[EagleFan]

1985 Bears vs. 1998 Vikings

One of the favorites of the entire competition faces off against a team that may be the best team in The Finals without a Super Bowl appearance. Can the Bears live up to expectations? Can the Vikings make that field goal this time?


1st quarter

**- The Vikings receive the opening kickoff and start from their 27.
- Handoff to Roberts Smith, he is through the line and across the 30. The ball is stripped out, fumble. The Bears recover on the 35.

**- The Bears start from their 35 following the recovered fumble.
- Handoff to Matt Suhey on a sweep right for 3 yards, 2nd and 7 at the 32.
- McMahon back, looking, has Walter Payton coming out of the backfield and hits him in stride, he is across the 20 and down to the 19 for a 13 yard gain. 1st down at the 19.
- Handoff to Payton up the middle for 4, 2nd and 6 at the 15.
- McMahon back, throws a short pass to Emery Moorehead who is brought down immediately at the 12 for a 3 yard gain. 3rd and 3 at the 12.
- Handoff to Payton up the middle and he is stopped immediately for a 1 yard loss. 4th and 4 at the 13.
- Butler tries a 30 yard field goal... it's good. The Bears take a 3-0 lead.

**- The Vikings start from their own 30 after the kickoff.
- Leroy Hoard gets the carry for 3 yards up the middle, 2nd and 7 at the 33.
- Cunningham back, fires a pass to Smith who is brought down immediately for only a 3 yard gain. 3rd and 4 at the 36.
- Cunningham back, looking, fires a strike to Cris Carter who makes one man miss at the 40 and is across the 50 and down at the Bears 41 for a 23 yard gain. 1st down at the 41.
- Smith get the carry up the middle for 2, 2nd and 8 at the 39.
- Cunningham takes the snap, hands to Smth, the exchange is bobbled, fumble. The Bears recover at the 42.

**- The Bears start from their 42 after the fumble recovery.
- Pitch right to Payton who picks up 5. 2nd and 5 at the 47.
- McMahon back, screens it to Moorehead. Complete, he has room is across the 45, makes a man miss and is inside the 40, 35, across the 30 and down at the 27 for a 26 yard gain. 1st down at the 27.
- False start, 1st and 15 at the 32.
- Suhey stopped for no gain, 2nd and 15 at the 32.
- Payton up the middle for 6, 3rd and 9 at the 26.
- McMahon back, gives to Suhey for a draw but he only gets 2 and is brought down. 4th and 7 at the 24.
- Butler tries a 41 yard field goal and it's good. The Bears take a 6-0 lead.

**- The Vikings start from their own 39 after the kickoff.
- Cunningham back, looking, fires to Andrew Glover, complete near midfield. He spins and tries to make a move and the ball is stripped. A pile up occurs. They unpile to see who has the ball and the Vikings keep the ball at the 48. 2nd and 1 at the 48. They seem to be having problems holding onto the ball today.
- Handoff to Smith and he is creamed as soon as he gets the ball, a 3 yard loss. 3rd and 4 at the 45.
- Cunningham back, under pressure, he escapes, scrambles to his right and fires a bullet to Carter into Bears territory and down to the 29 for a 26 yard gain, 1st down.
- Cunningham takes the snap, drops back, lofts one towards the endzone in the direction of Randy Moss who is in a full sprint, he dives, and hs it, touchdown. They make the extra point and the Vikings lead 7-6 after their early problems.

**- The Bears start from their 21 after the kickoff and are held to a three and out.

**- The Vikings start from their own 41 after the punt.
- Time expires with the Vikings having a 2nd and 8 from their 43.

1985 Bears 6
1998 Vikings 7


2nd quarter

**- The Vikings are 2nd and 8 at their own 43 to start the quarter.
- Cunningham back, looking, he tries to scramble, makes one man miss but Mike Hartenstine sacks him for an 8 yard loss. 3rd and 16 at the 35.
- Cunnngham back, looking, goes up to towards Moss and he has it into Bears territory. He is across the 40 and down to the 34 for a 31 yard gain. 1st down at the 34.
- Draw play to Smith for 5, 2nd and 5 at the 26.
- Cunningham hit Smith out of the backfield for a short 2 yard gain. 3rd and 3 at the 24.
- Cunningham back, looking, fires to Gloveroverthe middle but it's over his head and falls harmlessly to the turf. 4th and 3 at the 24.
- Anderson tries a 41 yard field goal... it' good. The Vikings lead 10-6.

**- The Bears start at their 36 after the kickoff.
- McMahon back, fires over the middle and it is batted down. 2nd and 10.
- McMahon fires to Payton out of the backfield and he is ahead for 9, 3rd and 1 at the 45.
- Payton get the ball on a sweep right and he has the corner and picks up 7. 1st down at the Vikings 48.
- McMahon back, under pressure, tucks the ball and runs before sliding down after an 8 yard gain. 2nd and 2 at the 40.
- McMahon back, looking, fires to Willie Gault, complete inside the 30 and down at the 24 for a 16 yard gain. 1st down at the 24.
- Payton up the middle for 3, 2nd and 7 at the 21.
- Suhey gets back to the line, no gain. 3rd and 7 at the 21.
- McMahon back, looking, fires towards Gault in the endzone, but it's incomplete as he led him too far. 4th and 7 at the 21.
- Butler tries a 38 yard field goal, it's good. The Bears are back to within 10-9.

**- The Vikings start from their own 23 after the kickoff.
- The manage two first downs but are forced to punt from across midfield.

**- The Bears start from their own 6 after the punt and are held to a three and out.

**- The Vikings start from their 43 after the punt and they are held to a three and out.

**- The Bears start from their 14 with 1:43 left in the half after the punt.
- Handoff to Payton up the middle, he breks a tackle and is acoss the 20 and up to the 27 for 13 yards. 1st down at the 27 and the Bears call timeout. 1st down at the 27.
- McMahon back, gives to Payton on a draw, he breaks through the line and is down close the the 40 at the 39 for a 12 yard gain. 1st down at the 39.
- Suhey up the middle for 1, 2nd and 9 at the 40.
- Play action from McMahon, he drops back, pumps over the middle and throws up top toward Dennis McKinnon. He has it in stride at the 30, break free from the defender, at the 20, the 10, 5, touchdown. 60 yard strike! The extra point is good and the Bears lead 16-10.

**- The Vikings start from their 28 after the kickoff with 45 seconds left in the half.
- Offsides on the Bears, 1st and 5 at the 33.
- Cunningham back, fires t Carter, incomplete. 2nd and 5 at the 33.
- Smith gets the ball for 1, 2nd and 4 at the 34, timeout.
- Cunningham back, looking, fires to Hoard, compelte and he has roo. He is brought down across midfield at the Bears 49. 1st down at the 49, timeout.
- Cunningham back, fires to Smith who is out of bounds after a 2 yard gain, 2nd and 8 at the 47.
- Handoff to Smith, it surprises everyone and he is through the line quickly, into the secondary, across the 40, make a man miss and is across the 30, angles towards the sideline, over the 20, the 10, one last man dives for him and misses, touchdown!!! They make the extra point and take a 17-16 lead.

**- The Bears start from their 31 after the kickoff but the half ends after one play.

1985 Bears 16
1998 Vikings 17


3rd quarter

**- The Bears start the half at their 29 after the kickoff.
- McMahon hits McKinnon for 8, 2nd and 2 at the 37.
- Payton through the middle and he is across midfield and down at the Vikings 48 for a gain of 15, 1st down at the 48.
- McMahon back, fires to McKinnon, complete down across the 30 and down at the 28 for 20 yards. 1st and 10 at the 28.
- McMahon back, looking, under pressure, he steps up and scrambles for 3. 2nd and 7 at the 25.
- McMahon drops back, under heavy pressure, steps up away from the blitz and sees the field is open infront of him. He takes off and picks up 14 down to the 11. 1st down at the 11.
- McMahon back, has time, spots Suhey near the 5 and hits him, he turns up field, spins off one man and is into the endzone, touchdown. They make the extra point and the Bears now lead 23-17.

**- The Vikings start from the 27 after the kickoff.
- Smith straight ahead for 5. 2nd and 5 at the 32.
- Cunningham back, fires to Hoard in stride out of the backfield. He runs over one man and has space and blockers. He is across the 40, the 30, the 20, inside the 10 and finally brought down at the 9. 1st and goal at the 9.
- Smith loses 1 yard, 2nd and goal at the 10.
- Cunningham back, fires to Carter in the endzone but just off his fingertips. 3rd and goal at the 10.
- Cunningham looks for Hatchette in the endzone, incomplete as he can;t hold on. 4th and goal.
- Anderson tries the 27 yard field goal and hits it. The Vikings now trail 23-20.

