Tag Archives: Mike Singletary

Top Ten Single Season Defenses in NFL History : #10 1986 Chicago Bears

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Article Reissue: 22, June 2014

Welcome to the second installment on the 10 greatest defenses in NFL history. We are off to a rousing start as folks are putting in their reasons for their teams and why the honorable mention units should have made the top ten list.

Truth of the matter is all bias has to be removed and the great equalizers lie in the season statistics, play against strongest offenses during their year, and what precedents they set.  If one team is sitting in front of another for having set a precedent, a team with less stature or ranking cannot sit above them on the list.

So now we have to countdown to the single season defenses in NFL history starting with #10.

10. 1986 Chicago Bears –  A season after bludgeoning their way to the NFL title, this group was poised to repeat. If Mike Ditka would have stayed the course and not played Doug Flutie at quarterback who was on the team for four weeks, they would have. Having done so he robbed NFL fans of the greatest 2 year dynasty the NFL had ever seen. They were 15-1 in 1985 then went 14-2 which tied for the best record in the league that year. 29-3 over two seasons?? So why is this group in and the ’86 Giants and ’02 Bucs left off??

  • ’86 Bears – 187 pts allowed *NFL record / 10 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points / 258.1 yds per game (1st) / 62 sacks (2nd) / 31 int. (2nd)
  • ’86 Giants- 236 pts allowed / 5 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points *2 more in playoffs* / 297.3 yds per game (2nd) / 59 sacks (4th / 24 int. (tied 7th)
  • ’02 Bucs – 196 pts allowed / 9 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points / 252.8 yds per game (1st) / 43 sacks (6th) / 31 int. (1st) – 9 opponents ranked 14-31st on offense

Furthermore in compiling these statistics the yardage difference between #1 & #2 in 1986 (258.1 to 297.3) is the second biggest difference since 1970. No way in hell you could say the Giants defense in 1986 was better than Chicago’s…no way.

In a year where two future Hall of Famers Dan Hampton (10 sacks) and Richard Dent (11.5 sacks) didn’t make the Pro Bowl, LB Wilber Marshall, DT Steve McMichael, late SS Dave Duerson, and MLB Mike Singletary did. All this before we bring up FS Gary Fencik. They were 2-1 against Pro Bowl quarterbacks. They split with the Vikings and Tommy Kramer beating him once 23-0.

Then they pasted Boomer Esiason and the NFL’s #1 offense 44-7 on the road. By the way the Bengals were 10-6 that year and the Browns were 12-4 and played for the AFC Championship. The Bears beat them also. In fact they were 4-1 on the year vs top ten offenses.

This group had to drag a Bears offense that had been handicapped by the loss of Jim McMahon through several qbs that couldn’t complete 50% of their passes. The true reason the ’86 Bears didn’t win Super Bowl XXI and the ’86 Giants did was this incident right here.

The defense drug a team with no offensive continuity to the best record in the NFL at 14-2. However since the 2 losses came within the NFC and only 1 of the Giants had, New York got homefield advantage. The Bears fell to the Redskins in the divisional round 27-13 behind 3 turnovers on their own side of the 50 in the 2nd half. Even the 10th best defense in NFL history could save them from that.

As for would the ’86 Bears have beaten the ’86 Giants had they played?? The first game of 1987 had both teams healthy and the Bears, without McMahon again, won 34-19. Two of New York’s touchdowns were on defense and special teams. Couple this with the fact the Bears shut out New York in the ’85 playoffs 21-0. The Bears would have taken them as New York couldn’t score on this defense.

The Bears season in microcosm was this game against the Lions:

This defense really should be higher but we’re starting the top ten off with a bang. Thanks for reading and please share the article.

Wilber Marshall Belongs In The Pro Football Hall of Fame

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While watching a young Derrick Brooks play linebacker with his explosive hitting style and speed, it made me think “Who does he remind me of?” Immediately my mind thought he was a Generation Y version of Wilber Marshall.

Marshall’s famous hit on Joe Ferguson in 1985… Ferguson landed in ’87.

He was a collision waiting to happen. Easily one of the most exciting football players I ever watched. Marshall was sudden and arrived at the football with a swiftness and anger rarely seen even in NFL circles. He made big plays…hits and turnovers that changed games. Something today’s soft NFL doesn’t allow. Any routine play could explode into a big moment when #58 was on the field.

