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1984 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season

Field	Value
team	Chicago Bears
year	1984
record	10–6
division_place	1st NFC Central
coach	Mike Ditka
off_coach	Ed Hughes
def_coach	Buddy Ryan
general manager	Jerry Vainisi
owner	The McCaskey Family
stadium	Soldier Field
pro bowlers	{{Collapsible list
title	5
1	RB Walter Payton
2	DT Dan Hampton
3	DE Richard Dent
4	MLB Mike Singletary
5	SS Todd Bell
AP All-pros	{{Collapsible list
title	7
1	RB Walter Payton
2	DT Dan Hampton
3	DE Richard Dent
4	LB Otis Wilson
5	MLB Mike Singletary
6	SS Todd Bell
7	FS Gary Fencik
playoffs	Won [Divisional Playoffs](1984-85-nfl-playoffs)
(at [Redskins](1984-washington-redskins-season)) 23–19
Lost [NFC Championship](1984-85-nfl-playoffs)
(at [49ers](1984-san-francisco-49ers-season)) 0–23
shortnavlink	Bears seasons

| AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list (at Redskins) 23–19 Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 0–23 The 1984 season was the Chicago Bears' 65th in the National Football League and their third under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 8–8 record from 1983, to a 10–6 record, earning them a spot in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1979.

This was the first of five consecutive NFC Central titles for the Bears. They opened their 1984 training camp in a new location, Platteville, Wisconsin as head coach Mike Ditka needed his team to get away from any distractions they might face at home. The team was on the verge of discovering a group of young leaders for the first time, and began to show the dominating defense that would emerge in full the following season, and pushed much farther than anyone expected them to go.

Highlights of the season included a Week 2 shutout of the Denver Broncos 27–0 behind a huge day from star running back Walter Payton, a Week 3 victory against Green Bay, the first game between Ditka and Packers head coach Forrest Gregg, and a 17–6 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders. The Week 2 game against Denver featured a famous image from Payton's career: a 50+ yard run down the sideline, led by 2nd-year guard Mark Bortz, an 8th round draft pick that was converted from defensive tackle. Payton reached a major milestone as he surpassed Jim Brown as the game's all-time leading rusher in yards in the third quarter of a Week Six home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Bears beat the Saints 20–7. The 1984 Bears ran for the second-most rushing attempts in a season, with 674.

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Bears defeated the Washington Redskins 23–19 for their first playoff victory in the Super Bowl era as well as their first since their victory over the New York Giants in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. However, the Bears' season ended in the NFC Championship Game 23–0 to the eventual Super Bowl XIX champions, the San Francisco 49ers.

Offseason

1984 NFL draft

Main article: 1984 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Player	Position	College
Mike Bass	Kicker	Illinois
Chris Jensen	Wide receiver	Lake Forest

Personnel

Coaches / Staff

Owner – Virginia Halas McCaskey
Team president – Michael McCaskey
General manager – Jerry Vainisi
Director of player personnel – Rod Graves
Equipment manager – Ray Earley
Assistant equipment manager – Gary Haeger
Scout – Jim Dooley
Video team – Pete McGrane
Head coach – Mike Ditka
Assistant head coach – Steve Kazor
Offensive coordinator – Ed Hughes
Offensive specialist – Ted Plumb
Running backs – Johnny Roland
Offensive line – Dick Stanfel
Defensive coordinator – Buddy Ryan
Defensive line – Dale Haupt
Secondary – Jim LaRue
Assistant trainer – Brian McCaskey
Weightlifting/Strength – Clyde Emrich

Roster

Bob Thomas K

Preseason

Walter Payton (34), pictured breaking the NFL's career rushing record

Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Week	Chicago Bears
August 4	[St. Louis Cardinals](1984-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)	L 10–19	0–1	Soldier Field
August 11	[Green Bay Packers](1984-green-bay-packers-season)	L 10–17	0–2	Milwaukee County Stadium
August 18	[Cincinnati Bengals](1984-cincinnati-bengals-season)	L 17–25	0–3	Soldier Field
August 26	[Buffalo Bills](1984-buffalo-bills-season)	W 38–7	1–3	Hoosier Dome

