Round 1: '86-MIA 24, '83-CHI 7

Miami gets ball first and drives to the Chicago 31, Leslie Frazier intercepts Marino's next pass at the 11. Teams trade possessions rest of first quarter with Chicago on the move heading to the 2nd quarter. Chicago has driven from their own 20 to the Miami 18 and the Bears make their first mistake, McMahon is intercepted at the 14 by Mike Kozlowski. The Dolphins make the Bears pay for that mistake. Marino starting at his own 19 leads his team down the field on 9 plays ending it with a 15 yard toss to Tony Nathan. 3 and out by the Bears and Miami drives to the Chicago 28 and has to settle for a Fuad Reveiz field goal. Miami up 10. Chicago begins its next drive with 4:24 left before halftime and starting at their own 20. Walter Payton comes alive this drive for 77 yards with the key play being a 45 yard scamper ending at the Miami 7 yard line. Here is the key series in the whole game! 1:23 left, 1st and goal from the 7. Next play is a 13 yard sack by Mark Brown. 2nd and goal from the 20 and Matt Suhey breaks off an outside run for 16 yards. 3rd and goal from the 4, 51 seconds left. Next play is another run by Suhey and he takes it to the one. 45 seconds left and it's 4th and goal, do you take the 3 and go into the half down 10-3 or punch it in? Well the Bears gave Payton a shot and he was stuffed for the only time during the game! Miami has the mo going into the locker room.


That missed opportunity comes back to haunt the Bears as they march down the field on their opening drive of the second half and score on a McMahon 11 yard TD run. The next possession by Miami ends with an interception at the Miami 41 yard line by Terry Schmidt. Here is a big opportunity for the Bears but they fail to capitalize and have to punt with a 3 and out. Miami starts their next possession on their own 20 and with 4 quick strikes they are knocking on the door at the Bear 12 yard line. The big play being a 47 yarder to Mark Clayton. Lorenzo Hampton completes the scoring drive on 3 consecutive plays, 3 yard pass, 6 yard run, and a 3 yard run to paydirt! Miami now up 17-7. The 4th quarter begins with the Bears driving to the Miami 11, on 4th and 1 they elect to take the points but Bob Thomas misses the field goal. Miami starting at their own 20 after the miss and 4 plays later are on the Bear 39. The next play will result in the final scoring of the game. Marino hits Clayton for a 39 yard bomb and Miami is now up 24-7. The next possession by the Bears sees them driving to inside the Miami 10 thanks to 46 yard strike to Willie Gault. A run by Payton on third down leaves the Bears with another 4th and goal situation. With only 3:21 left they have to go for it and McMahon throws an incomplete pass. Miami proceeds to run out the clock and scrapes by with a victory.
-contributed by George Staton-