Time for another visit to playoff glories of the far-too-far-past... This we go back 1986 and venerable Soldier Field for the Redskins vs the Bears - the defending Super Bowl champion Bears!

The '86 Redskins were a terrific group of over achievers - finding way more success than a team undergoing this much transition should have. In '86, the Redskins were without long-time icons Joe Theismann and John Riggins for the first time. Jay Schroeder took the reigns as starter for his first full season, with Gary Clark just establishing himself as a premiere receiver and Kelvin Bryant entering the mix. Rather than slogging through a season of growing pains, the '86 Skins played over their collective heads, finishing 12-4 and returning Washington to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.

These Redskins notched some memorable victories (in time, we'll enjoy many more of them), but none more impressive and unexpected than this - a playoff shocker over defending champs on the road in this frigid NFC Divisional Playoff Game.

How big an upset was this, you ask? These Bears followed up their 18-1 championship '85 season with a 14-2 finish in '86 and entered this game on a 7-game winning streak, riding a defense that allowed only 4 rushing TDs all year and had only twice over the entire season surrendered more than one TD to their opponent's offense. These Bears truly were the Monsters of the Midway, having won 32 of 35 games leading up to this fateful, frigid day.

Joe Gibbs' Redskins dethroned these Bears with opportunistic offense (4 turnovers led to 17 points, including a rarified rushing TD), and stifling defense (Chicago started both the first and second half with long kick returns into Redskins territory only to come away with nothing, and settled for a measly field goal after a Bears interception was returned to the Redskin 5-yard line in the second quarter).

A flustered Doug Flutie (subbing in for injured Jim McMahon) and fumble-prone Walter Peyton were no match for the Redskins D on this day, as Washington sent Chicago shuffling out of the post-season.

Series fun facts! This was Joe Gibbs' first win over the Bears since his very first coaching win in 1981, 24-7 over the Bears (also at Soldier Fiel. Starting with this game, Chicago and Washington would face off for 6 straight seasons, with Washington winning 5 of those high-stakes contests. (Gibbs finished 9-3 against Chicago over his entire coaching career). From that '81 victory onward, Washington has owned the Bears with a 17-6 overall record (including a surprising 10-2 record at Soldier Field over that period).

Chicago truly is their kind of town.

BECOME A RETROSKINS CONTRIBUTOR! -- Do you have old 'Skins VHS or digital game recordings? If it's something I don't have in my collection, maybe I could do a remaster for you. Hit me up at RetroSkins91@gmail.com

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