Circling back to compare Marshall’s greatest season against that of D Brooks, keep in mind Hall of Fame member Brooks won ’02 NFL Defensive Player of the Year:

  • ’91 Marshall -135 tackles 5.5 sacks 4 FF, 1 FR 5 ints – 1 TD return
  • ’02 Brooks – 118 tackles 1 sack 1 FF, 1FR -1TD, 5 ints – 3TD returns

One might respond Brooks led his Bucs to a Super Bowl XXXVII win, just keep in mind Marshall led the Redskins to the XXVI title in his. Yet in this spectacular season Marshall didn’t make the Pro Bowl when he should have been up for the ’91 DPoY. Even in that voting he came in 6th. Something was definitely wrong.  Stats gainst those NFC OLB contemporaries:

  • ’91 Marshall -135 tackles 5.5 sacks 4 FF, 1 FR 5 ints – 1 TD return
  • ’91 Seth Joyner – 110 tackles 6.5 sacks 6FF, 4FR – 2TDs, 3 ints
  • ’91 Pat Swilling – 60 tackles 17 sacks 6FF, 1FR, 1 int – 1TD
  • ’91 Charles Haley – 53 tackles 7 sacks, 2FF & 1FR

Sack and forced fumble on Jim Kelly

Somehow Charles Haley bumped him from the Pro Bowl roster. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys after the season for being a malcontent in the Niners locker room. Come on now…

All Marshall could do was leave his mark on the playing field in the playoffs. First he tied the NFC Championship Game sack record with 3 in their 41-10 win over the Lions. Then in Super Bowl XXVI Marshall recorded 11 tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles to lead the Redskins to a 37-24 triumph. He was the best player on the field, winning his 2nd World Championship. We’ll cover his 1st in a minute…

Did you know the reason you enjoy free agency in the offseason can be traced to this man?? His talent was so sought after the Washington Redskins broke an unwritten rule & signed him away from the Chicago Bears after the ’87 season. Not since John Riggins in the mid 70s had this happened with any player. Plan B Free Agency started in the NFL 2 years later but that was 2nd teamers and special teams guys. Not stars.. you didn’t see that for another 5 years.
Do you also realize the animosity Marshall built up within NFL ranks that kept him from being voted to the Pro Bowl is one of the reasons fans get to vote on it now? The chatter began leading up to XXVI on how a player of Marshall’s caliber wasn’t being recognized. This prompted Tom Jackson on NFL Countdown to help push this as he had this piece touting who he thought was the best linebacker in football the following season:
The season Jackson is referring to was Marshall’s 92 campaign where he finished with a career best 138 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries along with 2 ints with one returned for a TD. He was an All Pro for the 2nd time and was 3rd in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. This was his 6th with over 1oo tackles. It would have been his 7th straight but in the strike shortened season of ’87 he only played in 12 games and garnered 93 combined tackles.
Marshall could play Will, SAM over the TE, cover backs and slot receivers and blitz the QB like no other player. He also produced highlight reel hits where you heard the collective “Ooooh!!” reverberate through the stadium. Other linebackers loved watching him play as I found out “Hollywood” Henderson was a big fan of Marshall along with The Chancellor when we were talking about OLBs of the past.
Don’t take our thoughts as gospel. In the 1st part of his career he was a rising star on the greatest defense in NFL history. The ’85 Bears. Listen to Mike Singletary, Dave Duerson, Gary Fencik & Mike Ditka’s describing his play:
Another visceral look:
Marshall was Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan’s enforcer who would make plays all over the field. Look up any highlights on the ’85 Bears and Marshall is the one who flashed before your eyes making big hits and knocking out quarterbacks. As he did later in his career he showed up big in meaningful games.

Marshall forcing an Eric Dickerson fumble during the ’85 NFC Championship Game.

Against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, Singletary’s hit on 4th and 1 and two forced fumbles by Eric Dickerson, one by Marshall below, and the complexion of that game changed. I can remember when Marshall crushed Henry Ellard on a shallow cross knocking his own chinstrap sideways.Then to ice the game Marshall recovered a fumble forced by Richard Dent and returned it 52 yards for the TD that punctuated their 24-0 victory.

