| SB I | SB XI | SB XXI | SB XXXI | SB XLI |
| SB II | SB XII | SB XXII | SB XXXII | SB XLII |
| SB III | SB XIII | SB XXIII | SB XXXIII | SB XLIII |
| SB IV | SB XIV | SB XXIV | SB XXXIV | SB XLIV |
| SB V | SB XV | SB XXV | SB XXXV | SB XLV |
| SB VI | SB XVI | SB XXVI | SB XXXVI | SB XLVI |
| SB VII | SB XVI | SB XXVI | SB XXXVI | SB XLVI |
| SB VIII | SB XVIII | SB XXVIII | SB XXXVIII | SB XLVIII |
| SB IX | SB XIX | SB XXIX | SB XXXIX | SB XLIX |
| SB X | SB XX | SB XXX | SB XL | SB 50 |
Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears (NFC) vs New England Patriots (AFC)
Chicago Bears
The Bears were one of the founding members of the NFL, and one of the most successful franchises in the league's infancy. However, 1963 was the last championship for the team. Since 1963 Chicago had only made the playoffs twice, and went one and done both times. In 1982, they hired former player and longtime Cowboy player and defensive coach Mike Ditka. Ditch implemented a new defensive system, the '46 defense', and began a turnaround for the long-suffering franchise. In 1984, the team won their first playoff game since that 1963 title. In 1985, the Bears exploded into national consciousness with a 15-1 record, earning Ditka COY honors. LB Mike Singletary was the 'heart' of the Monsters of Midway defense, and won DPOY honors. The offense was great too, quarterback Jim McMahon threw 15 touchdowns, and the running corps ran in 27 more. Their +258 point differential was clearly football's best. Their NFC playoff performance was stunning, annihilating New York and Los Angeles by scores of 21-0 and 24-0. Finally, Chicago got a peak at the Super Bowl
New England Patriots
In many ways, the Patriots the past twenty-odd years had been very much like the Bears. They won a AFL tie-breaker game against the Bills only to lose to San Diego in the AFL championship, and had never won a true 'playoff game'. The Patriots came into the 1985 season with no expectations for any long term playoff success. Tony Eason threw two more interceptions than touchdowns, and spent some of the season injured with Steve Grogan in, who threw only 2 more touchdowns than interceptions. The defense was mediocre, keeping things close. Their +72 point differential was 6th highest in the NFL. New England snuck into the playoffs as the sixth seed, and played their mortal foe the Jets in the wild card round. They won 26-14 to earn a trip to Los Angeles where they beat the Raiders 27-20. Now they faced yet another AFC East team in Miami, but won 31-14 commandingly to advance to an unlikely Super Bowl appearance.
The Game: January 26, 1986; 5:21 PM EST; Indoors; Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Opening
Super Bowl XX went back to the Saints' home in the Louisiana Superdome. Jim McMahon was needing acupuncture treatment for his glute before the game, and wrote 'acupuncture' on his headband, replacing the 'Rozelle' he wrote after the NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle fined him for wearing Adidas gear earlier in the season. He also called New Orleans woman sluts in a press anecdote that McMahon refuted. Wynton Marsalis trumpeted the national anthem.
1st Quarter
RB Walter Payton ran seven yards for the Bears to stat the game, but fumbled on the next play to Larry McGrew. New England took over, and Eason threw three incompletions before Tony Franklin kicked a 36-yarder. 3-0 New England. These were the first points scored on Chicago all postseason. McMahon threw 43 yards to Willie Gault on the next Bears drive, and after some rushes, the Bears had to settle for a Kevin Butler field goal. 3-3. The Chicago defense forced a three-and-out for the Patriots, and after a McMahon to Gault pass for 19, Chicago was forced to punt. On 2nd and 10, Eason was strip-sacked by Richard Dent, and Dan Hampton recovered his fumble. It was at the New England 13 where the Bears started, but were held to a field goal from 24-yards. 6-3 Chicago. Dent again forced a fumble by hitting Craig James, and the Bears took over after only one play by the Patriots. Matt Suhey ran 2 yards, then 11 yards for a touchdown. 13-3 Chicago.
