Throwback Game of the Week

Series Summary
This Kickoff Weekend matchup between the Bears and Colts marks only the third time that the Bears have made the two-hour trip south to Indianapolis to face the Colts in the regular season.

However, the history between the Bears and Colts is deep rooted and began in the Colts first season in 1953. The two teams played twice each regular season from that time through 1966 and eleven times since then. The Colts and Bears have met just once in the playoffs when Indianapolis downed Chicago in Super Bowl XLI in South Florida.

The Colts lead the regular season series, 22-17 and have outscored the Bears 835-779 in those games.

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Memorable Games
Sept. 27, 1953 – Colts 13, Bears 9 (Baltimore)
Bert Rechichar was clearly the star in the Colts first-ever regular season game. He tied the game when he returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. Then he put the Colts ahead for good on the last play of the first half when he connected on an NFL-record 56-yard field goal. Remarkably, it was Rechichar’s first ever NFL field goal.

Oct. 3, 1959 – Bears 26, Colts 21 (Baltimore)
The Bears defense rattled quarterback Johnny Unitas forcing the future Hall of Fame QB to throw three interceptions in the first half. The first pickoff was returned 33 yards for a touchdown by Richie Petitbon. The Bears offense was led by Ed Brown who had just won a tough battle for Chicago’s starting QB spot. He threw a 35-yard pass to Harlon Hill and his passing helped set up Rick Casares’ one-yard plunge. Unitas rebounded late by throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter but the Colts couldn’t overcome the big deficit.

Sept. 27, 1964 – Colts 52, Bears 0 (Baltimore)
Quarterback Johnny Unitas was on fire as he connected on 11 of 13 passes for 247 yards and threw three TDs. The Bears defense knew they were in trouble from the start as Johnny U drove the Colts 76 yards on Baltimore’s first drive.

The Colts scoring drive included a 30-yard run by Lenny Moore and was capped by a 36-yard Unitas to Raymond Berry TD play. Berry finished with 4 catches for 98 yards.

The Colts’ win that day still ranks as the second highest margin of victory in franchise history.

Nov. 5, 2000 – Bears 27, Colts 24 (Chicago)
Chicago stunned the Colts by building a 20-0 halftime lead on a Curtis Enis 11-yard TD run, a 34-yard TD pass from Jim Miller to Marcus Robinson and a pair of field goals by Paul Edinger. The rout continued when Walt Harris intercepted Peyton Manning and returned the ball 35 yards for a score just 1:18 into the second half. The Colts rallied in the late third and fourth quarter but fell short when Chicago’s Roosevelt Colvin forced a fumble while sacking Manning. The ball was recovered by Phillip Daniels to preserve the Bears win. Manning finished with 302 yards and 2 TDs.

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Hall of Fame Perspective
Raymond Berry, Class of 1973

Hall of Fame end Raymond Berry was one of the finest receivers in the history of the game. He combined precise route running with terrific hands to catch 631 career receptions. That catch total ranked as the most ever at the time of his retirement.

Throughout Berry’s 13-season career that spanned from 1955 to 1967, the Colts battled the Bears in the standings and faced them on the field twice each season except his final year. Berry fared relatively well in his games against the Bears. In fact, he strung together three 100-yard receiving games in four meetings between the Colts and Bears over a two-season span in 1959 and 1960.

Oct. 3, 1959 – 8 catches for 123 yards, 1 TD
Oct. 2, 1960 – 7 catches for 113 yards, 1 TD
Nov. 13, 1960 – 6 catches for 104 yards

MORE FROM PROFOOTBALLHOF.COM
 Raymond Berry’s HOF Bio

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Bears and Colts Odds 'N Ends

 The current-day Colts began in 1953 in Baltimore. Some historical accounts mistakenly trace the team back to 1947 and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). It is true that there was a Baltimore Colts that began play in the AAFC and then merged into the NFL in 1950 along with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. However that team folded after one season in the NFL. Many of the displaced players joined the New York Yanks in ’51. The Yanks closed shop after that year and its assets, including many of its players, were awarded to the Dallas Texans who were granted a new franchise in 1952. The Texans lasted just one year before going belly up. The team holds the distinction of being the last NFL team to fold. On January 23, 1953, the current day Colts were born when the city of Baltimore was awarded a new franchise to take the opening made available by the Texans demise.