Regular season

Schedule

Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Week	Chicago Bears	year=1984
September 2	[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1984-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)	W 34–14	1–0	Soldier Field	58,789
September 9	[Denver Broncos](1984-denver-broncos-season)	W 27–0	2–0	Soldier Field	54,335
September 16	at [Green Bay Packers](1984-green-bay-packers-season)	W 9–7	3–0	Lambeau Field	55,942
September 23	at [Seattle Seahawks](1984-seattle-seahawks-season)	L 9–38	3–1	Kingdome	61,520
September 30	[Dallas Cowboys](1984-dallas-cowboys-season)	L 14–23	3–2	Soldier Field	63,623
October 7	[New Orleans Saints](1984-new-orleans-saints-season)	W 20–7	4–2	Soldier Field	53,752
October 14	at [St. Louis Cardinals](1984-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)	L 21–38	4–3	Busch Memorial Stadium	49,554
October 21	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 44–9	5–3	Tampa Stadium	60,003
October 28	[Minnesota Vikings](1984-minnesota-vikings-season)	W 16–7	6–3	Soldier Field	57,517
November 4	[Los Angeles Raiders](1984-los-angeles-raiders-season)	W 17–6	7–3	Soldier Field	59,858
November 11	at [Los Angeles Rams](1984-los-angeles-rams-season)	L 13–29	7–4	Anaheim Stadium	62,021
November 18	[Detroit Lions](1984-detroit-lions-season)	W 16–14	8–4	Soldier Field	54,911
November 25	at Minnesota Vikings	W 34–3	9–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	56,881
December 3	at [San Diego Chargers](1984-san-diego-chargers-season)	L 7–20	9–5	Jack Murphy Stadium	45,470
December 9	Green Bay Packers	L 14–20	9–6	Soldier Field	59,374
December 16	at Detroit Lions	W 30–13	10–6	Pontiac Silverdome	53,252

Standings

Game summaries

Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos

The Bears limited the Broncos to 130 total yards as three different Denver quarterbacks (John Elway, Gary Kubiak, and Scott Stankavage) completed just nine passes with two interceptions. Seven different Bears players led by Walter Payton rushed for 302 yards.

Week 3: at Green Bay Packers

First quarter

CHI – Bob Thomas 19-yard field goal. Bears 3–0. Second quarter
CHI – Bob Thomas 49-yard field goal. Bears 6–0.
GB – Jessie Clark 1-yard run (Eddie Garcia kick). Packers 7–6. Fourth quarter
CHI – Bob Thomas 28-yard field goal. Bears 9–7. Bears
Bob Avellini 11/17, 133 yards, INT
Walter Payton 27 rushes, 110 yards
Emery Moorehead 2 receptions, 65 yards Packers
Lynn Dickey 11/23, 142 yards, INT
Gerry Ellis 7 rushes, 18 yards
James Lofton 4 receptions, 89 yards

Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks

First quarter

CHI – Matt Suhey 3-yard pass from Walter Payton (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–0.
SEA – Keith Simpson 39-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick). Tied 7–7. Second quarter
SEA – Norm Johnson 27-yard field goal. Seahawks 10–7. Third quarter
SEA – Dave Krieg 3-yard run (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 17–7.
SEA – Eric Lane 55-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 24–7.
SEA – Joe Nash recovered fumble in end zone (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 31–7. Fourth quarter
CHI – Safety, holding penalty by Seattle in end zone. Seahawks 31–9.
SEA – Terry Jackson 62-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick). Seahawks 38–9. Bears
Bob Avellini 13/26, 119 yards, INT
Walter Payton 24 rushes, 116 yards
Willie Gault 6 receptions, 73 yards Seahawks
Dave Krieg 6/16, 146 yards, TD
Eric Lane 17 rushes, 50 yards 1 reception, 55 yards, TD Six Bears turnovers and a 21-0 run by the Seahawks in the 3rd quarter were the key as Chicago's season-opening win streak was blunted, 38-9. The two teams combined for just 504 yards of offense with 22 penalties eating up 181 yards.

Week 5: vs. Dallas Cowboys

First quarter

DAL – Rafael Septién 44-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0.
CHI – Jim McMahon 16-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–3.
DAL – Tony Dorsett 68-yard pass from Gary Hogeboom (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 10–7. Second quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 20-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–10.
DAL – Timmy Newsome 2-yard run (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 17–14. Third quarter
DAL – Rafael Septien 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 20–14. Fourth quarter
DAL – Rafael Septien 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 23–14. Cowboys
Gary Hogeboom 18/29, 265 yards, TD
Tony Dorsett 18 rushes, 51 yards 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD Bears
Jim McMahon 6/14, 79 yards
Walter Payton 25 rushes, 155 yards, TD
Dennis McKinnon 4 receptions, 53 yards Mike Ditka for the first time as Bears head coach faced Tom Landry, who'd coached Ditka in Super Bowl VI. Landry's Cowboys were outgained in yardage 400 to 313 but forced two Bears turnovers to win 23-14. The Bears rushing attack still managed 283 yards.

Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints

First quarter

CHI – Bob Thomas 48-yard field goal. Bears 3–0.
CHI – Bob Thomas 46-yard field goal. Bears 6–0. Second quarter
NOR – Wayne Wilson 15-yard pass from Richard Todd (Morten Andersen kick). Saints 7–6.
CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 13–7. Fourth quarter
CHI – Dennis McKinnon 16-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 20–7. Saints
Richard Todd 7/26, 158 yards, TD
George Rogers 16 rushes, 99 yards
Tyrone Young 2 receptions, 93 yards Bears
Jim McMahon 10/14, 128 yards, TD
Walter Payton 32 rushes, 154 yards, TD
Matt Suhey 3 receptions, 45 yards Walter Payton ran for 154 yards and a touchdown on his way to breaking Jim Brown's career rushing yardage and 100-yard games records.

Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

CHI – Matt Suhey 2-yard run (Bob Thomas missed extra point). Bears 6–0. Second quarter
CHI – Dennis McKinnon 18-yard pass from Jim McMahon (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 13–0.
CHI – Bob Thomas 19-yard field goal. Bears 16–0. Fourth quarter
MIN – Leo Lewis 22-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Jan Stenerud kick). Bears 16–7. Vikings
Archie Manning 14/24, 138 yards, 1 INT
Archie Manning 4 rushes, 20 yards
Leo Lewis 3 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD Bears
Jim McMahon 16/26, 180 yards, 1 TD
Walter Payton 22 rushes, 54 yards
Emery Moorehead 3 receptions, 64 yards

Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

First quarter

CHI – Walter Payton 18-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–0. Second quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 8-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–0.
LA – Chris Bahr 44-yard field goal. Bears 14–3. Third quarter
LA – Chris Bahr 40-yard field goal. Bears 14–6. Fourth quarter
CHI – Bob Thomas 29-yard field goal. Bears 17–6. Raiders
Marc Wilson 7/19, 70 yards, 2 INT
Marcus Allen 15 rushes, 42 yards
Todd Christensen 5 receptions, 61 yards Bears
Jim McMahon 3/11, 68 yards, INT
Walter Payton 27 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TD
Willie Gault 1 reception, 50 yards

Week 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings

Bears clinch division title

Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers

Second quarter

GB – Ed West 3-yard pass from Rich Campbell (Al Del Greco kick). Packers 7–0. Third quarter
CHI – Matt Suhey 2-yard pass from Walter Payton (Bob Thomas kick). Tied 7–7.
GB – Del Rodgers 97-yard kickoff return (pass failed). Packers 13–7. Fourth quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 7-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–13.
GB – Phil Epps 43-yard pass from Rich Campbell (Al Del Greco kick). Packers 20–14. Top passers
GB – Rich Campbell – 9/19, 125 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
CHI – Rusty Lisch – 10/23, 99 yards, INT Top rushers
GB – Eddie Lee Ivery – 12 rushes, 50 yards
CHI – Walter Payton – 35 rushes, 175 yards, TD Top receivers
GB – Phil Epps – 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
CHI – Emery Moorehead – 4 receptions, 53 yards

Postseason

See full article, 1984–85 NFL playoffs

The first-round matchup sent the 10–6 Bears to Washington, a team that had lost to the Los Angeles Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. Washington was heavily favored, but Chicago came away with a 23–19 victory that featured touchdown passes from Fuller, as well as Payton on a halfback option pass.

With the momentum of defeating the defending NFC champions, the Bears then travelled to San Francisco for their first appearance in a championship game of any sort since their championship year in 1963. The line for the game came down steadily as the week wore on, but the Bears were shut out 23–0. Fuller had performed poorly in games against tough opponents, and the offense sputtered as the 49ers were able to render Walter Payton ineffective. The team had gone farther than many had expected them to go in 1984, and the season set the stage for their Super Bowl winning 1985 season.

Schedule

Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Game	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Date	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Opponent (seed)	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Result	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Record	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Venue	Chicago Bears	year=1984	border=2}}"	Attendance	Divisional Round	NFC Championship
December 30	at [Washington Redskins](1984-washington-redskins-season) (2)	W 23–19	1–0	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium	55,431
January 6, 1985	at [San Francisco 49ers](1984-san-francisco-49ers-season) (1)	L 0–23	1–1	Candlestick Park	61,040

NFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday, December 30, 1984): at [[1984 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]

Scoring
- WAS – Moseley 35-yard field goal. WAS 3–0.
- CHI – Thomas 34-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
- CHI – Dunsmore 19-yard pass from Payton (Thomas kick). CHI 10–3.
- CHI – Gault 75-yard pass from Fuller (kick failed). CHI 16–3.
- WAS – Riggins 1-yard run (Moseley kick). CHI 16–10.
- CHI – McKinnon 16-yard pass from Fuller (Thomas kick). CHI 23–10.
- WAS – Riggins 1-yard run (Moseley kick). CHI 23–17.
- WAS – Finzer ran out of the end zone for a safety. CHI 23–19.

NFC Championship Game (Sunday, January 6, 1985): at [[1984 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]

Point spread: 49ers by 10
Over/under: 40.0 (under)
Time of game:

Bears	Game statistics	49ers	First downs	Rushes–yards	Passing yards	Passes	Sacked–yards	Net passing yards	Total yards	Return yards	Punts	Fumbles–lost	Penalties–yards	Time of Possession
13	25
32–149	29–159
87	236
13–22–1	19–35–2
9–50	3–8
37	228
186	387
84	84
7–43.1	3–39.0
1–0	1–0
7–50	3–20
31:53	28:07

References

"1984 NFL Pro Bowlers".
"1984 NFL All-Pros".
"Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending Rushing Att". Pfref.com.
(October 7, 1984). "Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's NFL career rushing record". [[United Press International.
[https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1984112504 The Football Database]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
[https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=1985010602 The Football Database]. Retrieved 2022-Jul-1.
''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com. Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501060sfo.htm NFC Championship Game – Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – January 6, 1985]

Info: Wikipedia Source

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