Fog Bowl - 1988 NFC Divisional Playoff - Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

[@taxpayer1962]

Thanks Jamie, I remember watching this what a classic I was in Vegas getting ready to go gamble but put it off once the Fog came rolling in, commentators were great back then

[@InflatableConan]

Haha, awesome memory.

[@abathens]

I remember watching this game on New Years Eve 1988. Good memories of that day. I partied pretty hard that night and got wasted!! Big hangover the next day.

[@MaximusWolfe]

I will never forget this game. Was 8 years old and was completely flabbergasted. Easily the most freakish nature anomaly in broadcast sports history.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

The fog just stopped over Soldier Field late in the 2nd quarter while the rest of Chicago was in sunshine. About five minutes after the game, the fog lifted and it was bright sunshine again.

[@MaximusWolfe]

@@jamiejohnson4524 Exactly. Truly bizarre occurrence that I have never forgotten.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

Making it more strange was that a small wind would have blown the fog away. But there wasn't wind in the windy city that day.

[@MaximusWolfe]

@@jamiejohnson4524 Fun fact: Chicago is not actually called the Windy City because of high winds but because of the wind bag politicians. But yeah, that’s crazy. The whole thing was truly whacked.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

I learn something new everyday.

[@PhilWood82]

5:00 They don't make bangers like this anymore.

[@CalgaryStampedersClassics]

Love these old NFL games

[@MaximusWolfe]

@@CalgaryStampedersClassics Being that NFL officially sucks nowadays, the old games seem that much better.

[@ivychat1]

Thanks for the pregame stuff. Too few people preserve that.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Fog Bowl was on December 31, 1988 which was the 21st anniversary of the Ice Bowl December 31, 1967

[@josephwright1519]

Fog rolls in at 1:16:54

[@erikconetta252]

Thank you you for uploading this classic! I am a 49ers fan , but this is a top 25 alltime games ever to watch.

[@InflatableConan]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

No problem

[@CaptainRon956]

I was there!!! Me, my stepfather and his brother. We sat on the 50 yard line about 15 rows up and we could see the game….when we got home that’s when we found out no one watching on tv could see it

[@berge7f91]

2:20 Bears introductions 17:02 The McKinnon touchdown 1:29:30 End of first half 1:32:20 Eagles possession 1:38:56 Vestee Jackson picks off Cunningham 1:40:39 Bears possession 1:44:53 Butler missed field goal 1:46:02 Eagles possession

[@towhee89]

Thanks. I remember on the sports illustrated vhs greatest sports follies a clip of this game was included "Hound of the Baskervilles weather in Chicago...." I've never seen this game though. Nice quality and appreciate all the football posts!

[@Ruribitz]

"We have been blessed with almost Spring like weather here". Yeah, give it a minute lol

[@JonathanEvans1977]

I remember watching this game at 11 years of age 😂 It was absolutely epic. One of those Unforgettable experiences and memories that make you nostalgic

[@BaltimoreColt]

Same here. I was 14.

[@juliansmith4352]

Watching this game back in the late 80s at my late grandparents house in columbus Ga on their CBS station WRBL channel on my birthday december 31

[@jonfranks6902]

Loved Buddy. My favorite Defensive coordinator of all time. He wasn’t a very good head coach but an EXCELLENT Defensive coach

[@Mrd9960]

Who was the guy he punched in the head? I forgot.

[@lindseysummers5351]

He tried to punch Kevin Gilbride in the jaw in the Oilers' last regular season game in the 1993 season.​@@Mrd9960

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

@@Mrd9960 Believe it was Kevin Gilbride

[@mikepetitti]

As a Bears' fan, I recall watching this game very well. Bears were fortunate to win. The fog was the best thing that happened to the Bears that day.

[@CJinsoo]

Overall, sloppy but entertaining game, and the league allowing it to go forward in the fog in the age of TV also pretty interesting. ‘let’s broadcast a playoff game that no one can see”. I am sure their sponsors gave them some negative feedback. You would think that the NFL would waive their rule prohibiting sideline reporters during a game where the NFL decided to keep playing when viewers could not see. Broadcasting crew was great: Bradshaw insights and comments on McMahon and Tomzack were excellent. His comments throughout were insightful. Sloppy game-and the ultimate vengeance game between 2 head coaches who hated each other, and yet ironically they were both career assistant coaches who only succeeded when they were forced to be joined at the hip. Both proved after 85 that they were not head caching material. But at least Buddy was loved by his players. In Ditka’s case, Da Coach, in what seemed like temporary insanity, after 1985 did everything possible to alienate players, lose their respect, e.g., supporting and affirming the replacement players, and stealing endorsements from his own players while preaching to them to cut down on the endorsements-he apparently forgot what he had learned from Coach Landry. Ditka and Buddy were the right guys, in the right place, at the right time, and it was never going to be replicated on their own.

