The parallels are almost poetic–if you’re into Shakespearean tragedies. The 1985 Dolphins ruined an undefeated season for the Bears; the 2006 Dolphins spoiled a would-be spotless season. What are some other similarities and differences from those two games.
WHAT BEARS PLAYERS SAID
2006: “If it doesn’t hurt, how important is winning? So it hurts bad. We’re 7-1, it hurts, we’re going to think about it for a couple of days, watch the tape and get better and then put everything in perspective of what’s out there for us to go get.”
–Rex Grossman, quarterback
1985: “They were a better team than us. Tonight. It ain’t the end of the world. On this day in history, they were better.”
–Jimbo Covert, tackle
WHAT THE BEARS COACH SAID
2006: “This isn’t exactly the way we planned today’s outing. . . . We’re 7-1 right now. We’re on top of the NFC North. When you don’t play well and you play the way that we played today, you normally lose the football game. It’s as simple as that.”
–Lovie Smith
1985: “I made a statement to the team that I believe: Nobody has beat us yet. We beat ourselves.
–Mike Ditka
BEARS’ WINNING STREAK
2006: 7 games
1985: 12 games
CHART-TOPPERS AT THE TIME
2006: Justin Timberlake’s “My Love” and Akon’s “Smack That,” accordingto Billboard’s hot 100.
1985: Stevie Wonder’s “Part-Time Lover” and … the “Miami Vice” theme. Spooky.
DOLPHINS QB
2006: Joey Harrington went 16-of-32 for 137 yards with three touchdowns.
1985: Dan Marino completed 14 of 27 passes for 270 yards and–you guessed it–three touchdowns.
STATISTICAL ‘BREAKDOWN’
2006: Miami’s 31 points were the most the Bears have allowed this season. The Bears also committed six turnovers.
1985: Miami scored 31 points in the first 30 minutes, more points in a half than the Bears had allowed in the first six games. Turnovers set up four of the Dolphins’ five touchdowns.
