In today’s NFL, every “expert” with a keyboard proudly shares their instant opinions on players, coaches, and general managers. It all has to be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Imagine for a moment the field day that would have resulted in Walter Payton’s first game in the NFL.
Payton’s NFL debut was on September 21, 1975—opening day, as the Bears hosted the Baltimore Colts. It was Walter’s first game, and the Bears had a new Head Coach, Jack Pardee. The game was a brutal beginning for them as they were crushed by Baltimore 35-7.
Payton’s stat line for the game; was eight carries, zero yards, longest run was only three yards. He also had one catch which lost three yards. Nine total touches for negative three yards. If that happened in today’s world of instant analysis, the comments would have been ruthless.
The most legendary Bear of All Time went on to a fantastic career. His career spanned over 13 seasons and 190 games, all with Chicago. I had the privilege to sit in section 113, row 5, seats 7 and 8 for almost every home game in his career. Here is MY list of his best games. You may find yourself surprised by my pick for his greatest game.
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Number 4: November 3, 1985
In what has typically been a hard-hitting, low-scoring rivalry, this game at Lambeau Field against Green Bay was exactly that type of game. Just two weeks prior, Coach Mike Ditka gave rookie DL Willaim Perry the limelight by handing the ball to the Refrigerator for a short TD run in prime time. Many will remember this game for the play in the first half when a play-action pass ended up in the hands of William Perry for a short touchdown. However, it was a day Walter Payton shined. Sweetness carried the ball 38 times for 192 yards on the day.
Entering the 4th quarter, Green Bay led 10-7. William Perry’s 2nd quarter, 4-yard TD reception was all the offense could muster against a game Packers defense. With the Packers facing 3rd down at their six-yard line, Steve McMichael sacked Packers QB Jim Zorn to cut their lead to 10-9.
On the ensuing possession, after a short kick and a return by Dennis McKinnon gave the Bears the ball on the Green Bay side of midfield, the Bears made quick work getting the ball inside the Packers 30-yard line. Payton took the ball, ran through the Packers’ defense, cut right, and raced into the end zone for a 27-yard TD. The win took Chicago to a 9-0 record, despite a day when the passing game was non-existent. Jim McMahon was only 9-29 for only 91 yards.
Number 3: October 30, 1977
On a day when the passing game was abysmal, Chicago shut out the Packers 26-0 at historic Lambeau Field. Nine years prior to this game, Gale Sayers became the first running back in franchise history to rush for more than 200 yards when he totaled 205 against these same Packers in a game also played in Green Bay.
The passing game accounted for just 54 yards on the day, but the rushing game flourished, amassing 375 yards and three TDs on 54 carries. In addition to Payton’s numbers, there were contributions from FIVE Bears: Bob Avellini, 4-16; Johnny Musso, 16-69; Robin Earl, 7-60; Roland Harper, 1-13; and Art Best, 3-12. Before Payton’s numbers, the only other player found on the stat sheet this day was Greg Latta, catching 4 passes for just 49 yards.
This game was all Payton (which as you will see is a common theme): 23 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDs with a long run of 58 yards. He also had one reception for five yards for good measure. The final score was Bears 26-0. The shutout was Chicago’s first time blanking the Packers at Green Bay since 1949.
Number 2: November 20, 1977
Many of you will comment below this is Payton’s best game. Known as the flu game, Walter ran for what was at that time the best single game rushing in the history of the NFL. The game was played on a wet surface in Chicago and Payton was battling a 101-degree fever and sever flu symptoms. Bob Avellini threw one pass in the first half, a six yard completion to (who else) Payton. The other 26 plays Payton carried the ball for 144 yards and one TD. Late in the 4th quarter a long run put Payton close to O. J. Simpson rushing record and a few plays later Payton was held out of the end zone by the Vikings, but the record of 275 yards was his.
Payton’s record would stand for more than 22 years. Bengals RB Corey Dillon broke his record in 2000 against the Denver Broncos, running for 278 yards.
Number 1: November 13, 1977
In what is the most remarkable comeback victory I have ever witnessed as a season ticket holder, the best performance by Walter Payton proved key to a last-second victory. The winds were brisk out of the south this day and the Bears passing game and their field goal unit provided no help. Walter Payton once again accounted for most of the Bears’ offense. In the first half, Payton had 100 yards on the ground, but the Bears trailed the visiting Kansas City Chiefs 17-0 after two quarters.
Early in the third, in a play HOF RB Jim Brown has called “the greatest run ever,” Walter started right, finding no room, he broke the run back to his left. From there it was pure magic. Breaking 4 or 5 tackles, his 17-yard run would set up Chicago for their first score of the game.
Late in the fourth, after a K.C. field goal extended the Chiefs lead to 20-14, the Bears had the ball at their own 31. Walter Payton caught a pass from Avellini good for 29 yards, and after coming out for one play (a 2-yard run by Robin Earl), Payton took a handoff and ran the final 15 yards for a score and 21-20 lead with 2:02 remaining in the game.
That score would have been enough for this storybook ending, but the Chiefs would retake the lead 27-20 with a TD run by Ed Podolak. With a 3-5 record and a season on the brink, the Bears had to score to have any chance for a playoff spot. After a Brian Baschnagel return gave the Bears the ball at their 43-yard line, but there were just 19 seconds left.
Robin Earl’s only pass reception of the day pushed the ball to the Kansas City 37. Avellini, with just ten seconds remaining, lofted a pass to a wide-open Greg Latta, catching the ball in the end zone with just three seconds left on the clock. The extra point made the final score 28-27. Time expired on the ensuing kickoff.
Payton’s day: 193 yards rushing, 3 TDs, adding one catch for 29 yards. You can find highlights of this game including Payton’s historic run, his 15-yard TD, and Latta’s game-winning catch in the YouTube video here.
My list of Walter Payton’s best games. Do you have a favorite Payton performance not listed? Please share in the comments below.
@Michael Halatek ….. This is the perfect time of the year for your entertaining, historical glimpses and is a great compliment to Erik’s current and informative content. You guys are a great one-two punch for us fans.
Thank you both!
@scott brs ….. Wow! Dude, you are waaay off here. I suppose if the game plan going into SB XX was for Sweetness to be “the ultimate decoy”, I’d have to agree but everyone KNOWS that was not the case. I’d say it was his personally most disappointing game. All NFL players will tell you throughout history that their ultimate goal is to make it to the final game and to win a Super Bowl ring. THAT is why they pour out all of the blood, sweat and tears over their entire careers. While WP got his ring, he felt… Read more »
I wish you’d include video clips of these games. As a “younger” Bears fan who remembers the legend but not the plays, I can’t get into this article.
I agree that all of these were great statistical games for Sweetness. But for me his greatest game was being the ultimate decoy in our Super Bowl victory. The Patriots were so determined to stop him.