I don't know if this is objective fact, especially on a Giants board with most people old enough to remember the 86 Giants, but why is the 86 Giants D not regarded as highly as the 85 Bears D? And is it actually not as good? If it isn't as good, why? The 86 Giants had probably the best defensive player ever and probably the best defensive coach ever. Were the 85 Bears deeper?
As Matt alludes to above, that 1986 Redskins team was damn good. If I was a Skins fans that year, I would have been furious with the Giants.
As Matt alludes to above, that 1986 Redskins team was damn good. If I was a Skins fans that year, I would have been furious with the Giants.
I was a little scared of the aura of the Bears thanks to the 1985 shadow. But I remember being more concerned with trying to beat Washington 3 times. I thought the Bears defense could have given the offense problems. But the Bears offense was so bad after McMahon got hurt, that I thought the revenge factor and being at Giants Stadium, the Giants would have dominated them so badly defensively that unless offense turned it over, Chicago wouldn't move the ball at all. The Bears scored 20 or less points 7 times in their final 10 games.
Odds are, the 17-0 score that the NFC Championship Game was in 1986 would have probably been the same score if Chicago was there.
You would think they would have multiple championships like the Giants, 49ers and Redskins. But nope, just the one.
Look at the '86 Bears schedule sometime. It might be the weakest NFL schedule I've ever seen. The NFC Central that year had 3 double digit loss teams: the 5-11 Lions, 4-12 Packers, and 2-14 Bucs. The Vikings were 9-7 and pounded the Bears in the Metrodome 23-7. After their second loss, they played seven straight games against teams with losing records. Four of them they won by a FG or less. Their two big wins in that stretch came against the Bucs, who were one of the worst teams in NFL history (-234 point differential).
The Bears turned the ball over 46 times that year! Once McMahon went down for good in week 8, their offense went from mediocre to putrid.
But the Bears D was the best I'd ever seen.
As for 86 - our team beats the 86 Bears. As Matt was saying - imo we were a better team in 86. I thought the 86 season game vs Minny was the turning point. Then back-to-back-to-back we beat Broncos, 49ers, and Skins. Our defense dictated the play.
Mike Tyson Had "it".....
Sandy Koufax had "it"....
Whoever was facing them, just were not confident they would win.....
Giants in playoffs played them tough but our offense wasn’t up for it.
Edge goes to Bears but 86 Giants D was one of the best. 19 games only 2 teams scored more than 20. 7 teams couldn’t get more than 7. Giants played 8 teams with a top 10 scoring offense. Played 8 teams with 10 wins. Played 5 with 11+ win teams and win all of them. Denver twice with 11 wins. And 3 with 12 (Was).
Bears had 9 teams fail to score 7. 3 scored over 20. They had several shutouts. They played 5 teams with top 10 offense. They played 7 teams with 10 wins. They only beat one with 11 wins. NE at 11 wins (2 wins) and Mia at 12 had more than 10 wins.
85 Season should have ended with a Mia and Bears rematch but Dolphins played awful in Champ game. Bears caught a huge break with NE in the SB.
Strength of schedule goes to 86 giants but Bears has better defense because they dominated the LOS like no other team.
Giants in playoffs played them tough but our offense wasn’t up for it.
Edge goes to Bears but 86 Giants D was one of the best. 19 games only 2 teams scored more than 20. 7 teams couldn’t get more than 7. Giants played 8 teams with a top 10 scoring offense. Played 8 teams with 10 wins. Played 5 with 11+ win teams and win all of them. Denver twice with 11 wins. And 3 with 12 (Was).
Bears had 9 teams fail to score 7. 3 scored over 20. They had several shutouts. They played 5 teams with top 10 offense. They played 7 teams with 10 wins. They only beat one with 11 wins. NE at 11 wins (2 wins) and Mia at 12 had more than 10 wins.
85 Season should have ended with a Mia and Bears rematch but Dolphins played awful in Champ game. Bears caught a huge break with NE in the SB.
Strength of schedule goes to 86 giants but Bears has better defense because they dominated the LOS like no other team.
Gastineu. Klecko and Lions
Another bad ass line centric team.
It's interesting that
Jim Burt was only 6'1" 260 (d nose tackle those years)
and yet
Leonard Marshal ( 3/4 de?) 6'3" 288.
Which is weird because even now we have those 3.4 ends, at the moment, exact same size! Even given much huger OL'ers.
Perhaps the 3/4 ends should be 6'3" 333 if we are to run the 3/4 the same way (two gapping) but we won't be, apparently, so I guess it's OK!
How did the Bears punk out? Did they refuse to play the Giants?
You're a weird dude.
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Giants were most devastating in 86! Knocked every QB they played. Bears QB was next, but the Bears punked out
How did the Bears punk out? Did they refuse to play the Giants?
You're a weird dude.
The Redskins beat the Bears to knock them out of the playoffs in the divisional round which led to us thoroughly whipping the Skins in the NFC championship game. I was thrilled that the Bears were eliminated because the Bears defense was still the most dominant force in the league and would have likely been a tougher matchup for us than the Redskins...
Whether the 86 Giants beat the 85 Bears, I probably go Giants but its not a slam dunk. While i think low scoring of ocurse, I worry that Phil Simms didnt exactly have the quick release and game to match that Bears defense and probably allows a TD himself to the Bears.
Maybe we win 13-10?
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In comment 13953477 Elite Mobster #32 said:
Quote:
Giants were most devastating in 86! Knocked every QB they played. Bears QB was next, but the Bears punked out
How did the Bears punk out? Did they refuse to play the Giants?
You're a weird dude.
The Redskins beat the Bears to knock them out of the playoffs in the divisional round which led to us thoroughly whipping the Skins in the NFC championship game. I was thrilled that the Bears were eliminated because the Bears defense was still the most dominant force in the league and would have likely been a tougher matchup for us than the Redskins...
I know what happened - I just tend to think of "punked out" referring to someone refusing to compete, not getting eliminated by the team that wound up winning the Super Bowl the following year.
Posted this earlier - the 82 point playoff difference is the largest of any SB winner in history.
And the thing is, Ryan was true to his word. I swear there were times I think he rushed 11. It was the weirdest looking D I ever saw ... so frequently he had 8+ D'men on the LOS.
Link - ( New Window )
As Matt alludes to above, that 1986 Redskins team was damn good. If I was a Skins fans that year, I would have been furious with the Giants.
So did I ... but, at the same time I sort of wanted to play them again to see how we would have done. But, it was not meant to be ...