10. 1986 CHICAGO BEARS at 7. 1997 GREEN BAY PACKERS
7. 1997 NFC CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 5th
1st NFC Central
d. Bucs Div Rnd 21-7
d. Niners NFC Title 23-10
Lost Broncos Super Bowl 31-24
HC Mike Holmgren OC Sherm Lewis DC Friz Shurmur
Lambeau Field: 45 degrees
Jim Irwin/Max McGee
Offense
QB Brett Favre 28 S Miss All Pro
RB Dorsey Levens 27 Geo Tech
FB William Henderson 26 UNC
WR Robert Brooks 27 S Carolina
WR Antonio Freeman 25 Va Tech
TE Mark Chmura 28 B College
LT Ross Verba R 24 Iowa
LG Aaron Taylor 25 N Dame
C Frank Winters 33 W Illinois
RG Adam Timmerman 26 S Dakota St
RT Earl Dotson 27 Tex A&M Kings
Defense
LDE Reggie White 36 Tenn
LDT Santana Dotson 28 Baylor
RDT Gilbert Brown 26 Kansas
RDE Gabe Wilkins 26 Gard Webb
LLB Seth Joyner 33 UTEP
MLB Bernardo Harris 26 UNC
RLB Brian Williams 25 USC
LCB Tyrone Williams 24 Nebraska
RCB Doug Evans 27 La Tech
SS LeRoy Butler All Pro 29 Florida St
FS Eugene Robinson 34 Colgate
K Ryan Longwell 23 Cal
P Craig Hentrich 26 N Dame
KR/PR Bill Schroeder 26 Wisc-Lacrosse
The Packers have had some good first round success - the 2014, 1996, 1962, 1961 teams have all advanced -- that 1996 SB Champion team is the third overall seed in this tournament - this team is from the following season and won the NFC Title. 2nd in offense, 5th in defense. Brett Favre is a 28 year old All Pro, 36 scores and 16 picks. 27 year old Dorsey Levens had a dozen TDs as did 25 year old Antonio Freeman. On defense, Reggie White is 36, 11 sacks, 29 year old LeRoy Butler is an All Pro with 5 picks.
10. 1986 CHICAGO BEARS
Record: 14-2
Record: 14-2
Pythag: 13-3
Off: 13th
Def: 1st
1st NFC Central
Lost Div Rnd Redskins 27-13
HC Mike Ditka OC Ed Hughes DC Vince Tobin
Offense
QB Jim McMahon 27 BYU
RB Walter Payton 32 Jack St
FB Matt Suhey 28 Penn St
WR Willie Gault 26 Tenn
WR Keith Ortego 23 McNeese St
TE Emery Moorehead 32 Colorado
LT Jimbo Covert All Pro 26 Pitt
LG Mark Bortz 25 Iowa
C Jay Hilgenberg 27 Iowa
RG Tom Thayer 25 N Dame
RT Keith Van Horne 29 USC
Defense
DE Dan Hampton 29 Ark
LDT Steve McMichael 29 Tex
RDT William Perry 24 Clemson
RDE Richard Dent 26 Tenn St
LLB Otis Wilson 29 Louisville
MLB Mike Singletary All Pro 28 Baylor
RLB Wilber Marshall All Pro 24 Florida
LCB Mike Richardson 25 Ariz St
RCB Vestee Jackson 23 Wash
SS Dave Duerson 26 N Dame
FS Gary Fencik 32 Yale
K Kevin Butler 24 UGA
P Maury Buford 26 TTech
KR Dennis Gentry 27 Baylor
PR Lew Barnes Oregon
We've got a proxy fight in this one for a game that, if seeding holds, will be very, very important in a much later round - the '96 Pack is the third overall seed, the '85 Bears the second -- in this game the '97 Pack are hosting this team, the '86 Bears. Best defense in football, yet again. The Bears can get to the QB -- 29 year old Dan Hampton had 10 sacks, 29 year old Steve McMichael had 8, 26 year old Richard Dent had 11.5. 29 year old Otis Wilson had 8. And none of those were the team's 2 First Team All Pros - that's the team leader, 28 year old Mike Singletary and 24 year old Wilber Marshall who had 5.5 sacks and 5 picks. In the secondary 25 year old Mike Richardson and 26 year old Dave Duerson combined for 13 picks - and Duerson added 7 sacks of his own. It's the Bears, you know the deal. The offense is not good - lots of guys got time at QB, it could be several will play here - McMahon starts, he's 27 with 5 scores and 7 picks. 32 year old Walter Payton had 11 scores on 1700 yards from scrimmage. Jimbo Covert was All Pro.