End 1st Quarter: Chicago Bears 13-3 New England Patriots
2nd Quarter
Chicago forced a New England three-and-out, and the Bears went to the physical run game on their next drive. McMahon's to Suhey for 24-yards was by far their longest play, Suhey rushed for gains of 3, 4, yards to push through the Patriots' line. McMahon ended up running in the next touchdown himself. 20-3 Chicago. Eason continued to struggle with getting sacked by the ferocious Bears defense as the Patriots again went three-and-out. On Chicago's second play, Suhey fumbled to New England DB Raymond Clayborn. Now, Steve Grogan came in as quarterback, and hit some short passes, and got a first down, but again the Patriots punted. Payton rushes led the way before McMahon hit Dennis Gentry for 14 yards, then Ken Margerum for 29 yards. The half was ending, but it left Butler enough time to drill a 24-yard field goal. 23-3 Chicago.
End 2nd Quarter: Chicago Bears 23-3 New England Patriots
Halftime
In New Orleans, 73,818 saw Up With People perform "Beat of the Future", also watched by 92,570,000 from across the country.
3rd Quarter
Grogan was sacked twice in the Patriots' opening drive, but got a 24-yard pass to Stephen Starring off before New England had to punt. Starting at his four, McMahon immediately threw 60 yards to Gault, then 14 to Emery Moorehead. After a lengthy sequence of runs, McMahon again ran in a Bears touchdown. 30-3 Chicago. Facing a three-and-out, Grogan was intercepted by CB Reggie Phillips. Payton rushes and McMahon to Gentry for 27 yards got Chicago to the New England two yard line. There, massive rookie lineman William 'Refrigerator' Perry dove in the end zone for a touchdown. 44-3 Chicago. Grogan hit Starring for 15, and Stanley Morgan for 13 on the next Patriot drive, and uses passes to advance to the Chicago 18. There, he was sacked to end the quarter.
End 3rd Quarter: Chicago Bears 44-3 New England Patriots
4th Quarter
Groan managed to rebound from his sack, and throw 16 yards to Morgan. With 1st-and-goal at the 7, Grogan fired three incompletions, but on fourth down finally connected with Irving Fryer for a New England touchdown. 44-10 Chicago. Payton ran it three times for the Bears, and they went three-and-out. On the Patriots' first play, Grogan passed to Ramsey who fumbled the ball to Singletary. Steve Fuller came in at quarterback for the Bears, and they went three-and-out again. The next New England drive went: Grogan incomplete pass, Grogan 15 to Morgan, Grogan 11 to Tony Collins, Grogan 16 to Fryar, Grogan intercepted. Chicago had four attempts to score again starting at the Patriots' five yard line, but were unable to, and turned it over on downs. Grogan fired off three incompletions, three-and-out New England. Thomas Sanders ran the ball multiple times to burn out the clock for Chicago.
FINAL: Chicago Bears 44-10 New England Patriots
Current Super Bowl Records Set
Chicago Bears: Most 3rd Quarter Points (21)
Chicago Bears: Largest End of 3rd Quarter Lead (41 points)
Chicago Bears: Longest Touchdown Drive (96 yards) [Shared with two others]
New England Patriots: Fewest Rushing Yards (7)
New England Patriots: Lowest Gain Per Rush Attempt (.64 yards)
Chicago Bears: Most Rushing Touchdowns (4) [Shared with one other]
/ Chicago Bears/New England Patriots: Most Combined Rushing Touchdowns (4) [Shared with three others]
/ Chicago Bears/New England Patriots: Most Sacks/Most Times Sacked (7)
/ Chicago Bears/New England Patriots: Most Combined Sacks (10) [Shared with one other]
New England Patriots: Fewest Rushing 1st Downs (1) [Shared with one other]
Wrap-Up
Super Bowl XX was a complete triumph for the Chicago Bears, and their fans who had waited so long to return to their old glory. The legend of the completely physically dominant Bears lives on well to this day, Mike Ditka is a messianic figure for Chicago, and a 30 for 30 on the now famous '85 Bears is airing soon. The Bears would field good team after 1985, but none managed to reach the squad's level. It would be a completely different team the Bears would field in their next Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots quickly fell apart into another long-suffering period of mediocrity, and their brief rise to national prominence was not capitalized on. They would not win another playoff game until their next Super Bowl appearance, but that's another story entirely.
Also, thank /u/shirtus for the table idea for past editions
Submitted January 08, 2016 at 07:04PM by Guardax http://ift.tt/1RxN3IS nfl
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