The 1985 Chicago Bears defense is widely considered the greatest unit in NFL history, a terrifying collection of talent anchored by Hall of Famers Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, and Dan Hampton.
When the Bears met the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship during that legendary Super Bowl run, they provided definitive proof that Mike Ditka’s squad was a force of nature. On a freezing, wind-whipped afternoon at Soldier Field, the “Monsters of the Midway” dismantled Los Angeles in a 24-0 shutout, clearing the final hurdle on the way to a Super Bowl XX title.
Now, 40 years after that iconic clash, the two franchises meet again in the postseason for a high-stakes Divisional Round matchup. While the 1985 game was a defensive masterclass, the 2026 edition features a modern offensive chess match between Caleb Williams and Matthew Stafford.
With “Bear Weather” once again in the forecast at Soldier Field, the Bears are hoping to summon the spirit of Singletary and Dent to freeze out the Rams once more.
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When was the last time Bears played the Rams in NFL playoffs?
Prior to their 2026 Divisional Round matchup, the last time the Bears played the Rams in the postseason was on January 12, 1986. This historic meeting was the NFC Championship Game, where the Bears defense cemented its legacy with a dominant 24-0 shutout at a frigid Soldier Field. The victory made the "Monsters of the Midway" the first team in NFL history to record back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs, punching their ticket to Super Bowl XX.
The game is best remembered for the Bears' suffocating defense, which held Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson to just 46 yards. As snow began to fall in the fourth quarter, the blowout was capped off by an iconic 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Wilber Marshall. Before that 1985 masterpiece, the only other playoff meeting between the two franchises occurred in 1950, when the Rams defeated the Bears 24-14.
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How many times have Bears and Rams played each other in the playoffs?
The Bears and Rams have met in the postseason two times in their long histories, with the series currently tied at 1-1.
In their first playoff meeting, the Rams (then based in Los Angeles) defeated the Bears 24–14. The Bears famously avenged their previous loss with a 24–0 shutout at Soldier Field, a victory that propelled them to their Super Bowl XX title.
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1985 NFC Championship: Bears vs. Rams
The Bears opened the 1985 NFC Championship game with a statement drive into the wind at Soldier Field.
On a 3rd & 10 from the Rams' 16-yard line, quarterback Jim McMahon found no one open and scrambled up the middle, diving into the end zone for a 16-yard TD run. Chicago maintained that momentum later in the first quarter, using a short punt from the Rams to set up a 34-yard field goal by Kevin Butler. The Bears took a 10-0 lead into halftime, while their defense held the Rams to just three first downs in the first half.
The Dickerson Stonewall
The Rams' star running back, Eric Dickerson, came into the game having just set a playoff record with 248 rushing yards the week prior. However, he was completely ineffective against Buddy Ryan’s 46 Defense. Dickerson was hit hard early and often, fumbling twice in the game and losing one. The Bears’ front seven, led by Singletary and Hampton, swarmed him on every touch, limiting the future Hall of Famer to just 46 yards on 17 carries.
Willie Gault’s Strike
In the third quarter, McMahon provided the offensive dagger. On a play in which he reportedly changed the call at the line of scrimmage, McMahon fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to track star Willie Gault. The play gave the Bears a 17-0 lead and effectively ended any hope of a Rams comeback, as Los Angeles quarterback Dieter Brock struggled to move the ball through the swirling winds, finishing with just 66 passing yards.
Wilber Marshall Fumble Return
With just over two minutes remaining and snow beginning to fall, the Bears’ defense provided the game’s most iconic image. Defensive end Richard Dent leveled Dieter Brock on a blindside sack, jarring the ball loose. Marshall scooped up the fumble and sprinted 52 yards through the snow for a touchdown. The score gave the Bears a commanding 24-0 lead and sent the Soldier Field crowd into a frenzy. The Bears became the first team in NFL history to record back-to-back shutouts in the postseason, having beaten the Giants 21-0 the week before.
Chicago went on to beat New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.
