Flashback #21: Bears Beat Vikings In Playoffs (1995)

As of 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these "flashbacks" have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary page.

January 1, 1995 - Bears beat Vikings in the playoffs

The battle between the Bears and Vikings during the 1994 season easily went to Minnesota.

But the war? That was an entirely different story.

The Vikings defeated the Bears in both regular-season matchups, 42-14 and 33-27, en route to earning home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The Bears, on the other, squeaked into the playoffs as the Wild Card team. Their first opponent? None other than the Vikings at the Metrodome, where the team hadn't won a game since 1991. In fact, since the Metrodome opened in 1982, the Bears were 5-8 overall.

Chicago had lost it's last regular-season game to the Patriots at Soldier Field, but earned a playoff berth when the Giants upset the  Cowboys. This turn of events prompted head coach Dave Wannastedt to say, "It's tough to be excited today, but I think tomorrow when we wake up and assess the whole year, we'll know that we're still alive and we'll go from there."

It was a tall task for the lowest-seeded Bears to head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, but the Bears were up for it as they won the game, 35-18, earning just their second playoff victory of the decade.

Rookie fullback Raymont Harris led the team with 67 yards rushing, good for a 5.2 average, while scoring a touchdown. Quarterback Steve Walsh threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Although the defense allowed the Vikings' Warren Moon to pass for 292 yards, they also forced two sacks and interceptions.

The Bears were eliminated in the next round by the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary »