Bears–Giants rivalry

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Chicago Bears–New York Giants
Chicago Bears wordmark.svg
Chicago Bears
New York Giants wordmark.svg
New York Giants
First meetingDecember 6, 1925
Bears 19, Giants 7
Latest meetingJanuary 2, 2022
Bears 29, Giants 3
Next meeting2022
Statistics
Meetings total62
All-time seriesBears, 36–24–2
Regular season seriesBears, 31–21–2
Postseason resultsBears, 5–3
Most recent
January 13, 1991
Giants 31, Bears 3
Largest victoryBears, 56–7 (1943)
Longest win streakBears, 5 (1970–87)
Current win streakBears, 3 (2019–present)

The Bears–Giants rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants. The rivalry was notable for the six NFL championship games between the two teams prior to the creation of the Super Bowl, and the two subsequent Super Bowl-era playoff meetings that involved two of the NFL's greatest defensive units: the Bears' 46 defense crew helmed by Buddy Ryan, and the Giants' Big Blue Wrecking Crew mentored by Bill Belichick.[1]

History[]

Pre-Super Bowl era[]

The Bears and Giants met in six NFL championship games, more than any common matchup in either the NFL Championship or Super Bowl. Between 1933 and 1946, the Bears and/or the Giants appeared in 12 of 14 NFL championship games, and combined to win seven championships in that span. Their first meeting came in the first-ever NFL Championship Game that concluded the 1933 season. In a close-knit affair, the Bears won the game and the championship 23–21 by scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.[2][3][4][5] It was Chicago's second consecutive championship, having previously won in 1932 when the league awarded the title to the team with the best regular season winning percentage. However, the Giants returned the favor in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, winning 30–13 by outscoring the Bears 27–0 in the fourth quarter.[6] The game was forever immortalized as the Sneakers Game, as the Giants switched to basketball sneakers at the half due to the slick frozen conditions that affected the Polo Grounds field.[7]

The Bears and Giants met for a third time in the 1941 NFL Championship Game. This game was notable as it happened two weeks following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; as a result, only 13,341 fans attended the game at Wrigley Field, the lowest of any NFL championship game. The Bears dominated the Giants 37–9 to win their fifth NFL title, thanks to four unanswered touchdowns in the second half.[8][9][10] A fourth meeting took place in the 1946 NFL Championship Game, in which a then-record 58,346 fans witnessed the Bears defeat the Giants 24–14 in New York. The game was tied 14–14 after three quarters before the Bears scored ten unanswered points. The victory was marred, however, by a bribery scandal involving two Giants players.[11][12]

In the 1956 NFL Championship Game, the Giants routed the Bears 47–7 at Yankee Stadium to win the championship. It was the team's last title until Super Bowl XXI in 1986. Similar to the 1934 title game, the Giants wore sneakers in order to gain traction on an icy field. [13][14][15] Seven years later, the Giants and Bears met for a sixth time to decide the 1963 NFL Championship. In a low-scoring affair, the Bears prevailed 14–10 to win their eighth NFL championship, their last until Super Bowl XX in 1985. It was also the final meeting between the Bears and Giants that decided the NFL championship.[16]

Super Bowl era[]

The two teams underwent lengthy rebuilding periods following the 1963 title game, but in the 1980s, the Bears and Giants reemerged into title contention, thanks to two of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Chicago's 46 defense, coached by Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, featured Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, and defensive ends Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. New York's Big Blue Wrecking Crew, on the other hand, were coached by Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, and featured Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Harry Carson. The two teams first squared off in the 1985 NFC Divisional Round, in which Chicago's defensive crew outplayed their Giant counterparts in a 21–0 shutout. The tone of the game was set when a punt attempt by Giants punter Sean Landeta was muffed in the strong winds and Shaun Gayle returned it five yards for a touchdown.[17] The Bears went on to win the Super Bowl that season. A rematch then took place in the 1990 NFC Divisional Round, which also ended in a blowout. This time, however, the Giants dominated Chicago in a 31–3 rout, and went on to win Super Bowl XXV. To date, this was the most recent meeting in the playoffs between the Bears and the Giants.[18]

Recent years[]

After the 1990 playoff meeting, the rivalry cooled off a bit, though games between the two teams remained highly competitive. However, there were some notable moments that took place since then. During Week 10 of the 2006 season, Bears returner Devin Hester returned a missed field goal a then-record 108 yards for a touchdown, culminating in the Bears' 38–20 victory. The win proved crucial for the Bears as they went on to finish with the NFC's best record at 13–3, en route to a Super Bowl XLI appearance.[19] The Giants, on the other hand, turned a 6–2 start into a 2–6 finish, ending with an 8–8 record and losing in the Wild Card Round to the rival Philadelphia Eagles.[1] Then in Week 4 of the 2010 season, the Giants defense sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler nine times in the first half en route to a 17–3 victory, dealing Chicago its first loss of the season.[20][1]

Game results[]

Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants season-by-season results
1920s (Giants, 5–3)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1925 Bears
19–7 		Polo Grounds Bears
1–0 		Giants' inaugural season. First meeting at Polo Grounds.
Giants
9–0 		Wrigley Field Tied
1–1 		First meeting at Wrigley Field.
1926 Bears
7–0 		Wrigley Field Bears
2–1
1927 Giants
13–7 		Polo Grounds Tied
2–2 		Giants win 1927 NFL Championship.
1928 Bears
13–0 		Wrigley Field Bears
3–2
1929 Giants
26–14 		Wrigley Field Tied
3–3
Giants
34–0 		Polo Grounds Giants
4–3 		Giants take first lead in the series.
Giants
14–9 		Wrigley Field Giants
5–3
1930s (Bears, 11–6–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1930 Giants
12–0 		Wrigley Field Giants
6–3
Bears
12–0 		Polo Grounds Giants
6–4
1931 Bears
6–0 		Wrigley Field Giants
6–5
Bears
12–6 		Polo Grounds Tied
6–6
Giants
25–6 		Wrigley Field Giants
7–6
1932 Bears
28–8 		Polo Grounds Tied
7–7 		Bears won 1932 NFL Championship.
Bears
6–0 		Wrigley Field Bears
8–7
1933 Bears
14–10 		Wrigley Field Bears
9–7
Giants
3–0 		Polo Grounds Bears
9–8
1933 playoffs Bears
23–21 		Wrigley Field Bears
10–8 		First scheduled NFL Championship game in league history.
1934 Bears
27–7 		Wrigley Field Bears
11–8
Bears
10–9 		Polo Grounds Bears
12–8
1934 playoffs Giants
30–13 		Polo Grounds Bears
12–9 		1934 NFL Championship Game. Popularly known as the Sneakers Game.
1935 Bears
20–3 		Polo Grounds Bears
13–9 		Giants lose NFL Championship.
Giants
3–0 		Wrigley Field Bears
13–10
1936 Bears
25–7 		Polo Grounds Bears
14–10
1937 Tie
3–3 		Polo Grounds Bears
14–10–1 		Bears lose NFL Championship.
1939 Giants
16–13 		Polo Grounds Bears
14–11–1 		Giants lose NFL Championship.
1940s (Bears, 6–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1940 Bears
37–21 		Polo Grounds Bears
15–11–1 		Bears win NFL Championship.
1941 playoffs Bears
37–9 		Wrigley Field Bears
16–11–1 		1941 NFL Championship Game
1942 Bears
26–7 		Wrigley Field Bears
17–11–1 		Bears lose NFL Championship.
1943 Bears
56–7 		Polo Grounds Bears
18–11–1 		Most lopsided Bears victory and highest-scoring game in the rivalry. Bears win NFL Championship.
1946 Giants
14–0 		Polo Grounds Bears
18–12–1
1946 playoffs Bears
24–14 		Polo Grounds Bears
19–12–1 		1946 NFL Championship Game
1948 Bears
35–14 		Wrigley Field Bears
20–12–1
1949 Giants
35–28 		Polo Grounds Bears
20–13–1 		Final meeting at Polo Grounds.
1950s (Giants, 1–0–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1956 Tie
17–17 		Yankee Stadium Bears
20–13–2 		First meeting at Yankee Stadium.
1956 playoffs Giants
47–7 		Yankee Stadium Bears
20–14–2 		NFL Championship Game. Giants' largest margin of victory in the rivalry.
1960s (Bears, 3–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1962 Giants
26–24 		Wrigley Field Bears
20–15–2 		Giants lose NFL Championship.
1963 playoffs Bears
14–10 		Wrigley Field Bears
21–15–2 		Sixth and final NFL Championship Game between the two teams. The Bears finished with a 4–2 record in NFL Championship Games against the Giants. Last playoff meeting until 1985.
1965 Bears
35–14 		Yankee Stadium Bears
22–15–2
1967 Bears
34–7 		Wrigley Field Bears
23–15–2 		Final meeting at Wrigley Field.
1969 Giants
28–24 		Yankee Stadium Bears
23–16–2
1970s (Bears, 3–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1970 Bears
24–16 		Yankee Stadium Bears
24–16–2 		Final meeting at Yankee Stadium.
1974 Bears
24–16 		Soldier Field Bears
25–16–2 		First meeting at Soldier Field.
1977 Bears
12–9(OT) 		Giants Stadium Bears
26–16–2 		First meeting at Giants Stadium.
1980s (Bears, 2–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1985 playoffs Bears
21–0 		Soldier Field Bears
27–16–2 		NFC Divisional Round. Bears win Super Bowl XX.
1987 Bears
34–19 		Soldier Field Bears
28–16–2
1990s (Giants, 3–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1990 playoffs Giants
31–3 		Giants Stadium Bears
28–17–2 		NFC Divisional Round. First meeting in New York since 1977. Giants win Super Bowl XXV. Most recent playoff meeting between the two teams.
1991 Bears
20–17 		Soldier Field Bears
29–17–2
1992 Giants
27–14 		Soldier Field Bears
29–18–2
1993 Giants
26–20 		Soldier Field Bears
29–19–2
1995 Bears
27–24 		Giants Stadium Bears
30–19–2
2000s (Tied, 2–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2000 Giants
14–7 		Soldier Field Bears
30–20–2 		Giants lose Super Bowl XXXV.
2004 Bears
28–21 		Giants Stadium Bears
31–20–2
2006 Bears
38–20 		Giants Stadium Bears
32–20–2 		Final meeting at Giants Stadium. Bears lose Super Bowl XLI.
2007 Giants
21–16 		Soldier Field Bears
32–21–2 		Giants win Super Bowl XLII.
2010s (Giants, 3–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2010 Giants
17–3 		MetLife Stadium Bears
32–22–2 		First meeting at MetLife Stadium.
2013 Bears
27–21 		Soldier Field Bears
33–22–2
2016 Giants
22–16 		MetLife Stadium Bears
33–23–2
2018 Giants
30–27(OT) 		MetLife Stadium Bears
33–24–2
2019 Bears
19–14 		Soldier Field Bears
34–24–2
2020s (Bears, 2–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2020 Bears
17–13 		Soldier Field Bears
35–24–2 		No fans in attendance for game due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Bears
29–3 		Soldier Field Bears
36–24–2
2022 TBD MetLife Stadium
Summary of results
Season Season series at Chicago Bears at New York Giants Notes
Regular season Bears 31–21–2 Bears 16–11 Bears 15–10–2
Postseason Bears 5–3 Bears 4–0 Giants 3–1 NFC Divisional Round: 1985, 1990. NFL Championship Game: 1933, 1934, 1941, 1946, 1956, 1963
Regular and postseason Bears 36–24–2 Bears 20–11 Bears 16–13–2