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1985 NFC Championship Box Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
FIRST QUARTER
- CHI: Jim McMahon 16-yard TD run (Kevin Butler kick), 7-0
- CHI: Kevin Butler 34-yard field goal, 10-0
THIRD QUARTER
CHI: Willie Gault 22-yard TD pass from Jim McMahon (Butler kick), 17-0
FOURTH QUARTER
CHI: Wilber Marshall 52-yard fumble return TD (Butler kick), 24-0
LOS ANGELES LEADERS
Passing: Dieter Brock 10-31, 66 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Eric Dickerson 17-46 yards
Receiving: Tony Hunter 3-29 yards
CHICAGO LEADERS
- Passing: Jim McMahon 16-25, 164 yards, TD, 0 INT
Rushing: Walter Payton 18-32 yards; Jim McMahon 4-28 yards, TD
Receiving: Walter Payton 7-48 yards; Willie Gault 4-56 yards, TD
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1985 Rams roster
Offense
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Dieter Brock | Auburn |
| RB | Eric Dickerson | SMU |
| FB | Barry Redden | Richmond |
| WR | Henry Ellard | Fresno State |
| WR | Ron Brown | Arizona State |
| TE | David Hill | TAMU-Kingsville |
| LT | Irv Pankey | Penn State |
| LG | Kent Hill | Georgia Tech |
| C | Doug Smith | Bowling Green |
| RG | Dennis Harrah | Miami (FL) |
| RT | Jackie Slater | Jackson State |
Defense
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| LDE | Doug Reed | San Diego State |
| NT | Charles DeJurnett | San Jose State |
| RDE | Reggie Doss | Hampton |
| LOLB | Mel Owens | Michigan |
| LILB | Carl Ekern | San Jose State |
| RILB | Jim Collins | Syracuse |
| ROLB | Mike Wilcher | North Carolina |
| LCB | Gary Green | Baylor |
| RCB | LeRoy Irvin | Kansas |
| SS | Nolan Cromwell | Kansas |
| FS | Johnnie Johnson | Texas |
Special teams
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| K | Mike Lansford | Washington |
| P | Dale Hatcher | Clemson |
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How did the Rams reach the 1985 NFC championship?
To reach the 1985 NFC Championship, the Los Angeles Rams followed a path defined by a record-breaking ground game and a top-tier defense. They finished the regular season 11–5, winning the NFC West title and ending the San Francisco 49ers' reign over the division.
1985 Bears roster
Offense
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Jim McMahon | BYU |
| RB | Walter Payton | Jackson State |
| FB | Matt Suhey | Penn State |
| WR | Willie Gault | Tennessee |
| WR | Dennis McKinnon | Florida State |
| TE | Emery Moorehead | Colorado |
| LT | Jimbo Covert | Pittsburgh |
| LG | Mark Bortz | Iowa |
| C | Jay Hilgenberg | Iowa |
| RG | Tom Thayer | Notre Dame |
| RT | Keith Van Horne | USC |
Defense
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| LDE | Dan Hampton | Arkansas |
| LDT | Steve McMichael | Texas |
| RDT | William Perry | Clemson |
| RDE | Richard Dent | Tennessee State |
| LLB | Otis Wilson | Louisville |
| MLB | Mike Singletary | Baylor |
| RLB | Wilber Marshall | Florida |
| LCB | Mike Richardson | Arizona State |
| RCB | Leslie Frazier | Alcorn State |
| SS | Dave Duerson | Notre Dame |
| FS | Gary Fencik | Yale |
Special Teams
| POS | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
| K | Kevin Butler | Georgia |
| P | Maury Buford | Texas Tech |
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How did the Bears reach the 1985 NFC championship?
The Chicago Bears reached the 1985 NFC Championship through one of the most dominant single-season runs in NFL history, led by their "46 Defense" and Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Chicago went 15-1 in the regular season.
In their first playoff game at Soldier Field, the Bears' defense completely stifled the New York Giants. The game is famously remembered for a punt that was caught by the wind and blown backward, and for the Bears recording the first of their back-to-back playoff shutouts.