#TBT: Chicago Bears complete comeback against Vikings, 33-24
By Andrew Poole
Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fans holds a sign for Mike Ditka (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The game started much like I’ve always pictured the Bears’ offense without McMahon: Spartan. Run the ball with Walter Payton and Matt Suhey and feature short passes from quarterback Steve Fuller, and rely on the defense.
The teams traded field goals in the first quarter, with the Vikings taking a 10-6 lead at the half behind Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer’s 14-yard score to Anthony Carter.
Feb 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Studio photograph of the game program cover from Super Bowl XX between the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots played on January 26, 1986 at the Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Garrett Reid-USA TODAY Sports
At that point, the Bears’ offense didn’t look completely hopeless, but certainly looked weak in the face of the Vikings’ passing game. The running game – which ended up totaling 127 yards, 62 from Payton, according to Pro Football Reference – wasn’t going to be enough to get the Bears over the top, because the Vikings didn’t respect Fuller. Nor did they need to.
Fuller really didn’t play that bad, although he did have several “Bear Quarterback” moments, like completing passes to guys who are multiple yards out of bounds. He had a solid completion percentage — 13 of 18, according to Pro Football Reference — and more than 100 yards by the time he was removed in the third quarter. He also had one horrendous interception when he tried to reach Gault in the end zone in double coverage, ruining a scoring chance. The offense moved the ball under Fuller, but couldn’t put it in the end zone, notching only three Kevin Butler field goals.
The third quarter opened with one of Butler’s field goals, only to see the Vikings go right down the field and score, this time on a 9-yard pass to Mike Jones.
McMahon, in what turned out to be his finest moment as a Bear, led the comeback with three touchdowns in the third quarter, and multiple other long balls to Gault, one of which the receiver dropped and the other that he didn’t see, that could have been scores or long completions.
The offense took off under McMahon, and the defense immediately improved, forcing a handful of turnovers in the second half that helped secure the win.