See also[]

  • National Football League rivalries
  • Bulls-Knicks rivalry

References[]

  1. ^ a b c James Kratch (May 16, 2019). "The history of the Giants-Bears rivalry, from the Sneakers Game to Devin Hester". NJ.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 18, 1933). "Bears beat Giants in sensational, ripsnorting game, 23 to 21". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2.
  3. ^ Kirksey, George (December 17, 1933). "Bears win pro title in thrill-packed game". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 28.
  4. ^ Smith, Wilfrid (December 18, 1933). "Bears whip Giants, 23-21; world champions". Chicago Tribune. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Bears win pro grid league title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Chicago Tribune). December 18, 1933. p. 14.
  6. ^ "Giants stage amazing rally to beat Chicago Bears 30-13". Miami News. Associated Press. December 10, 1934. p. 10.
  7. ^ Canavan, Tom (January 5, 1986). "Sneakers game is most famous episode in Bears-Giants rivalry". Gainesville Sun. Florida. Associated Press. p. 4F.
  8. ^ Hoff, Dave (December 22, 1941). "Bears wallop Giants for pro title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3B.
  9. ^ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 22, 1941). "Bears swamp Giants, 37 to 9, in pro play-off before 13,341". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.
  10. ^ "Riotous Bears roar as champions of football world". Pittsburgh Press. (photo). December 22, 1941. p. 29.
  11. ^ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 16, 1946). "Bears defeat Giants, 24 to 14; attempted bribery uncovered". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.
  12. ^ Prell, Edward (December 16, 1946). "Bears win 7th title, 24-14, before 58,346". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  13. ^ "Giants stampede Bears, 47-7". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 31, 1956. p. 7.
  14. ^ Sell, Jack (December 31, 1956). "Giants crush Bears in title game, 47-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
  15. ^ Mosby, Wade (December 31, 1956). "Giants outclass Bears, 47-7, to win first pro football title in 18 years". Milwaukee Journal. p. 9, part 2.
  16. ^ Maule, Tex (January 6, 1964). "The Bears upend the Giants". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
  17. ^ Litsky, Frank (January 6, 1986). "Bears Pound Giants, 21-0, in Wind and Cold". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Litsky, Frank (January 14, 1991). "Back to San Francisco: Giants Bury the Bears, 31–3". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Farmer, Sam (November 13, 2006). "Bears Blow by Giants, 38–20, after early deficit". Los Angeles Times.
  20. ^ Vacchiano, Ralph (October 4, 2010). "New York Giants sack Jay Cutler nine times, record 10 total in 17-3 win over Chicago Bears". New York Daily News.

External links[]

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