Super Bowl XX
Chicago 46, New England 10
In a dominating display from start to finish, the Bears' league-leading defense recorded seven sacks and limited the Patriots to just seven rushing yards. After yielding an early field goal, Chicago scored the game's next 44 points. QB Jim McMahon and Matt Suhey had scoring runs, and Kevin Butler kicked three field goals, to give the Bears a 23-3 halftime lead. After forcing a Patriots punt to start the second half, Chicago marched 96 yards for another TD to put the game out of reach. Bears RB Walter Payton rushed for 61 yards, while Richard Dent became just the fifth defender to be named Super Bowl MVP.
January 26, 1986
Louisiana Superdome
Attendance 73,818
The NFC champion Chicago Bears, seeking their first NFL title since 1963, scored a Super Bowl-record 46 points in downing AFC champion New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. The previous record for most points in a Super Bowl was 38, shared by San Francisco in XIX and the Los Angeles Raiders in XVIII. The Bears' league-leading defense tied the Super Bowl record for sacks (7) and limited the Patriots to a record-low 7 rushing yards. New England took the quickest lead in Super Bowl history when Tony Franklin kicked a 36-yard field goal with 1:19 elapsed in the first period. The score came about because of Larry McGrew's fumble recovery at the Chicago 19-yard line. However, the Bears rebounded for a 23-3 first-half lead, while building a yardage advantage of 236 total yards to New England's minus 19. Running back Matt Suhey rushed 8 times for 37 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run, and caught 1 pass for 24 yards in the first half. After the Patriot's first drive of the second half ended with a punt to the Bears' 4-yard line, Chicago marched 96 yards in nine plays with quarterback Jim McMahon's 1-yard scoring run capping the drive. McMahon became the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to rush for a pair of touchdowns. The Bears completed their scoring via a 28-yard interception return by reserve cornerback Reggie Phillips, a 1-yard run by defensive tackle/fullback William Perry, and a safety when defensive end Henry Waechter tackled Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan in the endzone. Bears defensive end Richard Dent became the fourth defender to be named the game's most valuable player after contributing 1.5 sacks. The Bears' victory margin of 36 points was the largest in Super Bowl history, bettering the previous mark of 29 by the Los Angeles Raiders when they topped Washington 38-9 in Game XVIII. McMahon completed 12 of 20 passes for 256 yards before leaving the game in the fourth period with a wrist injury. The NFL's all-time leading rusher, Bears running back Walter Payton, carried 22 times for 61 yards. Wide receiver Willie Gault caught 4 passes for 129 yards, the fourth-most receiving yards in a Super Bowl. Chicago coach Mike Ditka became the second man (Tom Flores of Raiders was the other) to win a Super Bowl ring as a player and as a coach.
Game Notes
This game marked the Patriots' first trip to the Super Bowl and the team's firest title game appearance in 22 years.
New England scored the quickest points in Super Bowl history when K Tony Franklin booted a 36-yard field goal 1:19 into the contest.
The New England Patriots take on the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon dives over the line into the end zone to score a touchdown against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, Jan 26, 1986. (AP Photo)
Chicago Bears' Walter Payton runs with the ball Sunday Jan. 27, 1986 during Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. The Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46-10 to win Super Bowl XX. (AP Photo/Red McLendon)
Chicago Bears Walter Payton (34) drops the ball as New England Patriots tackle him in the first quarter of Super Bowl XX, in New Orleans, Jan.26, 1986. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 1986 file photo, Chicago Bears' William "The Refrigerator" Perry spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown in Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots, in New Orleans. Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry remains hospitalized in South Carolina. Aiken Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Melissa Summer said Wednesday, April 22, 2009, that Perry is in serious condition. The 46-year-old Perry has been hospitalized to deal with complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent (95) is blocked by Patriots guard John Hannah (63) and tackle Brian Holloway (76) during a 46 to 10 Bears victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986 played at the Louisana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Chicago Bears' Richard Dent (95) sacks New England Patriots' Steve Grogan during Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, Jan. 26, 1986. The Bears won 46-10 and Dent was named Most Valuable Player of the game. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
New England Patriots Irving Fryar (80) catches the ball in the end zone to score the Patriots only touchdown in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 27, 1986. Patriots Cedric Jones celebrates in background. New England lost to the Chicago Bears 46-10. (AP Photo/Feig)
An overhead view of the halftime show at Super Bowl XX between the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
26 JANUARY 1986. New England Patriot Hall of Fame Guard John Hannah (73) who played for the Patriots from 1973 to 1985 is seen here on the bench in Superbowl XX in New Orleans where the Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears. (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault (83) catches a pass during Super Bowl XX, a 46 - 10 victory over the New England Patriots on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Irving Fryar celebration after scoring the New England Patriots only touchdown in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, Jan. 26, 1986. (AP Photo)
New England Patriots quarterback Tony Eason looks to throw the ball under pressure by Chicago Bears linebacker Wilber Marshall (58) during Super bowl XX Jan. 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46–10. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
Chicago Bears defensive back Reggie Phillips (48) intercepts a pass and returns it 28 yards for a touchdown during Super bowl XX Jan. 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46–10. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
26 JAN 1986: Jim McMahon (9) of the Bears runs for some yardage as a Patroits defensive player chases McMahon down from behind as the New England Patriots take on the Chicago Bears during Super Bowl XX at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Sportswire via AP Images)
Program cover for Super Bowl XX where the Chicago Bears won 46-10 over the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 26, 1986. Super Bowl XX Art - Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots - January 26, 1986 (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
FILE- In this Jan. 26, 1986, file photo, Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka is carried off the field by Steve McMichael, left, and William Perry after the Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. Argue all you want about which is the best team in NFL annals. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has opted for the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Canton shrine will premiere "85: THE GREATEST TEAM IN FOOTBALL HISTORY" on Jan. 3. It will then hit theaters nationwide on Jan. 29. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin, File)
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Dan Hampton (99) celebrates after he recovers the ball after a fumble during Super bowl XX Jan. 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46–10. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
Quarterback Tony Eason (11) of the New England Patriots sets to pass against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome in January 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots center Guy Morriss (75) gets set to snap the ball while the offensive and defensive line for both teams square off during the NFL Super Bowl XX football game against the Chicago Bears on January 26, 1986 in New Orleans, Louisianna. The Bears won the game 46-10. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New England Patriots quarterback Tony Eason (11) throws a pass during the NFL Super Bowl XX football game against the Chicago Bears on January 26, 1986 in New Orleans, Louisianna. The Bears won the game 46-10. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Chicago Bears head coach, Mike Ditka, being carried off the field on the shoulders of the Chicago Bears football team, after the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans (AP Photo/Warren Wimmer/file archives)
