1988 Chicago Bears season

1988 Chicago Bears season
Head coach	Mike Ditka
Home field	Soldier Field
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 20–12 Lost Conference Championship (49ers) 28–3
← 1987 Bears seasons 1989 →

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 7 0 0 0 7 • Bears 14 14 0 6 34 Date: September 4 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: 66°F • Wind 16

Scoring summary 1 CHI Neal Anderson 2-yard run (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 7–0 1 CHI Neal Anderson 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 14–0 1 MIA Mark Clayton 28-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick) Bears 14–7 2 CHI Jim McMahon 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 21–7 2 CHI Jim McMahon 2-yard run (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 28–7 4 CHI Thomas Sanders 20-yard run (kick failed) Bears 34–7

Scoring summary
1		CHI	Neal Anderson 2-yard run (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 7–0
1		CHI	Neal Anderson 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 14–0
1		MIA	Mark Clayton 28-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick)	Bears 14–7
2		CHI	Jim McMahon 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 21–7
2		CHI	Jim McMahon 2-yard run (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 28–7
4		CHI	Thomas Sanders 20-yard run (kick failed)	Bears 34–7

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 17 0 7 24 Packers 6 0 0 0 6 Date: September 25 Location: Lambeau Field Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 58°F; wind 10

Scoring summary Q1 GB Fullwood 2 yard run (kick failed) GB 6–0 Q2 CHI Anderson 45 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 7–6 Q2 CHI Anderson 4 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 14–6 Q2 CHI Butler 35 yard field goal CHI 17–6 Q4 CHI Sanders 5 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 24–6

Scoring summary
Q1		GB	Fullwood 2 yard run (kick failed)	GB 6–0
Q2		CHI	Anderson 45 yard run (Butler kick)	CHI 7–6
Q2		CHI	Anderson 4 yard run (Butler kick)	CHI 14–6
Q2		CHI	Butler 35 yard field goal	CHI 17–6
Q4		CHI	Sanders 5 yard run (Butler kick)	CHI 24–6

1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 0 0 0 0 • Bears 7 0 7 2 16 Date: November 27 Location: Soldier Field Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 43°F; wind 20

Scoring summary Q1 CHI Anderson 1 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 7–0 Q3 CHI Anderson 80 yard run (Butler kick) CHI 14–0 Q4 CHI Safety, Majkowski stepped out of end zone CHI 16–0

Scoring summary
Q1		CHI	Anderson 1 yard run (Butler kick)	CHI 7–0
Q3		CHI	Anderson 80 yard run (Butler kick)	CHI 14–0
Q4		CHI	Safety, Majkowski stepped out of end zone	CHI 16–0

1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 3 6 3 0 12 • Bears 7 10 0 3 20 Date: December 31 Location: Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 65,534 Game weather: Fog • 25°F • Wind 7 Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist & Terry Bradshaw

Scoring summary 1 CHI Dennis McKinnon 64-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 7–0 1 PHI Luis Zendejas 42-yard field goal Bears 7–3 2 PHI Luis Zendejas 29-yard field goal Bears 7–6 2 CHI Neal Anderson 4-yard run (Kevin Butler kick) Bears 14–6 2 CHI Kevin Butler 46-yard field goal Bears 17–6 2 PHI Luis Zendejas 30-yard field goal Bears 17–9 3 PHI Luis Zendejas 35-yard field goal Bears 17–12 4 CHI Kevin Butler 27-yard field goal Bears 20–12

Scoring summary
1		CHI	Dennis McKinnon 64-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 7–0
1		PHI	Luis Zendejas 42-yard field goal	Bears 7–3
2		PHI	Luis Zendejas 29-yard field goal	Bears 7–6
2		CHI	Neal Anderson 4-yard run (Kevin Butler kick)	Bears 14–6
2		CHI	Kevin Butler 46-yard field goal	Bears 17–6
2		PHI	Luis Zendejas 30-yard field goal	Bears 17–9
3		PHI	Luis Zendejas 35-yard field goal	Bears 17–12
4		CHI	Kevin Butler 27-yard field goal	Bears 20–12

1 2 3 4 Total • 49ers 7 7 7 7 28 Bears 0 3 0 0 3 Date: January 8 Location: Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 66,946 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall & John Madden

The 1988 Chicago Bears season was their 69th regular season and 19th postseason completed in the National Football League. The Bears looked to improve on an 11–4 finish that won them the NFC Central Division but where they were eliminated for the second consecutive year by the Washington Redskins. The Bears won 12 games and lost 4, tying for the best record in the league with the Buffalo Bills and the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals, and earned home field advantage in the NFC. However, the Bears failed to advance to the Super Bowl as one of the top two seeds for a third straight season, falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field. This was the second time that the 49ers and Bears had met for a trip to the Super Bowl during the decade, with the 49ers defeating the Bears on their way to Super Bowl XIX.

Coach Mike Ditka suffered a heart attack during the season, but was back on the sidelines 11 days later. Ditka was named coach of the year for the second time in his career. This was Jim McMahon's last season as starter for the Bears as he was traded during the following offseason to the San Diego Chargers.

1988 Team Starters

Offense

Defense

In the divisional playoffs, the Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Fog Bowl, earning their first postseason victory since Super Bowl XX. A week later, Chicago was routed 28–3 by the San Francisco 49ers. This was the Bears' last appearance in the NFC Championship Game until 2006.

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