1981 Week 13 - Chicago at Dallas

Chicago Bears (3-9) at Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
November 26, 1981
Weather: 68 degrees, relative humidity 62%, wind 22 mph
Line: Dallas -13
Over/Under: 42
Starting QBs: Vince Evans (Chi), Danny White (Dal)
Network: CBS
Announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden

[@chrisuncleahmad]

The first Summerall and Madden Thanksgiving game

[@mab7491]

I was at this game in 1981 when I was 11 years old. Travelled from Memphis Tennessee with my Mom, Dad and older brother Allen. We stayed and went to the game with our wonderful Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Ned. Such wonderful memories Thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this. RIP Allen Dad Uncle Ned I miss you all every day

[@frankdenardo8684]

R.I.P. John Madden and Pat Summerall. The 1981 Thanksgiving Day classic. Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys.

[@kevinbarry7475]

Fun fact, Glen Carano, Dallas backup quarterback in this game is father of Gina Carano,MMA fighter and actress

[@cesc4arsha23]

RIP John Madden..forget the EA game, his broadcasting alone taught me how this game is played

[@BlazeOfGlory742]

Exactly!

[@bryanburnap4537]

When I was 9 I had a set of Dallas Cowboys playing cards. They were dark blue with the helmet and the 1 bar face mask. I loved those cards. I wish I still had just 1.

[@bryanburnap4537]

Im replying to my own post. My brother was moving and my mom had put my Dallas Cowboys playing cards in a box with my brothers hockey cards. I have never been happier.

[@bravobravoh1344]

I was at this game back in 1981. Actually, the only NFL game that I've ever been to.

[@stevereber]

Great Matchup big day for Payton

[@comfortat]

Ditka inherited this defense and Walter. This Cowboys team was 20 years into Landry's tenure. Think about that. He started from scratch in 1960, went to the NFL championship 6 years later, got to a SB 10 years later, and another one the next year and won it. He completely rebuilt that team by 1975 and went again, then won again in 1977, and lost in 1978. FIVE SBs in 9 years, 2 wins. The three losses were by 3, 4, and 4. He lost two Championship games to GB before those, each by 4 points. That's 7 championship games in 18 years, losing 5 by a total of 19 points, and winning 2. Those 5 losses were to Lombardi's packers, Knoll's Steelers, and to Unitas' Colts. This in a era when most title games were blowouts. Then he had the nuts and bolts of this defense, and was a contender for another 7-8 years. He was an innovator on offense AND defense, brought the shotgun off the dusty shelf, and now everyone uses it. Shula inherited the '70 Dolphins, and won 2 Super Bowls with them, and lost 1 to the Cowboys. He went to one more his whole career, and lost it. Oh yeah, he was the Colts coach who lost to the Jets in 1969. How can anyone say anything except Landry is the greatest coach of all time? His teams had two BAD years, his very first, then, after 27 years of good to great teams, in his final season. Lombardi inherited HIS team. Belichek coached in the free agency, flag football era. Only Halas and Paul Brown have an argument to be called the GOAT Coach alongside Landry. He may not have the most rings, but the title went through Dallas for 20 years. No other coach can say that, except Bellichek.

[@bryanburnap4537]

Dude I love your comments about landry. I'm 49 and a huge Pats fan. But as a kid from about 80 to 86 I loved my Cowboys !!! They were everything to me back then !!! I hate I never really got to see them play in a super bowl during the landry years. But yes I think people see only 2 titles in 29 years. Not all that great !! But his coaching record was just part of it. He was a football genius and built such a great program !! A play here or there and he has 3 maybe 4 championships. So I'm with you my friend

[@comfortat]

@@bryanburnap4537 Thank you, sir, that is very kind. Their first SB win in '71 is on here, and their 2nd in 1977. Plus the 3 losses. I encourage you to watch them. Even the close losses are fun games to watch. I still believe Landry should have gone to Staubach in SB 5. Morton just did not have the magic. Peace

[@vernonrobinson1685]

I think you've undersold the Donald immensely. While everything said about Landry is correct, consider: 1. In Shulas time in in Baltimore( which was left out) he inherited a very good ex champion in the age of Lombardi.( And Halas). 2. His Colts had a better win loss record against the great Packers, unprecedented with any other contemporary. 3. In 68, Unitas got hurt, and Shula had more success with backup Earl Edwin Morrall, who won league MVP( which Landry could not do even with Roger Staubach). 4. But, the "Guarantee " happened, and Shula was beaten. 5. But, the Dallas team that lost to the Colts in V was in fact Shulas team, while, in Miami, Shula coached up players he inherited but none of them had any pre- Shula success.( None of the "perfect season" core distinguished themselves until 1970, Shulas first year). 6. Shula rebuilt the Dolphins three times after the no namers. After losing his core to the WFL, around Griese, he led them again into a high quality team in the late 70s. 7. Later, around a prime Marino, they were an average team from 1989-95, with an AFC title appearance in 92, and his superb work in 93 with Scott Mitchell in the wake of Marinos season ending injury. 8. In between Griese and the late era Marino, Shula in fact went to two super Bowls( 1982 and 84). 9. He did the following : A. Coached three league MVPs at QB( Unitas, Morrall, Marino) B. Coached 3 Hall of fame qbs ( Unitas, Griese, Marino) C. Coached a team to a Super Bowl in three straight decades and leading the two franchises he coached to winning seasons in year one ( unprecedented ). D. Went to a Super Bowl with the equivalent of Steve Pelleur( And that's being polite in describing David Woodley in 1982). E. He won a super bowl in 1973 with smash mouth football, but won in 84 with a record setting flamethrower ( again, unprecedented). F. Retired after leading his team to another playoff season at the age of 65. He isn't, still, near 30 years after his retirement, the all time winning coach for nothing. He belongs in the greatest ever conversation. P.S.- Landrys kryptonite at Super Bowl coach, namely Charles Henry Noll, is in fact a Shula disciple, who is more successful than any Landry protege.

