Chicagos defense was great, but so was the 2000 ravens defense. For rich cohen and millions of other fans, the 1985 chicago bears were more. The 1985 season was the chicago bears 66th in the national football league the 16th. Da bears how the 1985 monsters of the midway became the. A lot has changed in the nfl since the 1985 bears won super bowl xx.
The 1985 bears defense produced four nfl head coaches and two hall of famers not counting head coach mike ditka, plus two additional defensive specialists in ryans two young sons. The bears allowed 198 points in 1985, which is tied for sixth. Top 10 players in chicago bears history sports illustrated. The bears 187 points allowed is the fewest surrendered by any team in the 1980s other than the strikeshortened 1982 season even fewer than the 198 points the. Every starter on the front seven had at least three sacks, with richard dent leading the way. Then came the 85 86 season with the fridge, the punky qb, the most awesome defense. As defensive coordinator of the bears, he is credited with creating the 46 defense, and the 1985 team led the league in nearly all defensive statistical categories. Baltimore allowed 165 points, the record for a 16game season. We were the greatest and millions of other books are. The bears defense in 1985 is, arguably, the best in nfl history.
A decadebydecade history by chicago tribune staff, don pierson, et al. It was time for the breakthrough and the 1985 chicago bears did just that, winning the super bowl with a defense thats at the forefront of any conversation about the best ds of alltime. Halas best teams played ferocious defense that often totally stymied opposing offenses and, of course, the 1985 bears played the same way. Nov 28, 2015 bears quarterback steve fuller is brought down during a loss to the miami dolphins on dec.
The numbers they put up, even 30 years later, are staggering. This was published in the january 10, 1986 chicago sun times. The bears defense forced 54 turnovers, the fifthhighest total since the beginning of the 16game schedule. They were an elite football team that have stood the test of time as one of the alltime great teams. Chicago bears stats and statistics for the 1985 nfl season, including rushing, passing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns, punting, kicking and defense. The monday night game against the dolphins on december 2 is still the highestrated game in the history of monday night football with a 29. Singletary was the centerpiece of the bears menacing 46 defense. Ryans playbook was meticulous and seemed to account. Their only loss came on the road in week against the miami dolphins. The 1985 chicago bears finished the season 151 won super bowl xx over the 1985 new england patriots raymond berry 4610 bears 1986 chicago bears. Jul 06, 2019 naturally, an elite bears defense in any year conjures images of the best bears defense of all. In the 1985 draft, prognosticators expected the bears to select a wide receiver or the lockdown cornerback buddy ryan coveted. Jan 26, 2016 the 1985 super bowl champion chicago bears left quite a legacy.
Da bears, 1985 for this reporter, ditkas lineup is the real force the patriots are chasing as they try to unseat the dolphins as the only team to go undefeated. The 1985 chicago bears and the wild heart of football cohen. Feb 12, 2016 to compare, the 85 bears allowed 22 defensive touchdowns. Now lets take a look at the 85 bears vaunted 46 defense. A look back at the legendary 1985 chicago bears super bowl defense using several source materials. A former senior writer for sports illustrated and espn the magazine, he is the author of eight. The 1986 chicago bears season was their 67th regular season and 17th postseason completed in the national football league. The bears defense was ranked first in the league and only allowed 198 total points an average of 12. The opportunistic defense led the way with 54 turnovers. I also sorted the offensive rankings for each team so that a defense with. The bears defense allowed 16 passing touchdowns and had 34 interceptions. A collection of amazing trivia quizzes and fun facts for diehard bears fans. This updated edition features the authors reflections on the incredible championship season as well as recaps and statistics for every regular. The 1985 chicago bears the greatest nfl defense of all.