[@scottb3034]

Ditka was harmed greatly by his own team's inability to stay healthy. The defense almost always dealt with injuries post 1986 and 1986 was sabotaged by the classless bum Charles Martin. Still he managed to win a good number of playoff games despite those handicaps. If things went swimmingly the Bears probably win the 1986 Super Bowl and push the 49ers harder in 1988 (perhaps changing the Joe Montana legend early and forcing the Steve Young legend into existence far earlier) if not outright beat them and turn the Bears into the team of the 1980s instead of the Niners. But alas that's not what happened. All that said, Ditka underachieved with the talent he was given to coach.

[@CJinsoo]

@@scottb3034 agree with part of your point-it wasn’t all Ditka’s fault. The organization/ownership is why the Bears depth issues became a problem. You should not lforce excellent players to site just to save a dime (Bell and Harris), at a bare minimum they improve your depth-and in their case their prime it cost the Bears a lot down the road. You can’t let great talent walk-Wilbur Marshall. An 85 defense with Bell and Harris starting is even better than the 85 defense that won it all, and it is in better shape for 86-88. Wilbur Marshall staying with the Bears would have improved production and depth. In the 1988 NFC Championship game we started Singletary, morrisey and I think Rivera. That’sa significant downgrade from Marshall. You keep great talent around like Bell, harris and Marshall, and you can then focus on getting some cornerbacks who belong in the NFL. McCaskey is the reason for the long-term slide. Despite my critcism of ditka above, when you see what buddy did after Philly, you can’t think what a miserable loser. I’d never say that about Ditka, but Ditka let the limelight and money go to his head. How he could steal endorsements from 2 OL and think it wouldn’t matter is unfathomable.

[@scottb3034]

@@CJinsoo Bell was not a problem. This was literally the only full season he played away from the Bears...he stayed 2 more seasons after his 1985 holdout with Chicago, played 1988 as an Eagles LB and then only played 4 games in 1989 before being out of the league. Harris also returned and played all but two seasons in chicago (his career also fizzled in Philly but he was older so it might have just been age). Losing Wilber and Otis having nothing in the tank after 1987 doomed the bears LB corps, injuries caught up to the DL. That said, I agree the McCaskeys are the true culprits of killing the franchise. That and Ditka in another way. Ditka's hiring by Halas forced Bears HOF GM Jim Finks out and the bears player acquisition was never the same...luckily his final draft before he left was one of the greatest in NFL history. Not sure Buddy was a better HC than Ditka but they were a perfect pair and had they stayed together the bears have a dynasty. Also indeed shameful of Mike to take the endorsements.

[@Michael-jz5cp]

This is the only way I can watch these old games. I was born in 88, so I didn’t get to see games like this.

[@michaelkawell3300]

Man did you miss out

[@billblake9665]

you still haven't seen this game lol no one has!

[@mspionage1743]

It's really too bad that Chicago didn't make the new stadium similar to the old one in appearance. There was just something special about old Soldier Field and the Roman pillars.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

The forecast for the game was sunny. That's hilarious. This game was crazy.

[@CJinsoo]

@1:17:38 the shot of the fog-and the bomb to Jackson in the fog-so cool.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

There was a show with the "top ten voices in football." Verne was among them, and it mentioned this game. That's why I came here.

[@spencerpalmer7118]

The Fog Bowl Game. Go Bears. 1988, what could have been. So many injuries to so many key Bears. A healthy Bears team could have been another Super Bowl championship team. We will never know. The Bears overcame so much turmoil in 1988.

[@ExperienceEric]

They were really strong but I doubt they could have beat the 49ers even at full strength. Probably the 2nd best team at full strength, the Bengals a close 3rd. The Bengals had an advantage in the SB because Wyche had coached the 49ers and knew their system so well.

[@spencerpalmer7118]

@@ExperienceEric We'll never know. Still, I would have liked to have had a well polished Jim McMahon at quarterback, and a healthy, and strong Richard Dent. The injuries didn't help the Bears at all in 1988. We will never know.

