1970 NFC Divisional Playoff vs Cowboys

Lore & Background

The Bears were members of the NFL from its early years (1920). They were part of the Western Division from 1933 to 1966, then the Central Division from 1967 onward. In 1970, the Western Conference was renamed to the National Football Conference (NFC), with the Central Division retaining its name. The division was renamed to the NFC North in 2002. The Bears dominated the division in the 1980s, winning five straight division titles from 1984 to 1988, including a Super Bowl victory in 1985. The most recent division champion was the Bears in the 2025 NFL season.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through Wrigley's ivy-covered brick walls, carrying snowflakes that hissed as they hit the frozen turf. Gale Sayers crouched low, breath pluming in the frigid air, waiting for the snap. The crowd, a sea of navy and orange, roared with a hope that felt dangerously fragile against the looming Dallas defense. From the Cowboys' huddle, Roger Staubach's voice cut through the chaos, calm and commanding. As the ball snapped, Sayers found a sliver of daylight, exploding for twenty yards before being swallowed by a swarm of silver and blue helmets. Every yard was a battle won with blood and sweat, but as the clock wound down, the Cowboys' surgical precision began to systematically dismantle the Bears' dream, leaving Chicago shivering in the aftermath.

Reader's Guide

The Bears play in an outdoor stadium (Soldier Field). Their historic rivals include the Green Bay Packers, with the rivalry starting in 1921 and featuring over 200 games. The Bears and Lions have played each other at least once a season since 1930.

Did You Know?

• The Bears and Packers met in the 1941 NFL playoffs, with the Bears winning 33–14 to advance to the 1941 NFL Championship Game.
• The only conference championship game to include two current members of the NFC North was in 2010 when the Packers beat the Bears 21–14 to advance to Super Bowl XLV.
• The Bears have played the Packers three times in the playoffs.