Everyone talks about the Super Bowl Shuffle. They talk about Mike Singletary’s eyes bugging out of his head and Buddy Ryan’s "46 defense" absolutely terrorizing quarterbacks until they saw ghosts. But if you look back at the 1985 Chicago Bears schedule, you start to realize that this wasn't just a cakewalk for a bunch of oversized personalities. It was a gauntlet. People think they just waltzed through the mid-80s because the NFC Central was supposedly "weak," but that's a total myth. They had to survive a brutal slate of physical, old-school football.
They finished 15-1. That single loss to the Miami Dolphins on a Monday night still eats at some of those guys, honestly. You can see it in every interview Dan Hampton or Mike Ditka gives even forty years later.
Setting the Stage: September Dominance
The season kicked off on September 8th against Tampa Bay. It wasn't pretty. The Bears were actually trailing at halftime, believe it or not. People forget that. They won 38-28, but it was a wake-up call. Then came the Washington Redskins. This was a statement game. Washington was a powerhouse in that era, led by Joe Gibbs. Chicago dismantled them 45-10. This was the moment the rest of the league looked at the 1985 Chicago Bears schedule and realized, "Oh, we're in trouble."
Week 3 and 4 were about grit. They traveled to Minnesota and then hosted the Colts. The Vikings game was a shootout by 1980s standards, ending 33-24. Jim McMahon came off the bench—classic Jim—to throw three touchdowns on his first seven passes. It was legendary. By the time they beat the Colts 45-9, the defense had started to find its rhythm. They weren't just winning; they were hurting people.
The Mid-Season Shutout Streak
If you want to understand why this team is the gold standard, look at the stretch from late October through November. It’s insane. On October 27th, they beat the Vikings 27-9. Then they went to Green Bay. At Lambeau, they won 16-10 in a game that felt much closer than it should have been.
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Then came the "Goose Egg" era.
- November 17: Chicago 44, Dallas Cowboys 0.
- November 24: Chicago 36, Atlanta Falcons 0.
Think about that. Back-to-back shutouts against professional NFL offenses. The Cowboys were the "America’s Team" royalty back then, and the Bears went into Texas Stadium and basically stuffed them into a locker. Tom Landry had no answers. None. It’s probably the most dominant two-week stretch by any defense in the history of the sport. The 1985 Chicago Bears schedule didn't look like a set of games anymore; it looked like a funeral procession for opposing offensive coordinators.
That One Night in Miami
December 2, 1985. Monday Night Football. The Dolphins. This is the game that kept the '72 Dolphins popping champagne for decades. The Bears went down to the Orange Bowl and got shredded in the first half. Dan Marino was getting the ball out in about 1.2 seconds, which is the only way you beat the 46 defense. You can't let the rush get home.
Chicago lost 38-24. It’s a weirdly important part of their legacy. Honestly, if they hadn't lost that game, the pressure of perfection might have cracked them in the playoffs. Instead, it just pissed them off. They went back home and finished the regular season by beating the Colts, Jets, and Lions by a combined score of 73-13. They were playing angry.
The 1985 Chicago Bears Schedule: Postseason Perfection
The playoffs were where the "Monsters of the Midway" became immortal. They didn't just win; they pitch-shutouts. Again. In the Divisional round, they beat the New York Giants 21-0. It was freezing, the wind was howling, and the Giants' offense couldn't move the ball an inch. Then came the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams.
Final score: 24-0.
Two playoff games, zero points allowed. If you're looking for a stat to prove they are the best ever, that’s it. Most teams struggle to get a shutout in the preseason, let alone in the NFC Championship game. It led them to Super Bowl XX in New Orleans against the New England Patriots.
We all know what happened there. 46-10. It was a slaughter. Tony Eason, the Patriots quarterback, was pulled because he literally couldn't complete a pass. He was terrified. The Bears defense recorded seven sacks and forced six turnovers.
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What People Get Wrong About the Strength of Schedule
Critics often say the NFC Central was a dumpster fire in 1985. That’s a bit of a lazy take. While the Packers and Colts (who were in the AFC then but played the Bears) weren't great, the Bears had to play the Giants, the Redskins, and the Cowboys—the heavyweights of the NFC East. They went 3-0 against those teams with a combined score of 110-20.
That isn't just "beating the schedule." That is deleting the competition from the record books.
Actionable Insights for Football Historians
To truly appreciate what the 1985 Bears accomplished, you have to look past the 15-1 record. If you are studying this era for sports writing or just pure fandom, focus on these specific takeaways:
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- Review the turnover margins: In their 15 wins, the Bears were +23 in turnover differential. They didn't just stop teams; they took the ball away.
- Study the "46" versus the "West Coast": The only team that consistently moved the ball on them was Miami, using quick-release passing. This changed how the NFL played offense for the next decade.
- Check the injury reports: Remarkably, the Bears' core defensive starters stayed healthy for most of that 16-game stretch, which is unheard of for such a physical team.
The 1985 Chicago Bears schedule serves as a blueprint for defensive dominance. While the game has changed—you can't hit quarterbacks like Wilbur Marshall did anymore—the psychological impact of that 1985 run remains the benchmark for every great team that followed. They were a perfect storm of coaching, talent, and a schedule that provided just enough resistance to keep them sharp without breaking them.