[@ExperienceEric]

@@spencerpalmer7118 Agreed but I think that '86 team was the one that really should have won it. As strong as the Giants were in '86 I still think the Bears were the better team if McMahon had not been injured. "88 was there last SB caliber team. They began to fall off in '89.

[@ExperienceEric]

@@spencerpalmer7118 The Bears were the best team in the NFL by far in 1985 and 1986. '87 and '88 were really strong too, but the peak was '85-'86

[@spencerpalmer7118]

@@ExperienceEric They had a chance in 1986, and losing Jim McMahon for the year did hurt, big time. However, the 1986 Giants were no pushovers. It would have been an interesting matchup. They might have had a chance to go all the way in 1984, their defense was the GOAT. They had to start 5 different quarterback in 1984. 1985 was the year everything worked out, the stars aligned. Go Bears!

[@redmustangredmustang]

This was the Eagles chance to knock off the Bears but dropped touchdowns by Keith Jackson and just not scoring in the redzone doomed the Eagles. This was the first of 3 straight playoff appearances where the Buddy Ryan Eagles just couldn't get it done.

[@ExperienceEric]

Totally absurd that they fired him after 1990. That hurt the team for years. He was still building the team and they were close.

[@kidmack3556]

@@ExperienceEric Buddy Ryan's eagles kicked the crap out of the Parcells/Belicheat giants 9 or 10 out of 12 games, with a six or seven winning streak. That was against what Madden & Summeral constantly called the best defense in the league.

[@kitdinker]

"Evidently a good catch by somebody."

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

How did Verne see the interception at 2:31:30? Also, did you hear Terry say that this is where the Eagles "disintegrated" right before the INT?

[@derekmoore3196]

This was some great stuff! I was 15 years old. I remember this game! I was so pissed off then!

[@pinehawk9600]

Me too

[@StudioLotProductions]

Remember this game vividly. I was an usher for Andy Frain and I worked this game. Great memories!

[@justinstoreforyou]

The way he said the Eagles of Philadelphia immediately made me think of Eddie Murphy saying "The Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay" in Coming To America

[@eseterik78]

That fog was the Chicago football Gods coming for Buddy Ryan😂

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

I noticed that CBS put a graphic for every play saying, "ball on...." They normally wouldn't do that. The director of this broadcast definitely earned his paycheck.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

When the Eagles kicked off, David Little made the tackle on the receiver. There was also a David Little who played for the Steelers at this time.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

At 2:07:45, you can see that visibility is improving.

[@berge7f91]

1:10:00 sanders run

[@glst1974]

These Eagles teams with White and Cunningham coached by Ryan felt like those Mariners' teams with Griffey Jr, Johnson and sweet Lou P. Talented enough, but could not get it done. I was a big fan of this Eagles team and being from Milwaukee, WI, I was so disappointed of this outcome. Still, going back to this, the fog was WOW.

[@brandonbennett7337]

I was a huge Mariners fan the had the talent.

[@jayzee7538]

That Louisville - Kentucky matchup CBS has on after this game probably had Kentucky Freshmen that played in that Laettner game as Seniors.

[@hatcher2262]

No way this game would’ve been played today. The Bears players said 15 minutes after the game, the fog lifted.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

I read the entire city of Chicago was sunny and clear that day with the exception of Soldier Field.

[@ervinghenderson4780]

Ironically, this is the only time the Bears beat the Eagles in the playoffs.

[@donjerue558]

As a life long Eagles fan, I don't think I will ever forget this game. Man, they had so many chances to make plays in that first half and didn't. 2 Td's called back, just inches short on the 4 and 1, Jackson dropping the TD and that bogus Cunningham in the grasp call.

[@tarantella70]

The sour grapes from the Eagles fans about this one never end.

[@billblake9665]

with you all the way the birds should have won this game.......

[@LA25250]

Should've won by at least two touchdowns

[@ericradford2142]

I am not a fan of either teams however you’re right, the Randall Cunningham in the grasp call was a terrible call.

[@brianinthepark5429]

Missed field goal didn't help! - Brian

[@speedyeagle2.25]

20:28 25:10 26:53 43:44 44:44 48:19 52:57 1:06:00 1:06:37 1:17:13 1:17:41 1:26:01 1:26:50 1:33:28 1:34:55 1:35:33 1:36:50 1:54:09

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

At 1:05:51, there is no sign of fog.

[@towhee89]

Also very interesting that Terry Bradshaw mentions going to a hypnotist in 1972. Guess it worked because they started winning super bowls like crazy after that 😂😂😂😂😅

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Wikipedia pointed out that things would have been fine if they had played a few hours earlier or later. I wonder if the NFL considered delaying the game. Fog doesn't stick around forever.

