Heading into the 1980 season, the Chicago Bears had made the playoffs in two out of the last three years. Hopes of a second straight appearance in the post season were silenced early as Chicago stumbled early and often in 1980. Green Bay fared no better. Both teams began the season losing 3 of their first four games.
By the time they played in Chicago in December, each team had won just 5 games in 13 tries. In their first meeting of the season, the Packers won in overtime 12-6, in overtime. The rematch appeared to be yet another low-scoring affair. There had been little offense in the first quarter and there was no scoring.
The Bears finally scored a touchdown three plays into the second quarter. Walter Payton soared over the goalline from one yard out, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead. After a packer punt the Bears marched down the field with Payton scoring again, this time from three yards out for a 14-0 lead. Green Bay’s next possession ended in a disaster. A bad snap over the punter’s head gave the Bears the ball on the one yard line and Roland Harper ran in from one yard out. Suddenly it was 21-0.
The Packers finally scored late in the second quarter when Lynn Dickey connected with James Lofton for a 15 yard TD. Bears quarterback Vince Evans executed the two-minute offense to perfection and Evans hit Brian Baschnagel for a TD with 29 seconds remaining in the first half, giving the Bears a 28-7 halftime lead.
Vince Evans threw two more touchdowns in the third quarter, including a perfectly thrown 53-yard TD pass to Rickey Watts. After three quarters the Bears led 41-7.
Early in the 4th quarter, Walter Payton scored his third touchdown of the game, this time on a 15-yard run. The Bears would score twice more: A 36-yard interception returned by Len Walterschied for a pick-six, and a one yard run from Willie McClendon closed out the scoring. Final score: Bears 61 – Packers 7.
Walter Payton ran for 130 yards and three TDs on 22 carries. Vince Evans had his best day in Chicago. His stat line: 18-22, 316 yards, 3 TDs
If they could only pull this off next week!