In Super Bowl XX Marshall set the tone sharing the first sack of the game with MVP Richard Dent. He finished the game with 4 tackles, 1/2 sack and a fumble recovery.

Wilber was the enforcer on 2 teams lauded as 2 of the greatest champions of the Super Bowl era in the ’85 Bears & the ’91 Redskins. He finished as the 1st defensive player in the modern era (sacks being recorded as an official statistic beginning in ’82) to finish with over 40 sacks & 2o interceptions. His 45 sacks, 23 interceptions, 24 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries illustrate how well rounded he was.

Fans are still making highlights on his exploits as one of the most destructive forces in NFL history. He helped shape two of the greatest champions of the last half century. His play was so sought after the Redskins ushered in the age of true free agency to acquire his services from Chicago. The era of excellence for the Bears ended with his defection. OLB Ron Rivera nor Jim Morrissey brought playmaking to the position as the 80s concluded. Not Jack Tatum level hits nor level of play.

He finished with 2 All Pro Seasons and 3 Pro Bowls but helped usher in an era where fans along with players are able to voice who should be honored with a Pro Bowl trip. Marshall’s excellent play was the impetus as to why this has come to be.

The ’85 Bears are being honored with DT Steve McMichael being enshrined this August. Yet the most unforgettable player from that defense remains on the outside looking in. This needs to be corrected. His standoff with the Bears organization over past finances shouldn’t be a deterrent for the team to keep him from being honored also. So The Chancellor of Football will help make that push.

Please write & nominate #58
Send letters to:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Attention: Senior Selection Committee
2121 George Halas Dr NW, Canton, 
OH 44708

For induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I present Wilber Marshall.

Coaches and players from the past advocated for on Taylor Blitz Times in order:

Robert Brazile 2011 (inducted 2018)

Ran into Robert Brazile after the Gold Jacket Dinner. Great time.

Kevin Greene 2011 (inducted 2016)

With Kevin Greene after the Induction ceremony.

Sterling Sharpe 2011

Terrell Davis 2011 (inducted 2017)

Jerry Kramer 2011 (inducted 2018)

“Hey big guy!” The laughs at the Hall of Fame party were priceless.

Everson Walls 2011

Randy Moss 2011 (inducted 2018)

Cris Carter 2011 (inducted 2013)

Tom Flores 2012 (inducted 2021)

Lester Hayes 2012

Chuck Foreman 2012

Edgerrin James 2013 (inducted 2020)

Andre Reed 2013 (inducted 2014) 

Roger Craig 2013

Corey Dillon 2014

Ken Riley 2015 (inducted 2023)

Ken Stabler 2015 (inducted 2016)

Drew Pearson 2016 (inducted 2021) 

Cliff Branch 2016 (inducted 2022)

Todd Christensen 2017

Hardy Nickerson 2020

Why Mike Singletary Should Be the Next Coach of the Chicago Bears

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Last night as we watched the Bears struggle on offense you knew the sand was out of the hourglass when it comes to Coach Mike Nagy. His offense has been beyond anemic. Right now Colin Cowherd is waxing philosophical about analytics and how an offensive minded coach is what the Bears need. To move away from the defensive identity Chicago has long been recognized for. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are multiple ways to win in the NFL.

Nevermind these armchair types that didn’t play positions that are the soul of football. Spouting b.s. about analytics, QBR and were the type that took their ball and went home when you hit them too hard as kids.

Cant stand sportswriters like that

Wasn’t Mike Nagy brought in with his huge play sheet with 748 plays where only 6 have proved to work?? I thought Mike Martz who was the offensive minded coach who was the architect of The Greatest Show on Turf was going to bring the Bears into the modern age?? Even going back to 1999 Dick Jauron was hired and brought in BYU offensive guru Gary Crowton and the Bears struggled.

Jauron saved his job when he moved away from Crowton’s mistake prone offense and the 3 headed QB of Cade McNown, Shawn Matthews and Jim Miller and moved to a balanced run first offense and made it deep into the playoffs in 2001. So all the calling for the latest sleek passing offense hasn’t proved fruitful in the winds whipping off Lake Michigan into Solider Field. For decades… 

There is still a fire and brimstone defense in Chicago and a balanced approach would best serve this team. Enter Mike Singletary. 