[@michaelkawell3300]

Big Al Harris was a beast.Him and todd bell held out in 85.Bell went to philly with buddy.Al harris stayed.The following week we got blown out by the niners.We beat the niners early that year 10-9 in a defensive battle.Mcmahon was 3-0 vs the niners as a starter.At one point mcmahon was 25-2 as a starter.If McMahon can he healthy for the playoffs we win one more super bowl at least.just think 86,87,88 was the best opportunity and couldnt get it done.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

Al Harris would join the Eagles in 1989. I think the Bears best chance for another Super Bowl was in 1986 had McMahon not been purposely injured by Charles Martin.

[@matthewmiller5652]

I'm a huge Bears fan but I love the Eagles old logo on those green helmets.

[@jerrycoleman882]

The announcer with the tan cap at 2:18:12 looked like he has Mickey Mouse hands...hahahaha.

[@enochancient9931]

I was at this game it was hard to see what was going on

[@Jonahch2v9]

Love weather games in football. The Todd Bell issue was he sat out the entire 85 season arguing over his contract. That meant he missed the Super Bowl year and wasn't part of the "best team ever". Ditka likely had no respect for him after that and traded him away.

[@jerrycoleman882]

I remember this well. I was hoping the Blue Angels would've done a couple low fly overs to blow that soup out. Hahaha...

[@CJinsoo]

@1:38:59 was this the last game as Eagle for 25 Toney? talk about being jinxed, he cost them 2 tds with 2 holding penalties, and another td chance with bobble for int.

[@jamiejohnson4524]

@CJinsoo Toney was back with the Eagles in 1989.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

55:35 what's it with Lundquist and calling can of corn TD passes that are dropped by Tight Ends? Especially in the post season.

[@berge7f91]

1:04:00 Neal Anderson td

[@CJinsoo]

@1:49:03 can’t believe i am watching fog

[@your_royal_highness]

I remember this well. When they cut back to start the second half, THEN you saw the fog COMPLETELY hiding the field. What a shock. I do not fully remember how bad the fog got even in the first half. I guess the shock was I thought somehow the fog would lift or not get worse. I will say this in watching again for the first time in 24 years that this was a real ugly game. Poorly played on both sides.

[@russellmurray3964]

The fog really starts to be seen at about 1:13:26. When I was watching the game, I also thought it would either lift or not get worse.

[@CJinsoo]

agree with you-sloppy game even without the fog. the best fog moment for me was near end of first half when it starts to affect the view and Cunningham hits jackson on that bomb. He’s srinting through the fog to the end zone and Todd Krum dives and ankle tackles him saving a TD.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Jim McMahon was the Bill Walton of quarterbacks.

[@berge7f91]

49:27 bears great 4th down stand

[@spencerpalmer7118]

A wounded Bears is the most dangerous. A point well spoken. Go Bears!

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Philadelphia won in Chicago in 1999. That was the first time.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Chicago's MVP is Maurice Douglass. I don't remember him at all.

[@jeremiahhoward3042]

Todd Bell was a very disappointed player at the end of this game.

[@CJinsoo]

annoucning crew did a great job highlighting Bell’s sad obsession (my opinion) with playing against the Bears and destroying them. It’s an unhealthy approach to anything in life. He was mistreated by the Bears but the owners treated all their players like crap with respect to compensation. It was a big mistake for him and Harris to hold out as it set back their careers badly, and it was a big mistake for the Bears, too as it deprived the team of top talent in their prime-that they never gopt back.

[@scottb3034]

@@CJinsoo Losing Bell was not a big mistake. He'd be well down the list of unfortunate happenings regarding this team (behind Wilber leaving and Frazier getting hurt for instance).

[@scottb3034]

As was deserved. Should have done a little less barking and a little more playing. Not just this game but most of the year.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

The Bears had a great run from 1984-8. You could tell this was coming to and here. In many respects, Charles Martin ruined McMahon. He wasn't the same after that.

[@REPUBLICANSAREBEYONDSTUPID]

1:16:52 😮

[@glst1974]

election deniers, smh

[@REPUBLICANSAREBEYONDSTUPID]

@@glst1974your girlfriend tr__p won right? 😆😆😆

[@Mster_J]

What is a woman?

[@deanladue5367]

If this had happened today, the game probably would have been stopped and postponed.

