1965 Chicago Bears season

1965 Chicago Bears season
Head coach	George Halas
General manager	George Halas
Owner	George Halas
Home field	Wrigley Field
Results
Record	9–5
Division place	3rd Western
Playoff finish	did not qualify
← 1964 Bears seasons 1966 →

1 2 3 4 Total Rams 0 3 3 0 6 • Bears 0 10 7 14 31 Date: October 10 Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Game weather: 55°F; wind 8

Scoring summary Q2 CHI Livingston 3-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 7–0 Q2 CHI LeClerc 26-yard field goal CHI 10–0 Q2 LA Gossett 16-yard field goal CHI 10–3 Q3 LA Gossett 13-yard field goal CHI 10–6 Q3 CHI Sayers 80-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 17–6 Q4 CHI Bukich 1-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 24–6 Q4 CHI Gordon 26-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 31–6

Scoring summary
Q2		CHI	Livingston 3-yard run (LeClerc kick)	CHI 7–0
Q2		CHI	LeClerc 26-yard field goal	CHI 10–0
Q2		LA	Gossett 16-yard field goal	CHI 10–3
Q3		LA	Gossett 13-yard field goal	CHI 10–6
Q3		CHI	Sayers 80-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick)	CHI 17–6
Q4		CHI	Bukich 1-yard run (LeClerc kick)	CHI 24–6
Q4		CHI	Gordon 26-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick)	CHI 31–6

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 14 3 7 21 45 Vikings 0 13 10 14 37 Date: October 17 Location: Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN Game weather: 65°F; wind 12

Scoring summary Q1 CHI Bull 33-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 7–0 Q1 CHI Morris 14-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 14–0 Q2 MIN Cox 38-yard field goal CHI 14–3 Q2 MIN Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) CHI 14–10 Q2 CHI LeClerc 12-yard field goal CHI 17–10 Q2 MIN Cox 40-yard field goal CHI 17–13 Q3 MIN Cox 28-yard field goal CHI 17–16 Q3 MIN Brown 40-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 23–17 Q3 CHI Sayers 18-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 24–23 Q4 MIN Tarkenton 2-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 30–24 Q4 CHI Sayers 25-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) CHI 31–30 Q4 MIN Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick) MIN 37–31 Q4 CHI Sayers 96-yard kickoff return (LeClerc kick) CHI 38–37 Q4 CHI Sayers 10-yard run (LeClerc kick) CHI 45–37

Scoring summary
Q1		CHI	Bull 33-yard run (LeClerc kick)	CHI 7–0
Q1		CHI	Morris 14-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick)	CHI 14–0
Q2		MIN	Cox 38-yard field goal	CHI 14–3
Q2		MIN	Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick)	CHI 14–10
Q2		CHI	LeClerc 12-yard field goal	CHI 17–10
Q2		MIN	Cox 40-yard field goal	CHI 17–13
Q3		MIN	Cox 28-yard field goal	CHI 17–16
Q3		MIN	Brown 40-yard run (Cox kick)	MIN 23–17
Q3		CHI	Sayers 18-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick)	CHI 24–23
Q4		MIN	Tarkenton 2-yard run (Cox kick)	MIN 30–24
Q4		CHI	Sayers 25-yard pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick)	CHI 31–30
Q4		MIN	Mason 4-yard run (Cox kick)	MIN 37–31
Q4		CHI	Sayers 96-yard kickoff return (LeClerc kick)	CHI 38–37
Q4		CHI	Sayers 10-yard run (LeClerc kick)	CHI 45–37

1 2 3 4 Total Packers 7 3 0 0 10 • Bears 0 17 7 7 31 Date: October 31 Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois Game weather: 57°F • Wind 14

Scoring summary 1 GB Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Packers 7–0 2 CHI Roger LeClerc 24-yard field goal Packers 7–3 2 CHI Jimmy Jones 13-yard pass from Rudy Bukich (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 10–7 2 CHI Gale Sayers 10-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 17–7 2 GB Don Chandler 43-yard field goal Bears 17–10 3 CHI Jon Arnett 2-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 24–10 4 CHI Ronnie Bull 4-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) Bears 31–10

Scoring summary
1		GB	Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick)	Packers 7–0
2		CHI	Roger LeClerc 24-yard field goal	Packers 7–3
2		CHI	Jimmy Jones 13-yard pass from Rudy Bukich (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 10–7
2		CHI	Gale Sayers 10-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 17–7
2		GB	Don Chandler 43-yard field goal	Bears 17–10
3		CHI	Jon Arnett 2-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 24–10
4		CHI	Ronnie Bull 4-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 31–10

The 1965 Chicago Bears season was their 46th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 9–5 record, earning them a third-place finish in the NFL Western Conference. The club improved over the dismal 5–9 record of the previous season.

They started the season 0–3, but thanks to rookies Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus, the team won 9 of the last 11 games. Sayers had a magnificent rookie season, and in one game against the San Francisco 49ers at Chicago's Wrigley Field on December 12, he scored 6 touchdowns in a 61–20 Bears win, the first time the Bears scored 61 points in a regular season game. Gale Sayers would set an NFL rookie record with 22 touchdowns in one season. The six touchdown performance from December 12, would tie an NFL record and set a new Bears record.

The 1965 Bears draft class would eventually be named #8 on NFL Top 10 Draft Classes.

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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