MORE FROM PROFOOTBALLHOF.COM  NFL Franchise History – list of every team since 1920  1952 Dallas Texans

 On Halloween Day 1987, the Colts were involved in one of the largest trades in NFL history. Indy obtained Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson in a three-way swap that involved the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.

MORE FROM PROFOOTBALLHOF.COM  See the details of the NFL’s largest trades.>>>

 There’s stark contrast when comparing the stadiums of the Colts and Bears. While Indy opens the NFL’s newest stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Bears play in the NFL’s oldest stadium. However, that comes with an asterisk. Soldier Field opened in 1924 but a massive renovation project in 2002-03 resulted in a new stadium being constructed within the confines of the historic Soldier Field. While the Bears were born in 1920, they did not play in Soldier Field until 1971. It should be noted that the Bears were the first NFL team to win a game at Soldier Field when they defeated the cross-town rival Cardinals, 10-0, on Nov. 11, 1926.

FROM THE HALL’S ARCHIVES  Read a newspaper account of the game. PDF (2 MB)>>>

 The Chicago Bears are one of two current day NFL franchises (the Arizona Cardinals are the other) that were charter members of the NFL in 1920. First known as the Decatur Staleys, the team moved to Chicago in 1921 and changed its nickname to Bears in 1922.

MORE FROM PROFOOTBALLHOF.COM  NFL was founded in Canton  Photo Gallery – Bears HOFers of the 1920s  George Halas recalls the NFL’s founding during his enshrinement speech

 Bears

 Colts - The Colts began in Baltimore in 1953 and quickly established themselves as one of the NFL's elite teams…More>>>

Hall of Famers 
Name, Position, Year of Induction

BEARS 
The Bears have more Hall of Famers (26) than any other team. In addition, five other Hall of Fame members spent part of their careers, albeit brief, with the Bears. 

George Trafton is regarded as the first center to snap the ball with one hand.

COLTS

Jim Parker was the first full-time offensive lineman to earn election to the Hall of Fame.

* Notes that the Hall of Famer spent time with the Bears or Colts but made their major contribution to the NFL with another team.

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Bears Trivia

1. Who holds the team record for passing yards in a season?
a. Sid Luckman
b. Jim McMahon
c. Erik Kramer
d. Johnny Lujack

2. Who owns the Bears record for points scored in a game?
a. Gale Sayers
b. Walter Payton
c. Kevin Butler
d. Johnny Morris

3. Who had the longest kickoff return in Bears history?
a. Gale Sayers
b. Willie Gault
c. Devin Hester
d. Willie Galimore

4. Who holds the team record for receiving yards in a game?
a. Willie Gault
b. Harlon Hill
c. Johnny Morris
d. Marty Booker

5. Which Bears player was voted to the most Pro Bowls?
a. Gale Sayers
b. Mike Singletary
c. Dick Butkus
d. Walter Payton

Colts Trivia

1. Who holds the Colts’ record for receiving yards in a single game?
a. Raymond Berry
b. Marvin Harrison
c. Reggie Wayne
d. Roger Carr

2. Who holds the record for most seasons in a Colts uniform?
a. Ray Donaldson
b. Raymond Berry
c. Johnny Unitas
d. Rohn Stark

3. Who was the Colts first head coach?
a. Weeb Ewbank
b. Keith Molesworth
c. Don Shula
d. John Sanduskey

4. Who owns the Colts record for longest field goal?
a. Bert Rechichar
b. Raul Allegre
c. Dean Biasucci
d. Dan Miller

5. Who is the only player in Colts history to rush for 200 yards in a game?
a. Edgerrin James
b. Lenny Moore
c. Joe Washington
d. Eric Dickerson

At the Hall
Many mementos from the Bears and Colts are on exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are two such artifacts enjoyed by visitors to the museum in Canton.

Read the caption under the image below and then take a guess at what you’re looking at. Click on the picture for the full photo and more information on the treasured artifact.

This unique piece of football history was used by legendary Chicago Bears founder and coach George Halas.  

This out-of-the-ordinary piece kept Colts fans entertained for years.