Fascinating game. The two year after teams square up - one of them goes home right now.
Let's go to Lambeau for the kick.
1st Qtr
Chicago opens at the 24.
1/10 - Walter Payton gets the game's first carry, he goes for 6. You'd think the Bears will look to run the football - the Pack, they're going to the air.
2/4 - Payton stopped at the line.
3/4 - McMahon in trouble -- McMahon pulls it down -- McMahon is going to pick up the first down and get to the 37.
1/10 - Payton gets 1.
2/9 - Matt Suhey is stopped at the line, third and long.
3/9 - McMahon is going up top -- it's to Keith Ortego -- 20 yards to the Pack 42.
1/10 - Payton gets 8
2/2 - Suhey stopped at the line and it's another 3rd down.
3/2 - McMahon again - Payton out of the backfield -- Payton makes men miss and gets out to the 26 for the first down.
And that's where it stops -- and when Kevin Butler...misses...the FG the Bears come up empty.
Pack at the 25.
1/10 - Dorsey Levens goes for 2.
2/8 - Brett Favre to throw the ball - Antonio Freeman for 11 to the 38.
1/10 - Levens gets 7
2/3 - Levens gets to the marker, but is just short
3/1 - William Henderson picks it up. The next play is a false start, so the Pack backs up 5.
1/15 - Incomplete
2/15 - Favre, running - Favre gets a couple, it's third and a bunch.
3/13 - Favre -- hits Freeman in stride - Freeman gets to the Chicago 36 for the first down.
1/10 - Levens gets 4.
2/6 - Henderson - right up the middle -- Henderson through the secondary -- Henderson marches straight into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS -- William Henderson runs 32 yards into the Chicago end zone and with less than 2 minutes to go in the qtr, it's 7-0.
Dennis Gentry the good return - goes to the 40.
1/10 - Payton gets 8
2/2 - McMahon finds Tim Wrightman for 9 yards.
1/10 -Calvin Thomas gets 6 yards -- and that's the end of the qtr.
2nd Qtr: Packers 7 Bears 0
Pack went 75 yards - Henderson with the big TD run for the game's score -- Chicago at the GB 37, second down 4.
2/4 - Payton gets 2.
3/2 - Thomas picks it up - Bears at the Packer 31.
But the drive ends with a Reggie White sack of McMahon...and then Butler misses a second FG, Kevin Butler misses 2 45 yd FGs in the first half.
Pack at the 35.
1/10 - Favre to Henderson, 6 yards.
2/4 - Dorsey Levens breaks one--42 yards -- Levens speeds all the way to the Chicago 17 yard line, the Pack breaking out a couple of big runs against this Bear defense.
The drive ends here -- Longwell kicks the FG and it is 10-0.
Bears at the 19.
1/10 - Suhey for 1.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - McMahon to Suhey, he's got some running room and he will go for 15.
1/10 - Payton blasts out 12 yds.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Payton again, 11 more - the great Walter Payton moving the football.
1/10 - Payton gets 4 to the Packer 38.
2/6 - Suhey for 4.
3/2 - Thomas is stopped dead at the line.
It's 4th and 2 - Ditka calls timeout.
Bears down 10, under 4 left in the half, 4th and 2 at the 34, Butler's already missed 2 FG.
Ditka's going for it.
4/2 - Payton - over the top -- first down.
But it ends here -- and again, Butler with a 40+ yd FG attempt --- this time, he hits it.
Pack at the 18.
1/10 - Favre to Mark Chmura, 7 yds.
2/3 - Favre to Levens, 5 yds.
1/10 - Favre to Chmura, 5 yds. Pack calls timeout now with 90 seconds left, Pack at their own 35.
2/5 - Give to Levens - he busts for 10 yds -- Levens is out of bounds with a first down at the GB 45.
1/10 - Favre drops back -- and he is pounded to the turf by Dan Hampton -- Fumble! Fumble! Chicago recovers with a minute to go at the GB 45 yard line! The Bears are down 7, but have a chance here to get some more pts. Big play by Hampton.
3 plays net 5 yards -- the Bears looking at 4th and 5 at the 40 --- Ditka decides to punt -- it's down at the 12 - Holmgren just runs one play -- and we go to the locker room.