Dent led the nfl with 17 12 sacks and, maybe the most mindblowing stat of all. He was the father of nfl coaches rex ryan and rob ryan. Bears safety eddie jackson says the team has its sights set. That new york giants defense held bill walshs 49ers to 3 points in the nfc divisional playoffs. One baylor ballhandler after another will penetrate inside in order to force help defense to arrive while placing three. The bears under halas almost always played hard for 60 minutes as did the 1985 bears. Da bears is truly a great book that teaches us to appreciate what we have achieved. That brings us to the 1985 bears and the 2008 steelers, 7th and 5th. Statistical analysis of the greatest defenses in nfl history behind. And ryans defense, which virtually eliminates traditional positions, put together an astonishing string of conquests, a threegame playoff series that has never been duplicated. Richard dent topped the defensive unit with 17 quarterback sacks, part of an overall team total of 64 sacks. James david buddy ryan february 17, 1931 june 28, 2016 was an american football coach in the national football league nfl and american football league afl.
Nine members of the 85 bears were homegrown firstround picks. Following the quarterback debacle of 1984, a backup signalcaller was desired as well. They scored five four picksixes and one fumble return of their own, meaning they allowed just 17 net touchdowns. Mar 10, 2009 chicago also had wrkr dennis gentry, who ended up leading the nfl in kickoff returns with an average of 25. That monday night game was the bears only loss on their way to the super bowl xx crown. Offensively the chicago bears struggled with mitch trubisky under center. The 1985 chicago bears the greatest nfl defense of all time.
Jan 25, 2016 takes a look back at the complete 1985 team roster that finished 151 in the regular season and moved on to win super bowl xx. Take a look at which players led the 1985 bears in different stat categories for. Some plays, he would cover a slot receiver, and other plays, he would be blitzing the quarterback. So would a timeless defense hold up against modern nfl offenses. Get the latest official stats for the chicago bears. The bears defense became the third defense in the history of the nfl to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons. We were the greatest is coach mike ditkas memoir of a season chicago will never forget and opponents would rather erase from their minds. Although the bears had an equal 142 record as the new york giants for the leagues best record. Sports journalists and bloggers covering nfl, mlb, nba, nhl, mma, college football and basketball, nascar, fantasy sports and more. Chicago accomplished this even though two fulltime defensive starters from. The rise and fall of the 1985 chicago bears, the greatest.
But, they also played in the top 2 seasons in terms of average offensive output. Apr 14, 2014 there have been many stories about what defense stands as the best in the history of the nfl. Fs gary fencik led the dominant bears defense with 118 tackles. The sporting news complete super bowl book 1995 isbn 089204523x. The bears entered the season looking to repeat as super bowl champions, as they had won in 1985.
Feb 02, 2016 a new 30 for 30 looks at the 1985 chicago bears. View the full team roster and stat leaders for the 2020 nfl season on cbs sports. The 1985 bears rapped and shuffled their way to a win over new england in super bowl xx in 1986 with a colorful cast of characters, perhaps the greatest singleseason achievement by any pro sports. Jun 22, 2014 the 1986 chicago bears defense were statistically better than the 1985 chicago bears, but didnt nearly have the bite or intimidation of the 85 bears defense. For the 120 bears, defense mauls with imagination the new. We own no rights to the material and is used strictly for.
Dive into the statistics of the 1985 bears defense as led by the late buddy ryan. Ncaa tournament final four parlay picks and predictions. Many believe that the 1985 bears are the greatest defense ever and it will never be touched again. The 1985 season was the chicago bears 66th in the national football league the 16th postseason completed in the nfl, and their fourth under head coach mike ditka the bears entered 1985 looking to improve on their 106 record from 1984 and advance further than the nfc championship game, where they lost to the 151 san francisco 49ers. It shows how elements of comedy, seriousness, and preparation led the 1985 bears to be one of the best teams in nfl history. However, fumble recovery rates were one reason the bears defense looked better than it was. Feb 03, 1986 mike ditkas bears have given chicago its first title in any major professional sport since 1963, when ditka himself played tight end for the champion bears. The new york giants were the best football team in 1986. Mike ditka coached the chicago bears from 1982 to 1992, leading them to a 4610 victory over new england in super bowl xx. The 1985 bears reign supreme as our greatest nfl team ever. Packed with unforgettable behindthescenes stories and exhilarating moments including the dominating win over the patriots in super bowl xx, walter payton phoning ditkas office pretending to be a woman named yolanda, jim mcmahons. Feb 02, 2016 the bears 1985 defense is widely considered one of the best in nfl history, allowing only 12. They also were below average in sacks and protecting trubisky while struggling to open lanes for the backs as well.