Singletary has already cut his teeth when he was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. People forget it was Singletary that built the 9ers into the team Harbaugh took to Super Bowl XLVII after 2012. He didnt get the chance to complete his mission as the team was building and he was growing as a coach.  

As a leader he would be able to reach young players as he was able to reach Patrick Willis, Novorro Bowman and Ray Lewis.

How?? He’s been there as a player and as a coach. He also would be entering his 2nd tenure where many coaches like Dick Vermeil, Pete Carroll and Bruce Arians achieved their greatest successes.

Since his tenure as head coach in San Francisco he has stayed in the craft coaching collegians at the Hula Bowl and within the LA Ram and Viking organizations as well. Continually working toward this 2nd opportunity. 

Of course there are two elephants in the room when it comes to the plight of black coaches and the ageism that has afflicted Head Coach hirings in the last few years. National media has beat this drum of teams looking for the next Sean McVay but let the Chancellor of Football remind you…

I mentioned Mike Singletary to coach the Bears and some think he is too old or the game passed him by. I do rememeber a 63 year old Dick Vermeil having that said about him. The game had changed blah…blah….zzzzzz…. Well 3 years later 12 NFL records fell as his Greatest Show on Turf Rams stormed to Super Bowl XXXIV. They also said that about Pete Carroll (wasn’t he in his 60’s) leaving USC and that was after being fired by the Patriots and Jets. Three years later he had an insurmountable lead over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.
 
Experience mixed with youth in the coaching ranks and veteran players is one of the mixes that works. Otherwise a very old (nearly 70) Bill Belichick and his experience wouldn’t have embarrassed young Sean McVay in Super Bowl LIII just 3 years ago. 
 
Experience? Belichick knew to go to the I and power it down the throat of a defense not conditioned to take on the run.
 
The same type of experience, leadership, and player credibility Singletary would bring to a franchise that has been lacking in each of these areas. As a black former player and coach there is so much to be gained by this organization in bringing in one of their own. Just as they had Mike Ditka back in 1982. Singletary is a Chicago Bear and one who can restore stability to an organization that desperately needs it. 
 
Bring Mike Singletary in as head coach. The Bears and the NFL need this. 
 
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SUPER BOWL XX CHAMPIONS 1985 CHICAGO BEARS

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Walter Payton and the ’85 Bears defense got this championship ring for routing New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

In The Chancellor of Football’s estimation, this is still the #1 team in history over 1 season.  Yes I was a ridiculous fan of the 46 defense, which they screw up on Madden, see the two lineback…..yet I digress.

Before we get into Sweetness, Jimmy Mac, “Danimal”, Singletary, “Mongo” McMichael, Wilber, Otis, Dent, Hilgenberg, VanHorne, Moorehead, Suhey, Gault, Fencik, Duerson, Head Coach Mike Ditka, and the beat goes on…let’s show you why I think they were the strongest team ever. Did you know they did this while 1984 All Pro Safety Todd Bell held out??

Look at the competition they faced and look what they did to them. In 1985 the NFC East champion Cowboys were trounced 44-0, wildcard Giants 21-0 in the playoffs, and the 10-6 Redskins slaughtered 45-10. That’s 110-10 against the “best division in football” yikes!!

Then you have the NFC West Champion LA Rams killed 24-0 in the NFC Championship, and the last wildcard team? The defending champion San Francisco 49ers, who were pounded 26-10 in Candlestick.  Funny thing was the 49er touchdown was a Carlton Williamson interception, so the 49er offense scored 3 at home.

* So the Bears gave up 20 points combined to the 5 best teams in their conference and avg. more than 4TDs margin of victory (31-4 avg. score)…damn!

Then of course each division faces another division in the other conference which in the 85 Bears case was the AFC East.  Thank God they didn’t play my Bills… The AFC East Dolphins won 38-24, but both wildcards in the AFC went to the Jets and Patriots.  What happened to those teams you ask?  The Jets were clobbered in the Meadowlands 20-6 and the Patriots twice. The Bears beat the Patriots 20-7 in week 2, then the 46-10 smashing in Super Bowl XX.