3rd Qtr: Packers 10 Bears 3
Couple of long runs by Henderson/Levens and a couple of missed Butler FGs the difference so far.
Pack starts at the 28.
3 and out - Favre took a good shot there at the end of the half, then Holmgren decided to run the clock out - Favre doesn't get anything going here - keep an eye out on Favre.
Bears at the 20.
1/10 - Payton is stopped cold.
2/10 - Payton stopped again.
3/10 - McMahon - nice ball to Willie Gault on the sideline - he's got 18 and the first down.
1/10 - Payton gets 17, nice gainer for the great Payton and the Bears cross midfield.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - McMahon to Suhey -- Suhey is going to pick up the first down - 10 yards and the Bears are at the 35.
1/10 - McMahon - over the mid -- Picked Off by LeRoy Butler - Butler steps in front of Moorehead and Intercepts McMahon - Packers turn Chicago over and are at their own 29.
3 and out - Favre took another big hit there, by McMichael, it led to an incomplete pass - Favre doesn't look right - and it's another punt.
Bears at their own 32.
1/10 - Payton gets 1.
2/9 - Payton busts one - busts one --Payton gets 37 yds -- Walter Payton to the Packer 30.
1/10 - Suhey for 1.
2/9 - Payton again, 11 yards -- the Bears are quickly at the Packer 18 yard line.
1/10 - Thomas Sanders with a carry, loses 2.
2/12 - Payton back at it -- Payton breaking tackles -- Walter Payton all the way to the 5 yard line! Bears running on every play of the drive and now have a first and goal.
1/goal - Calvin Thomas -- Thomas -- Calvin Thomas is into the endzone! TOUCHDOWN BEARS -- Chicago drives 68 yards on nothing but running plays; its 10-10 with 2 minutes left in the third qtr.
Packers start at the 31.
1/10 - Aaron Hayden gets a carry and goes for 15 yards.
1/10 - Levens for 3.
2/7 - Incomplete.
3/7 - Favre - short pass to Freeman -- he breaks a tackle - breaks another -- Freeman 18 yards, Antonio Freeman nice run after catch to the Bear 33 as the qtr ends
4th Qtr: Packers 10 Bears 10
Chicago relying on the run game to tie this score -- Packers with very little offense since that Hampton sack near the end of the first half. Pack now at the Chicago 33. First down.
The drive ends there -- Ryan Longwell hits the FG and it's now 13-10.
Bears start at the 30.
1/10 - Walter Payton rips off a 39 yarder -- the Pack is really jamming the line of scrimmage, daring the Bears to pass - but they don't pass - they keep running and Walter Payton keeps gaining yards.
The drive ends 7 yards later -- Butler....hits a 41 yard FG and with 10:16 left to go in the 4th qtr it is 13-13.
Bill Schroeder gets the big return -- all the way to the GB 45 yard line -- Pack in great shape here.
1/10 - Favre - receiver screen to Robert Brooks, he gets 10 yards to the Bears 45.
1/10 - Levens gets 6.
2/4 - Hayden gets 1.
3/3 - Levens breaks one -- 32 yards - Dorsey Levens 32 yards all the way to the Chicago 6 yard line! Pack has a first and goal at the 6 yard line with under 8 minutes to go in the game.
1/10 - William Henderson is going to bust his way into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS - Favre looks clearly compromised, the Pack relying as the Bears are relying, almost solely on the run game - but it works here, and with less than 7 minutes left in the game it is 20-13 Packers.
Bears at the 22. They need a drive now.
1/10 - Payton - the whole Packer defense keyed on Payton, still - Payton, he gets 15.
1/10 - Suhey for 2.
2/8 - Thomas Sanders gets 6. Third and 2.
3/2 - Payton -- nearly all 11 Packers converge - Payton still forces his way to midfield - Chicago calls timeout with about 4 minutes to go, first down at midfield.
1/10 - McMahon - drops back and he is in trouble -- McMahon starts to run --McMahon's got open field -- McMahon has 12 yards to the 38.
1/10 - First carry of the game for the rookie, Neal Anderson, he gets 7 yards to the 31, there's about 3 minutes left now.
2/3 - Payton is stopped. And now it's 3rd and 3. Chicago stops the clock again, 2:27 left.