[@michaelkawell3300]

Dick butkus was very young here.

[@michaelkawell3300]

Da hall of famer Mike ditka man did that kill buddy

[@harrymann5523]

Divisional Playoff Television Assignments Saturday 12:30pm CBS Eagles-Bears Verne Lundquist, Terry Bradshaw, Brent Musberger, Will McDonough, Irv Cross Saturday 4pm NBC Seahawks-Bengals Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen Sunday 12:30pm NBC Oilers-Bills Marv Albert, Paul Maguire Sunday 4pm CBS Vikings-49ers Pat Summerall, John Madden

[@ericradford2142]

45:39 that was a terrible in the grasp call on Randall Cunningham. Imagine if social media existed at the time, they would have been all over Jim Tunney.

[@michaelkawell3300]

Why did ditka start McMahon vs the 9ers the following week.mike would've beat the 9ers.they went with Jim cuz he was 3-0 vs them.another ditka mistake

[@thfzn3130]

Tomzack got banged up a bit in this game.

[@berge7f91]

1:09:34

[@derekmoore3196]

Watching these old games - kickers were terrible back then or the kickers just got better as the NFL progressed.

[@topoftheapple8139]

The Bears were lucky the fog showed up and not the Redskins.

[@mattieaflo]

How the eff was this game continued? As fun as it is to look back on, this isn’t football

[@jkckmarcumful]

I always wondered what the hell happened out there in the midst of the fog that nobody saw take place. The fans, refs, people watching at home. There was probably dudes out there beating the shit out of each other. Lol. That's what I like to think anyway.

[@JoeVideoed]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_Bowl_(American_football) explains it all. "The NFL was monitoring the conditions but never considered postponing or delaying the game, because the fog posed no danger to fans or players, unlike situations that involved lightning or high winds (conditions were analogous to heavy rain or snow accumulations in that regard)." I 'saw' the game on TV w/ my whole family. Though we lived in Phoenix & the Cardinals had moved to Tempe, my parents were South Siders & the Bears were our team. It was a laugh fest in the living room once the fog rolled in.

[@MikeyStoneking]

This is LOOOOONG before Roger Goodell and the rest of the pussies of today's society got ahold of the game and made it fucking lame. This was definitely football. They didn't cancel any game because of weather.

[@dwightlove3704]

Cunningham threw for 400 yds and were it not for the obvious he might have thrown for 600 yds

[@scottb3034]

the obvious is part of the reason why he threw for 400.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@scottb3034 Were it not for the fog

[@scottb3034]

@@dwightlove3704 am aware what you mean and I am telling you that the fog was not an issue passing and if anything helped Cunningham.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@scottb3034 Then why is the game called The Fog Bowl the Eagles had a birth to the Super Bowl on the line

[@scottb3034]

@@dwightlove3704 It's called the Fog Bowl because there was a giant cloud of fog hanging 8 feet over the field of play blocking the view of the game from above and occasionally on the field of play but visibility was mostly fine. And no they didn't have a Super Bowl berth on the line, this was the divisional round, they would have had to travel to San Francisco and play a much better 49ers team than them in the NFC championship game and probably would have been smoked and not made the SB.

[@LA25250]

The eagles should've won by at least two touchdowns!! Very poor execution & mistakes!

[@NankerPhelge65]

DA BEARS !

[@MilitaryAgeMale]

Before Bradshaw turned into a spaz. He sounds like an actual person

[@brockgeorge777]

While famous, IMO this was a terrible game that could not be seen, nor played in a “real” manner. Though the Bears “won” 20-12 (you’ll have to largely take the scoreboard and officials word for it) it’s a real shame the game had to be played in such terrible conditions. In fact, visibility was so bad, IIRC the 49ers (who crushed Chicago the next game) didn’t even bother much with (trying) to watch that game film.

[@scottb3034]

49ers "crushed" the bears because half their defense was out. HOF Richard Dent, All-Pro Otis Wilson, William Perry and Shaun Gayle. TE Emery Moorehead was benched for a far less effective James Thornton. Also the play on the field while impaired was just fine. Being overdramatic on how much it really affected the players.

[@JtL1329SDMFIIIVIIV]

Huh, I'm from Louisville Kentucky, never knew that game was next, wow we had to follow this! 🫣😱

[@billblake9665]

No way they would play a regular season game in that fog these days much less a damn playoff game.......having a season go up in smoke like that was a joke.......you literally could not see what the hell was going on.....of course it might have been a good thing...