Copy (2) of Copy of sbRoundhouseSuperBowlRing*So the only loss was to defending AFC Champion Miami & where did the Dolphins season conclude?  They lost the AFC Championship at home to the Patriots where had they won, there would have been a rematch with the Bears in the Super Bowl…so u could say that they were a pretty strong team…fair to say?

The Bears beat EVERY playoff team in 1985 from the NFC, and faced three from the AFC…all teams had 10 wins or more and the Bears basically laughed at ’em.  This is what a heavyweight champion should look like!!

When comparing the best ever teams none come close to this for beating strong competition none.  In fact the ’72 Miami Dolphins who went undefeated only faced 3 teams with winning records during the season.  That’s not their fault but it has to be a factor in deciding who was stronger as a team.

In 2000 when the Ravens gave up 165 points and the question was raised- “Were they better than Buddy Ryan & the ’85 Bear’s 46 defense?”  HELL NO!!! A group that finished ranked #1 in 9 of 14 defensive categories?? The Ravens didn’t face 1984 MVP Dan Marino, 3-time Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana, Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms, 1983 MVP Joe Theismann, and Danny White had been a pro bowl quarterback as Ken O’Brien of the Jets had been in 1985. All were in their prime!

super-bowl-logo-1985Had the 2000 Ravens seen these quarterbacks they give up another 150 points easy and wouldn’t make the mythical Super Bowl if they played the 85 Bears schedule!! Spurgeon Wynn. Who? Spurgeon Wynn, Tim Couch, Anthony Wright, Kent Graham, Gus Frerotte, Brian Griese, Ryan Leaf, Scott Mitchell, and Akili Smith were some of the QBs those Ravens faced so….no way do they get this nod. I loved those Ravens don’t get me wrong, but what would the ’85 Bears have given up against the 2000 Ravens schedule? That’s frightening to think about.

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Top Ten Single Season Defenses in NFL History : #1 1985 Chicago Bears

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This is The Chancellor of Football’s choice for the NFL’s greatest single season defense and there is a serious gap between #1 and the #2 Baltimore Ravens. We’ll cover why at the end of this article. However welcome to the perfect storm of dynamic personnel, innovative defensive tactics and an intensely focused unit. One interesting aspect of the 1985 Chicago Bears performance is they did so without ’84 All Pro Safety Todd Bell who held out that season.

Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan was also carried off after Super Bowl XX.

Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan was also carried off after Super Bowl XX.

This was the era of the 46 Defense of Buddy Ryan. A Nickle defense where DBs were substituted for more athletic linebackers which allowed Ryan to use it as an every down formation. He could spring it on a team at any time without substitution.

Contrary to misinformed sportswriters he had been using the defense since 1981. Considering he named the formation for the number Safety Doug Plank wore which moved him into a Linebackers position. Plank’s last full season was 1981 and was replaced by Bell in 1982.

The 46 covered the Guard, Center, Guard which kept the MLB from being blocked. Furthermore if either the Center or Guard pulled, a DLineman would be in the backfield to disrupt any running play.

The 46 covered the Guard, Center, Guard which kept the MLB from being blocked. Furthermore if either the Center or Guard pulled, a DLineman would be in the backfield to disrupt any running play.

Although this formation gave the Bears an edge over their competition they only used it 30-40% of the time. It was the element of surprise that caught the NFL off guard. What is overlooked is how great the personnel fit every scheme Ryan used. In 1984, this group set the NFL record for sacks with 72. After he departed they set the record for fewest points allowed in 1986 yielding 187 points. It’s the season in between, 1985, that was their crowning achievement.

Take a look at a few stats:

  • #1 overall ranking
  • #1 against the run #3 against the pass
  • #1 in turnovers w/ 54 forced
  • #1 in interceptions w/ 34
  • #1 in passer rating allowed w/ 51.4
  • #1 in points allowed: 198 for the season
  • #1 in 1st downs allowed per game: 14.8
  • #1 in opp. completion percentage allowed 47.7%
  • #1 in touchdowns allowed w/ 23
  • #1 in rushing touchdowns allowed w/ 6

Now add to the fact they were #3 in sacks with 64, #3 against the pass giving up yardage in garbage time with blowout leads. It was the venomous way they attacked strong competition that makes this defense the valedictorian of NFL units.

