Jennings took advantage. He intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown, giving Chicago the lead after the two-point try failed.
Newton and the Panthers responded, driving into field goal range. Kicker Justin Medlock’s 45-yard attempt hit the right upright and bounced through, putting Carolina ahead 22–19.
But Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall weren’t finished. The duo connected four times for 36 yards on a 55-yard march that chewed up 2:28 of clock. The drive settled at the Panthers’ 23, setting the stage for Robbie Gould, who lived up to his nickname: good as Gould. His kick was true, sending the Bears to a 23–22 victory and sending the Panthers home heartbroken.
3.) 2006, Bears vs 49ers: Bears drop 41 in the first half against the 49ers enroute to 7-0
This one was over before it began, a defining moment in what made the 2006 Chicago Bears season so special. The defense forced five turnovers, turning three first-quarter takeaways into 21 points as the 49ers found themselves trailing by 24 before the second quarter even began.
The onslaught continued into the next frame. Ricky Manning Jr. intercepted another pass, setting up a 27-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Rex Grossman to tight end Desmond Clark. By the time the first-half clock expired, the scoreboard read 41–0 in favor of Chicago.
The 41 points in the first half stands as the most points the Bears have ever scored in the 1st half in team history. The Bears would go on to coast to a 41-10 victory, pushing their record to 7-0.
4.) 1985, Bears vs Vikings: 5 interceptions and 4 sacks of Vikings QB’s lead to utter defensive domination
Week 8 of the 1985 season brought another showcase from a future Super Bowl team. The Chicago Bears hosted the 4–3 Minnesota Vikings, who just a week earlier had pulled off a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback win over Dan Fouts and the San Diego Chargers.
But the Vikings’ magic ran out quickly against one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. Quarterbacks Tommy Kramer and Wade Wilson combined to go 21-of-46 for 236 yards, no touchdowns, and five interceptions, finishing with a passer rating of just 21.9. For perspective, a quarterback who threw nothing but incompletions all game would post a rating of 39.6. The pair was also sacked four times, including two by linebacker Otis Wilson and one by “The Fridge” himself, William Perry.
This was one of six games in which the 1985 Bears defense forced five or more turnovers. The Vikings were the only team to endure it twice, having also given the ball away five times in a 33–24 loss to Chicago back in Week 3.
5.) 2001, Bears vs Browns: Mike Brown, called game. Part 2
I couldn’t mention the 49ers walk-off pick 6 last week without following up with the week after, right? Can you imagine being one of the lucky fans to attend both of these games?
The game began as a defensive struggle, and Cleveland’s first touchdown was the result of just that. Defensive end Courtney Brown, who finished with three sacks, scooped up a Shane Matthews fumble and returned it for a score. It wasn’t until 23 seconds remained in the first half that the Bears answered, when rookie running back Anthony Thomas powered in from two yards out.
The Browns and quarterback Tim Couch opened the second half firing. Their first drive went 70 yards, capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from Couch to tight end Mike Sellers.
Cleveland struck again on its next possession with a 55-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kevin Johnson. The throw was undercut and tipped by the eventual hero, safety Mike Brown, but the ball found its way back to Johnson for the score.
The Bears were in trouble. Their offense had sputtered all afternoon, and with under two minutes left, they needed a string of miracles. And they got them.
Chicago began its next drive with only a 0.3% win probability. Shane Matthews completed seven of eight passes, finishing the march with a nine-yard touchdown to wideout Marty Booker. During the drive, commentator Phil Simms famously said, “Don’t give up too quick yet, there’s still a minute to go, we know better.”
On the ensuing onside kick, kicker Paul Edinger placed the ball perfectly. It took two hops toward the sideline, the second one leaping high into the air. After a chaotic scramble, the Bears emerged with possession. Twenty-four seconds and 47 yards separated them from tying the game.
Matthews completed back-to-back passes to James Allen, setting the Bears up at the Cleveland 34 with eight seconds left. Hail Mary time. Matthews took the snap, stepped up into the pocket, and launched a pass toward the right corner of the end zone. Browns free safety Percy Ellsworth got his hands on it, trying to bat it down, but didn’t get enough of it. The ball deflected into the path of James Allen, who dove to make the catch for a 34-yard touchdown as time expired. Paul Edinger’s extra point tied the game and sent it to overtime.
The Bears opened the extra period with the ball but were forced to punt after reaching their own 40-yard line. Brad Maynard’s kick pinned the Browns at their 12. A 16-yard completion and a sack later, the stage was set.
On the next play, Couch dropped back and fired a quick pass intended for running back Jamel White. Defensive end Bryan Robinson leapt into the passing lane and batted the ball into the air. Waiting nearby was Mike Brown, who had crept up to disguise a safety blitz and was perfectly positioned to intercept it.
Brown did the rest, returning it 16 yards for a walk-off touchdown and sprinting straight down the tunnel to the locker room. The call still echoes in my memory: “Throws, that’s batted in the air, INTERCEPTED, AND THE BEARS ARE GONNA WIN IT! MIKE BROWN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!” exclaimed commentator Greg Gumbel, his voice carrying a clear note of disbelief.
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.
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