Chicago bears stats and statistics for the 1985 nfl season, including rushing, passing. Statistical analysis of the greatest defenses in nfl. Not only did the bears improve on that record, but. But from a change in offensive philosophy to a stricter rule book to new types of.
When they beat the new england patriots early in the. Chicago ranked below average in most offensive stats, especially through the air. Rick telander is the senior sports columnist for the chicago suntimes. The 1985 bears lasting legacy might be its coaching tree. Aug 16, 2014 the best ever defense from the historian view of the chancellor of footballs view was the 1985 chicago bears hands down. He was the genius who molded the players into the perfect defense using his system known as the 46. All things considered, i guess papa bear wouldnt mind if we called the 1985 bears the new monsters of the midway. What would 1985 chicago bears look like if they played in. The bears 46 defense required the strong safety to play in the box like a linebacker, and no one could fulfill that role like dave duerson.
Chicago managed to finish 142, one game off of their 1985 record of 151. Jan 01, 2010 da bears provides indepth account of events that happened during the bears historical season. In 1985, he won defensive player of the year while leading the bears to their first super bowl winand he won the award again in. How badly they trounced sound competition has resonated for decades. Gil brandt reassess the top five and finds room for some fresh blood. The 1985 bears put together one of the greatest seasons in nfl history. Ryans defense led the nfl in seven defensive categories that season. Most amazing stats of the 1985 bears defense led by buddy. This team not only won the super bowl but also created a juggernaut based on the 46 defense and a. During his 35season coaching career, ryan served as the head coach of the philadelphia eagles and arizona cardinals, as well as the defensive coordinator of the chicago bears and houston oilers of the nfl. Defense has long been a staple of chicago bears football. After mike ditka took over the bears in 1982, the team quickly improved and by 1984 they reached the nfc championship game. Feb 08, 2016 broncos players say they passed 1985 bears as best defense ever the broncos shut down the prolific panthers offense, but was it enough to pass the 1985 bears as the greatest ever. Which bears defense ranks second behind the 1985 super bowl.
Jun 28, 2016 1985 chicago bears defensive playbook it really allows you to see how complicated the language of nfl defenses are, even back in the 1980s. Statistical analysis of the greatest defenses in nfl history. One of the nfls alltime great tight ends, he was inducted into the pro football hall of fame in 1988. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any.
Broncos players say they passed 1985 bears as best defense. Ryan then coached the eagles, served as defensive coordinator of the oilers, and coached the cardinals. The chicago bears of the national football league ended the 1985 season with a record of 15 wins and 1 losses, finishing first in the nfls central division of the national football conference. The 20 seattle seahawks defense belongs in the conversation for alltime great defenses, but it is unclear exactly how they compare to the legendary 2000 ravens, 1985 bears, the vaunted pittsburgh steel curtain and others. The defense has allowed just three touchdowns in the last seven games and none in the last quarters. Ryan devised the 46 defense, which helped the bears post a 151 record during the 1985 regular season. Then came the 8586 season with the fridge, the punky qb, the most awesome defen. Instead, the bears selected massive defensive tackle william perry, arguing he was too good a prospect to pass up. The 1985 chicago bears are the best defensive team the nfl has ever seen. Mar 10, 2009 that brings us to the 1985 bears and the 2008 steelers, 7th and 5th place, respectively in terms of raw statistics.
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