Look at the competition they faced and look what they did to them. In 1985 the NFC East champion Cowboys (10-6) were trounced 44-0, the wildcard Giants (10-6) 21-0 in the playoffs, and the 10-6 Redskins slaughtered 45-10. Outscoring them 110-10 when they were the “best division in football” yikes!! Then you have the NFC West Champion LA Rams (11-5) killed 24-0 in the NFC Championship, and the last wildcard team? The defending champion San Francisco 49ers (10-5-1), who were pounded 26-10 in Candlestick.  Funny thing was the 49er touchdown was a Carlton Williamson interception, so the 49er offense scored 3 at home.

* So the Bears gave up 20 points combined to the 5 best teams in their conference and avg. more than 4TDs margin of victory (31-4 avg. score)…damn! All were 10 win teams.

Then of course each division faces another division in the other conference which in the 85 Bears case was the AFC East.  Thank God they didn’t play my Bills… The AFC East champion Dolphins won 38-24, but both wildcards in the AFC went to the Jets and Patriots.  What happened to those teams you ask?  The Jets (11-5) were clobbered in the Meadowlands 20-6 and the Patriots (11-5) twice. The Bears beat the Patriots 20-7 in week 2, then the 46-10 smashing in Super Bowl XX.

*So the only loss was to defending AFC Champion Miami & where did the Dolphins season conclude?  They lost the AFC Championship at home to the Patriots where had they won there would have been a rematch with the Bears in the Super Bow. So you could say that they were a pretty strong team…fair to say? The Bears beat EVERY playoff team in 1985 from the NFC, and faced three from the AFC…all teams had 10 wins or more and the Bears basically laughed at ’em.  This is what a heavyweight champion should look like!!

They were 4-1 against top 10 offenses and in those 4 wins held each team to less than 10 points. In fact, the ’85 Bears held 11 of their 16 opponents to less than 10 points and recorded back to back shutouts over the Falcons and Cowboys. In the playoffs they set another record not allowing a point in back to back playoff shutouts to make it to Super Bowl XX. Once there they set records for holding the Patriots to -19 yards at the half, 7 yds rushing for the game, record 7 sacks, and allowed the fewest yards in Super Bowl history with 127.

This second look shows a few plays from the 46 front look but the final play with Steve McMichael’s sack was one of the secrets of the ’85 Bears. They lined up in a 3-4 and had DE Richard Dent the rushing weakside ‘backer a la Lawrence Taylor. Ironically the 46 defense didn’t die it evolved into teams running it from 3-4 alignments and not 4-3 alignments as Buddy Ryan originated this from. If you’ve watched the Steelers over the last 15 years they have used DEs that were built like DTs and would squeeze them down to cover the Guard,Center, Guard and position an Inside Linebacker right next to the Strong side Linebacker. They just made it interchangeable in elements to surprise their opponents from time to time.

They had NFL Defensive Player of the year and Hall of Famer Mike Singeltary, All Pro Gary Fencik, Hall of Fame DEs Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. Pro Bowl Linebacker Otis Wilson and OLB Wilber Marshall who should be in the Hall of Fame.

In 2000 when the Ravens gave up 165 points and the question was raised- “Were they better than the ’85 Bears defense?”  HELL NO!!! The Ravens didn’t face 1984 MVP Dan Marino, 3-time Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana, Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms, 1983 MVP Joe Theismann, and Danny White was a pro bowl quarterback as was Ken O’Brien of the Jets. ALL WERE IN THEIR PRIME!  Had the 2000 Ravens seen these quarterbacks they give up another 150 points easy and wouldn’t make the mythical Super Bowl if they played the 85 Bears schedule!!

Spurgeon Wynn. Who?? Spurgeon Wynn, Tim Couch, Anthony Wright, Kent Graham, Gus Frerotte, Brian Griese, Ryan Leaf, Scott Mitchell, and Akili Smith were some of the QBs those Ravens faced so….no way do they get this nod. I loved those Ravens don’t get me wrong, but what would the ’85 Bears have given up against the 2000 Ravens schedule? That’s frightening to think about.

me and singeltary

Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary and The Chancellor of Football on the Ravens sideline in 2003.