**- The Bears start at their own 36 after the kickoff.
- Payton off tackle left for 1. 2nd and 9 at the 37.
- McMahon back, gives to Payton on a draw, he is through the line, spins to make one man miss, cuts to the outside, is across midfield, outruns the linebacker and down the sideline, the 40, 30, 20, 10 and finally caught at the 4, 1st and goal after the 59 yard gain.
- McMahon flips a short pass to Moorehead for 2, and and goal at the 2.
- McMahon back, fires to Suhey in the endzone, touchdown. They make the extra point and take a 30-20 lead.

**- The Vikings start at their 20 after the kickoff.
- They gain one first down thanks to a 19 yard run by Smith but then are forced to punt near midfield.

**- The Bears start at their own 33 after the punt.
- Payton through the middle for 11 as he continues to rack up the yardage. 1st down at the 44.
- McMahon hits Gault for 16, 1st down at the Vikings 40.
- McMahon hits Time Wrightman for 15 yards, 1st down at the 25.
- Payton gets 2, 2nd and 8 at the 23.
- Suhey stopped for no gain. 3rd and 8 at the 23.
- McMahon back, looking, fires. Intercepted by Jimmy Hitchcock and returned to the 23.

**- The Vikings start at their own 23 after the interception.
- After three plays they hve a 1st down at their 34 as the quarter ends.

1985 Bears 30
1998 Vikings 20


4th quarter

**- The Vikings start on their 34 to begin the 4th. Brad Johnson is in for Cunningham who was shaken up at the end of the 3rd.
- Smith for 1 yard. 2nd and 9 at the 35.
- Johnson hits Carter for 5, 3rd and 4 at the 40.
- Johnson hits Jake Reed for 12 to the Bears 48. 1st down at the 48.
- Hoard through the middle for 6. 2nd and 4 at the 42.
- David Palmer gets 1 yard. 3rd and 3 at the 41.
- Draw play to Hoard for 4. 1st down at the 37.
- Hoard get the ball up the middle, he is hit and the ball is loose. The Vikings recover at the 33. 2nd and 6 at the 33.
- Draw play to Smith for 6. 1st down at the 27.
- Hoard stopped at the line. 2nd and 10 at the 27.
- Johnson for Carter but it's incomplete. 3rd and 10 at the 27.
- Johnson back, fires to Carter. Complete and he is brought down near the first down mark. He has it at the 17. 1st down at the 17.
- Smith for 1. 2nd and 9 at the 16.
- Johnson to Glover for 9. 1st and goal at the 7.
- Smith up the middle for 1. 2nd and goal at the 6.
- Johnson back, looking, fires in the endzone to Glover. Complete, touchdown. The Vikings score on an 18 play, 10 minute drive and are now back to within 30-27 with 6:16 left.

**- The Bears start at their 29 after the kickoff.
- Suhey loses a yard. 2nd and 11 at the 28.
- Draw play to Suhey and he is into the secondary, across midfield, over the 40, across the 30 and down to the 24 for a 48 yard gain as the Vikings have allowed another huge gain on the ground. 1st down at the 24.
- McMahon overthrows Payton, 2nd and 10.
- Mcahon to Moorehead for 16 to the 8. 1st and goal at the 8. The Vikings need to hold them to a field goal here.
- McMahon fires into the endzone, knocked down. 2nd and goal.
- McMahon back, draw to Payton, he sheds s tackler and is into the endzone. Touchdown. The extra point is no good. The Bears lead 36-27.

**- With 3:30 left the Vikings start at their 34.
- Cunningham to Carter, incomplete. 2nd and 10.
- Cunningham hits Moss for a short 7 yard gain, out of bounds. 3rd and 3 at the 41.
- Cunningham back, looking, fires down the middle for Carter and it is batted away. 4th and 3 at the 41.
- Cunningham back, looking, scrambles to get away from the pressure, backpedals and is dropped by Otis Wilson at the 33 for the sack as they turn the ball over on downs.

**- The Bears start on the Vikings 33 with 3:08 left.
- Payton for 5. 2nd and 5 at the 28.
- Payton around the end on a sweep for 5. 1st down at the 23, timeout.
- Payton straight ahead for 13. 1st down at the 10, timeout.
- Payton loses 2 yards as he is hit immediately. 2nd and goal at the 12, timeout.
- Payton straight ahead for 8. 3rd and goal at the 4, two minute warning.
- Suhey loses 1 yard. 4th and goal at the 5.
- Butler hits the 22 yard field goal. The Bears lead 39-27.

**- The Vikings start at their own 37 after the kickoff and go four and out to turn the ball over on downs.

**- The Bears take a knee and run the clock out.


1985 Bears 39
1998 Vikings 27


Player of the Game: Walter Payton (Bears) - 178 yards rushing with 1 touchdown, 3 receptions for 27 yards.