[@shanetrimble9265]

Awesome thanks!

[@scooter5940]

Wow, first Thanksgiving game by Summerall and Madden! These were dark days for me as a Packers fan. I was 17, too young to remember the later Lombardi years, and the Packers were smack dab in the middle of their dark age, which lasted from 1968 through 1991. 1981! No Thursday games (except Thanksgiving and there were not THREE games that day), and the Cowboy cheerleaders were not copied by every other team just yet. What great times. Defenses could actually hit. Dynasties were not wrecked by free agency. Not saying today's football isn't great - but just way way different. And I miss John Madden.

[@theabreetz13]

One of my college professors made the doomsday defense banner 2:12:56

[@bryanburnap4537]

Classic

[@thomascollins6815]

Butch Johnson flies the bird 1:05:36

[@bryanburnap4537]

Wow the Bears were very conservative settling for a 50 yard field goal for the win. I see why Neil Armstrong didn't last long as a head coach

[@MrAschiff]

This was Madden and Summerall's first Thanksgiving game together.

[@BeyondInfinitePlains]

Great game

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

A truly Herculean effort by Payton and the Bears defense. This season was really the lowest point of Payton being virtually the entire offense. Everyone they played knew it, too. Their passing game was awful, and their offensive line was terrible. Offensively, Payton was about all they had.

[@johnliberty3647]

When ever someone says this guy or that guy was the best RB in the NFL I like to watch an old bears game and see the best. He did everything well, Running, Blocking, Receiving and if he had to passing. I bet the dude could Kick, Block and Cover too if he had to. I won't get into an argument about who the best really was but Payton better be in the conversation about the best.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@johnliberty3647 Very well said. He's in the conversation as one of the very best football players that ever lived. There can be no disputing that.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

I remember in 1981 Payton told a reporter: “I’m am starting to hurt more than I used to. We need some help!” In 82, Halas cleaned the team up, by hiring Ditka, getting Covert and Hilgenberg, and drafting McMahon. I just wish that Mugsy Halas didnt pass away. George’s grandson screwed up everything methodically as the years went by.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@VolumedMusicMan Respect you very much as a Bears fan, and it's in that respectful spirit that I humbly request that you spell Walter's name correctly: Payton. Hilgenberg was already on the team in 1981, and Covert wasn't drafted until 1983.

[@robin7771]

Man, did I hate John Roveto back then. The Bears would have pulled off a major upset this game if they had a half decent kicker.

[@bryanburnap4537]

The conservative play calling was questionable at best. They just kinda settled for a 50 yard attempt ???

[@user619tlsdca5]

Once Bears got Shawn Gayle the hybrid SS MLB , the Bears became the Ultimate Defense due to Gayle giving Defense the flexibility of their famed the 4-6 Defensive alignment scheme and Gayle was the player that made it worked along with Mike Singletary and the other stud defensive all stars the team had. Believe 6 players from Defense voted to Pro Bowl.

[@charleswilliamsjr]

MONROE LOUISIANA KNOE TV8 Aired the game and so did all the CBS affiliates

[@philackey]

Singletary had like every tackle in the whole game. He had 84 like tackles in one game. Payton had like 64 carries for 12 yards. -.02 yards per carry. Bears had a 3rd string high school QB. What different game it was. Danny White was QB and a Great Punter???

[@camoanddonuts7894]

the year before Da Coach came to Chicago to bring us back from mediocrity, some of the parts were already in place here. Dallas would enjoy another year or 2 as the premier NFC team before S.F and Washington made noise and won SB's, followed by Chicago for the rest of the decade.

[@johnwiley9973]

Boys were sleepwalking in this one

[@ti994apc]

01:47:49 How can that not be a penalty. Look what what he did to Tony Hills legs after the tackle.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

I've been looking forever for the final regular season game in 1982 - Bears @ Tampa Bay. Can you help me find it?

[@denniseverett1904]

I remember ( as a 10 yr old) thinking this game would be a cakewalk (Bears were AWFUL up to that point) and being just glad we still won(10-9, almost the upset of the year). Then Bears actually won their last 3 after almost beating us.

[@shanetrimble9265]

This game was brutal. Almost hard to watch.

[@denniseverett1904]

Thought we'd win by 31. Ended being grateful simply to have won

[@bigzach79]

No turducken?

[@johnliberty3647]

that came about 5 years later, not sure what year he started that.

[@andrewhoyle1521]

These BEARS teams were truly pathetic. And really shows u why #34 was the best. For the first 9 yrs of his career he was the BEARS. Starting with getting the most Underrated player in nfl history DAN HAMPTON bears turned it around. Until then though just Walter.

[@luzpintero1088]

34:24. and 44:30. Bears sucked, but EXCELLED at CRIPPLING their opponents

[@BT-be8rh]

Ironic that Summerall says "AA" while talking about NCAA basketball.