The best ever defense from the historian view of The Chancellor of Football’s view was the 1985 Chicago Bears hands down. How badly they trounced sound competition has resonated for decades. In compiling this list every #1 defense from 1960 to the present was used, every championship defense, and every record setting defense with the nod going to those that played since the merger in 1970. Hundreds of defenses boiled down to the 1985 Bears sitting atop as the best.

Dedicated to the memory of James David “Buddy” Ryan (February 17, 1931 – June 28, 2016)

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Top Ten Single Season Defenses in NFL History : #10 1986 Chicago Bears

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Welcome to the second installment on the 10 greatest defenses in NFL history. We are off to a rousing start as folks are putting in their reasons for their teams and why the honorable mention units should have made the top ten list. Truth of the matter is all bias has to be removed and the great equalizers lie in the season statistics, play against strongest offenses during their year, and what precedents they set.  If one team is sitting in front of another for having set a precedent, a team with less stature or ranking cannot sit above them on the list.

So now we have to countdown to the single season defenses in NFL history starting with #10.

The best trio of linebackers in the game in Mike Singletary, Wilber Marshall, and Otis Wilson.

The best trio of linebackers in the game in Mike Singletary, Wilber Marshall, and Otis Wilson.

10. 1986 Chicago Bears –  A season after bludgeoning their way to the NFL title, this group was poised to repeat. If Mike Ditka would have stayed the course and not played Doug Flutie at quarterback who was on the team for four weeks, they would have. Having done so he robbed NFL fans of the greatest 2 year dynasty the NFL had ever seen. They were 15-1 in 1985 then went 14-2 which tied for the best record in the league that year. 29-3 over two seasons?? So why is this group in and the ’86 Giants and ’02 Bucs left off??

  • ’86 Bears – 187 pts allowed *NFL record / 10 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points / 258.1 yds per game (1st) / 62 sacks (2nd) / 31 int. (2nd)
  • ’86 Giants- 236 pts allowed / 5 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points *2 more in playoffs* / 297.3 yds per game (2nd) / 59 sacks (4th / 24 int. (tied 7th)
  • ’02 Bucs – 196 pts allowed / 9 of 16 opponents held to 10 or fewer points / 252.8 yds per game (1st) / 43 sacks (6th) / 31 int. (1st)

Furthermore in compiling these statistics the yardage difference between #1 & #2 in 1986 (258.1 to 297.3) is the second biggest difference since 1970. No way in hell you could say the Giants defense in 1986 was better than Chicago’s…no way.

In a year where two future Hall of Famers Dan Hampton (10 sacks) and Richard Dent (11.5 sacks) didn’t make the Pro Bowl, LB Wilber Marshall, DT Steve McMichael, late SS Dave Duerson, and MLB Mike Singletary did. All this before we bring up FS Gary Fencik. They were 2-1 against Pro Bowl quarterbacks. They split with the Vikings and Tommy Kramer beating him once 23-0.

Then they pasted Boomer Esiason and the NFL’s #1 offense 44-7 on the road. By the way the Bengals were 10-6 that year and the Browns were 12-4 and played for the AFC Championship. The Bears beat them also. In fact they were 4-1 on the year vs top ten offenses.

This group had to drag a Bears offense that had been handicapped by the loss of Jim McMahon through several qbs that couldn’t complete 50% of their passes. The true reason the ’86 Bears didn’t win Super Bowl XXI and the ’86 Giants did was this incident right here.

The defense drug a team with no offensive continuity to the best record in the NFL at 14-2. However since the 2 losses came within the NFC and only 1 of the Giants had, New York got homefield advantage. The Bears fell to the Redskins in the divisional round 27-13 behind 3 turnovers on their own side of the 50 in the 2nd half. Even the 10th best defense in NFL history could save them from that. As for would the ’86 Bears have beaten the ’86 Giants had they played?? The first game of 1987 had both teams healthy and the Bears, without McMahon again, won 34-19. Two of New York’s touchdowns were on defense and special teams. Couple this with the fact the Bears shut out New York in the ’85 playoffs 21-0. The Bears would have taken them as New York couldn’t score on this defense.

The Bears season in microcosm was this game against the Lions:

This defense really should be higher but we’re starting the top ten off with a bang. Thanks for reading and please share the article.