3/3 - Give to Payton -- Over the -- No -- No -- Its a bootleg - it's a bootleg -- McMahon keeps the ball and runs for a 7 yard gain - McMahon out of bounds at the 24 -- the Bears sucker the Pack defense with the Payton Dive -- instead, McMahon keeps and the Bears now have a first down at the 24. Little more than 2 minutes left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete. It's the 2 minute warning. 3rd and 10 at the 24.
3/10 - Payton -- Payton gets the corner -- Payton down the sideline -- Payton knocked out of bounds at the 3 yard line! Walter Payton 21 yards to the Packer 3 - there's 1:40 left in the game, Packers by 7. First and goal at the 3.
1/goal - McMahon - play action -- floats one to the back of the endzone -- Willie Gault -- TOUCHDOWN BEARS....TOUCHDOWN BEARS....TOUCHDOWN BEARS...just a masterful drive by Chicago - 78 yards for the tying score - there's under 90 seconds left and we are tied at 20.
Another great Schroeder return -- Schroeder to the Packer 43 yard line! Favre has not done anything since late in the second quarter when he was hammered by Hampton, Packers entirely reliant on the run -- but here, a couple of first dows and they can take a shot at the FG to win this thing.
1/10 - Incomplete. Favre not close.
2/10 - Favre - short to Brooks, he gets 7, he's out of bounds, little more than a minute left. Big third down.
3/3 - Favre -- Fires over the middle -- Caught by Mark Chmura -- big play by Favre, just rifled the ball to Chmura for a 14 yard pickup, Pack stops the clock - Green Bay is at the Chicago 36 with 56 seconds to play in the game.
It would be a 53 yard FG from here. Pack probably needs one more first down. 20-20 score.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Dave Duerson safety blitz nails Favre on the blindside - it's a big loss - Pack has to use their second timeout - they are definitely out of FG range now, 3rd and 18. Gutsy call from Chicago and it's 3rd and 18
3/18 -- Favre - looking again for Chmura - over the middle -- Favre -- He's Picked off by Duerson! Dave Duerson sacks Favre and then picks him off -- Bears at their own 23 yard line, just 34 seconds left.
1/10 - McMahon -- he's going up top -- McMahon -- incomplete. 25 seconds left.
2/10 - McMahon -- to Gault in space -- Gault has room to run - Willie Gault has a 20 yard gain to the Bear 43 yard line and he's out of bounds, 12 seconds left in the football game.
Bears have a timeout left -- if they can get one more play just like that they maybe have enough time to try a long FG.
1/10 - McMahon dropping back -- and McMahon is plowed down by Reggie White --- that will be the final play of regulation and we are off to OT.
OT: Packers 20 Bears 20
Defense +running game in this one and we go to sudden death.
Pack wins the toss. It's another big return for Bill Schroeder - Schroeder might be the hero today for GB -- the Pack all the way at their own 44 - a FG wins this thing.
3 and out. The Bear defense just shuts it down. After the punt, it's Chicago at the 12.
1/10 - Payton. 3 yards.
2/8 - Payton. 8 yards. Bears at the 23.
But that's it -- Bears punt and again, the Pack in great shape after the Schroeder return, they're at the Chicago 49.
1/10 - Levens gets 2.
2/8 - Favre, in trouble -- Favre has to run out of bounds, he gets a yard.
3/7 -- Favre - Favre firing up top - Robert Brooks -- 22 yards - that's a big strike -- big strike -- the Pack is at the 24! First down at the 24!
1/10 - Give to Levens -- Levens busts out for 14! Dorsey Levens for 14 yards -- the Pack is at the Bear 10 yard line!
Holmgren isn't going to wait - there's one play for ball placement -- here's Ryan Longwell - a 27 yard FG attempt. If its good - it's over.
Snap. Kick. Up.......
...GOOOOOOOOD!!!! GOOOOOOD!!!!!! GOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!
Ryan Longwell hits the GW FG - the sideline empties - the Green Bay Packers have won 23-20
Final: Packers 23 Bears 20
The Bears had 15 more minutes of possession, 10 more first downs, just a monster effort from Walter Payton - but they go home in OT, the two missed Butler kicks to much to overcome.
Favre: 15 for 23, 133 yds, 1 INT
McMahon: 11 for 25, 112 yds, 1 TD/1 INT
Levens: 20 carries, 142 yds
Payton: 28 carries, 219 yds
Freeman: 5 catches, 50 yds
Gault: 4 catches, 41 yds, 1 TD
Duerson: sack, INT
Player of the Game: Walter Payton
