Super Bowl XX

The game

Although New England scored first, Chicago's 46 Zone defense dominated the game. The Bears set Super Bowl records for sacks (7) and rushing yards allowed (7). Chicago's 46 points were the most ever scored by a team in the Super Bowl, and their 36-point margin of victory was also a Super Bowl record. The Patriots were held to negative yardage (-19) throughout the entire first half. New England's Tony Eason became the first Super Bowl starting quarterback to fail to complete a pass, going 0 for 6 attempts. And Patriots running back Craig James, who had rushed for 1,227 yards during the season, was held to just 1 rushing yard on 5 carries.

Related Topics:
Tony Eason - Running back - Craig James

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The Patriots took the quickest lead in Super Bowl history after a fumble by Walter Payton at the Chicago 19-yard line set up Tony Franklin's 36-yard field goal with 1:19 into the first quarter. The Bears struck back with a 7 play, 59-yard drive, featuring a 43-yard pass completion from Jim McMahon to wide reciever Willie Gault, to set up a field goal from Kevin Butler, to tie the score 3-3. Later in the period, Richard Dent and linebacker Wilbur Marshall shared a sack on Eason, forcing a fumble that the Bears recovered on the Patriots 13-yard line. The Bears had to settle for another field goal from Butler to take the lead 6-3 after defensive tackle William "Refrigerator" Perry, who lined up on third down in the running back position, was tackled for a 1-yard loss while trying to throw his first NFL pass on a Halfback option play. Then on the Patriots' ensuing drive, Dent forced James to lose a fumble, and two plays later Bears fullback Matt Suhey scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to increase the lead 13-3.

Related Topics:
Walter Payton - Tony Franklin - Jim McMahon - Willie Gault - Kevin Butler - Richard Dent - Wilbur Marshall - William "Refrigerator" Perry - Halfback option play - Matt Suhey

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Midway through the second quarter, Eason was replaced by veteran quarterback Steve Grogan in an attempt to spark the New England offense. But the change did little to slow down Chicago's defense as it kept on forcing the Patriots to punt. Meanwhile, the Bears went 59 yard on their first drive in the second period, scoring on quarterback Jim McMahon's 2-yard touchdown run. Butler later kicked his third field goal of the game after a 10 play, 72-yard drive as time expired in the half to make the score 23-3.

Related Topics:
Steve Grogan - Jim McMahon

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After the Patriots received the second half opening kickoff, they managed to get one first down, but then had to punt after Grogan was sacked twice. Patriots punter Rich Camarillo, who punted 4 times in the first half, managed to pin the Bears back at their own 4-yard line with his punt. But the Patriot defense still coudn't stop Chicago from scoring. On the very first play, McMahon faked a handoff to Payton, then threw a 60-yard completion to Gault. Eight plays later, McMahon finished the 96-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make the Bears lead 30-3. On New England's second drive of the period, Chicago cornerback Reggie Phillips intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards to increase the lead 37-3. Then late in the period, the most memorable moment of the game happened when "Refrigerator" Perry was brought on to score on offense from a single yard out, as he had done twice in the regular season. Perry's touchdown made the score 44-3. There was a downside to Perry's score: running back Walter Payton was denied an opportunity to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX.

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The Patriots finally scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter with receiver Irving Fryar's 8-yard catch. But New England's futility resumed for the rest the game as the Bears defense forced another fumble, another interception, and a safety when Grogan was sacked in the end zone.

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McMahon, who completed 12 out of 20 passes for 256 yards, became the first quarterback in a Super Bowl to score 2 rushing touchdowns. Bears receiver Willie Gault finished the game with 129 receiving yards on just 4 receptions, an average of over 32.2 yards per catch. Grogan completed 17 out of 30 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions.

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Scoring summary

• NE- FG Franklin 36
• CHI- FG Butler 28
• CHI- FG Butler 24
• CHI- Suhey 11 run (Butler kick)
• CHI- McMahon 2 run (Butler kick)
• CHI- FG Butler 24
• CHI- McMahon 1 run (Butler kick)
• CHI- Phillips 28 interception return (Butler kick)
• CHI- Perry 1 run (Butler kick)
• NE- Fryar 8 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
• CHI- Safety, Waechter sacked Grogan in end zone