The Chicago Bears Christmas list this year no doubt includes hopes that Santa will give them a shot at a first round bye this Sunday. That aside, this team may not have a lot of memories in regards to football moments on Christmas Eve and Day. That may be because teams didn’t start playing on those days until the late 1980s.
Even in that shorter time period though, the Bears have managed to build up a fun highlight tape of classic moments, some small and some big. Digging into the archives, here are some Bears fans may or may not remember.
2017: Mitch Trubisky scores and does a snow angel
It may not have been a season that went according to plan, but the Bears had plenty to be optimistic about towards the end of 2017. Their draft class was coming along nicely. None more encouraging than their young quarterback, Mitch Trubisky. He put together some strong performances that December. One of them occurred on Christmas Eve against the Cleveland Browns.
Playing on a snow-swept Soldier Field, he was in command the entire game. Though he only threw for 193 yards, he delivered some pretty throws. He was at his most dangerous though as a running, posting 44 yards and scoring the game-sealing touchdown late in the third quarter. Great as that was, the snow angel celebration was better.
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2006: Mark Anderson claims rookie sack record
The Bears had already wrapped up homefield advantage by Christmas Even of the 2006 season. So they were basically playing out the string at that point in preparation for the playoffs. It would’ve been easy to just rest the starters but Lovie Smith wasn’t going to allow that. He had his guys ready for Detroit. None more so than rookie defensive end Mark Anderson who set the franchise rookie record with his 11th and 12th sacks that day.
2005: Lance Briggs pick-six of Brett Favre
It was indeed a Merry Christmas day for the Bears in 2005. The team had not made the playoffs since 2001. Getting a chance to do that at Lambeau Field against their arch nemesis Green Bay Packers was just too good. Nobody could’ve expected what was to follow. The Bears jumped all over the Packers through the first three quarters, building a 17-7 lead.
It looked like Brett Favre was angling to make a comeback until linebacker Lance Briggs put the kibosh on that when he intercepted an errant pass and returned 10 yards for a touchdown. The score proved the difference in the game, handing Chicago the division title.
2000: R.W. McQuarters pick-six
It wasn’t a memorable season in terms of winning, but it was definitely a taste of things to come. Particularly where the Bears defense was concerned. Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown were rookies emerging as future stars. Yet neither of them were the heroes in the season finale on Christmas Eve against Detroit. That honor went to cornerback R.W. McQuarters.
Trailing 17-13 midway through the 4th quarter, the Bears offense couldn’t seem to get going. The Lions were driving into Chicago territory, aiming to add to their lead. Then McQuarters changed everything with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Bears won the game 23-20 and that victory served as momentum for their massive 13-3 turnaround the next year.
