Bears–Giants rivalry

Bears–Giants rivalry

Chicago Bears New York Giants
First meeting	December 6, 1925 Bears 19, Giants 7
Latest meeting	October 2, 2022 Giants 20, Bears 12
Next meeting	TBD (no later than 2025 regular season)
Statistics
Meetings total	63
All-time series	Bears, 36–25–2
Regular season series	Bears, 31–22–2
Postseason results	Bears, 5–3 Most recent January 13, 1991 Giants 31, Bears 3
Largest victory	Bears, 56–7 (1943)
Longest win streak	Bears, 5 (1970–1987)
Current win streak	Giants, 1 (2022–present)
Championship Success
NFL Championships (17) Bears (9) – 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985 Giants (8) – 1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011 Super Bowls won (5) Bears (1) – 1985 Giants (4) – 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011 NFC Championships (12) Bears (4) – 1956, 1963, 1985, 2006 Giants (8) – 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1986, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2011

The Bears–Giants rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants. The rivalry was notable for the six NFL championship games between the two teams before the creation of the Super Bowl, and the two subsequent Super Bowl-era playoff meetings that involved two of the NFL's greatest defensive units: the Bears' 46 defense crew helmed by Buddy Ryan, and the Giants' Big Blue Wrecking Crew mentored by Bill Belichick.^[1]

History

Pre-Super Bowl era

The Bears and Giants met in six NFL championship games, more than any common matchup in either the NFL Championship or Super Bowl. Between 1933 and 1946, the Bears and/or the Giants appeared in 12 of 14 NFL championship games, and combined to win seven championships in that span. Their first meeting came in the first-ever NFL Championship Game that concluded the 1933 season. In a close-knit affair, the Bears won the game and the championship 23–21 by scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.^[2][3][4][5] It was Chicago's second consecutive championship, having previously won in 1932 when the league awarded the title to the team with the best regular season winning percentage. However, the Giants returned the favor in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, winning 30–13 by outscoring the Bears 27–0 in the fourth quarter.^[6] The game was forever immortalized as the Sneakers Game, as the Giants switched to basketball sneakers at the half due to the slick frozen conditions that affected the Polo Grounds field.^[7]

The Bears and Giants met for a third time in the 1941 NFL Championship Game. This game was notable as it happened two weeks following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; as a result, only 13,341 fans attended the game at Wrigley Field, the lowest of any NFL championship game. The Bears dominated the Giants 37–9 to win their fifth NFL title, thanks to four unanswered touchdowns in the second half.^[8][9][10] A fourth meeting took place in the 1946 NFL Championship Game, in which a then-record 58,346 fans witnessed the Bears defeat the Giants 24–14 in New York. The game was tied 14–14 after three quarters before the Bears scored ten unanswered points. The victory was marred, however, by a bribery scandal involving two Giants players.^[11][12]

In the 1956 NFL Championship Game, the Giants routed the Bears 47–7 at Yankee Stadium to win the championship. It was the team's last title until Super Bowl XXI in 1986. Similar to the 1934 title game, the Giants wore sneakers in order to gain traction on an icy field. ^[13][14][15] Seven years later, the Giants and Bears met for a sixth time to decide the 1963 NFL Championship. In a low-scoring affair, the Bears prevailed 14–10 to win their eighth NFL championship, their last until Super Bowl XX in 1985. It was also the final meeting between the Bears and Giants that decided the NFL championship.^[16]

Super Bowl era

The two teams underwent lengthy rebuilding periods following the 1963 title game, but in the 1980s, the Bears and Giants reemerged into title contention, thanks to two of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Chicago's 46 defense, coached by Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, featured Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, and defensive ends Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. New York's Big Blue Wrecking Crew, on the other hand, were coached by Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, and featured Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Harry Carson. The two teams first squared off in the 1985 NFC Divisional Round, in which Chicago's defensive crew outplayed their Giant counterparts in a 21–0 shutout. The tone of the game was set when a punt attempt by Giants punter Sean Landeta was muffed in the strong winds and Shaun Gayle returned it five yards for a touchdown.^[17] The Bears went on to win the Super Bowl that season. A rematch then took place in the 1990 NFC Divisional Round, which also ended in a blowout. This time, however, the Giants dominated Chicago in a 31–3 rout, and went on to win Super Bowl XXV. To date, this was the most recent meeting in the playoffs between the Bears and the Giants.^[18]

Recent years

After the 1990 playoff meeting, the rivalry cooled off a bit, though games between the two teams remained highly competitive. However, there were some notable moments that took place since then. During Week 10 of the 2006 season, Bears returner Devin Hester returned a missed field goal a then-record 108 yards for a touchdown, culminating in the Bears' 38–20 victory. The win proved crucial for the Bears as they went on to finish with the NFC's best record at 13–3, en route to a Super Bowl XLI appearance.^[19] The Giants, on the other hand, turned a 6–2 start into a 2–6 finish, ending with an 8–8 record and losing in the Wild Card Round to the rival Philadelphia Eagles.^[1] Then in Week 4 of the 2010 season, the Giants defense sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler nine times in the first half en route to a 17–3 victory, dealing Chicago its first loss of the season.^[20][1] In a Week 13 game in 2018, the Bears trailed the Giants 27–17. With 1:15 left in regulation, Bears kicker Cody Parkey kicked a field goal which made it 27–20. The Bears recovered the onside-kick with 1:13 left which was recovered by Daniel Brown. The Bears drove from their own 44 to the Giants' 1 with 3 seconds left. On a last ditch play, quarterback Chase Daniel handed it off to Trey Burton who tossed the ball back to Tarik Cohen and Cohen threw the ball for a touchdown to Anthony Miller with no time on the clock. The extra point by Parkey was good which sent the game to overtime tied at 27. The Giants won the overtime coin toss and received the ball. The Giants drove from their own 25 to the Bears' 23. They got backed to the 26 where they would kick a field goal to take a 30–27 lead with 5:57 left in the game. But the Bears failed to respond after Daniel fumbled 3 times and failed a last ditch pass deep down the field that was broken up to preserve a 30–27 Giants win.

Game results

Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants season-by-season results
1920s (Giants, 5–3) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1925 Bears 19–7 Polo Grounds Bears 1–0 Giants' inaugural season. First meeting at Polo Grounds. Giants 9–0 Wrigley Field Tied 1–1 First meeting at Wrigley Field. 1926 Bears 7–0 Wrigley Field Bears 2–1 1927 Giants 13–7 Polo Grounds Tied 2–2 Giants win 1927 NFL Championship. 1928 Bears 13–0 Wrigley Field Bears 3–2 1929 Giants 26–14 Wrigley Field Tied 3–3 Giants 34–0 Polo Grounds Giants 4–3 Giants take first lead in the series. Giants 14–9 Wrigley Field Giants 5–3
1930s (Bears, 11–6–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1930 Giants 12–0 Wrigley Field Giants 6–3 Bears 12–0 Polo Grounds Giants 6–4 1931 Bears 6–0 Wrigley Field Giants 6–5 Bears 12–6 Polo Grounds Tied 6–6 Giants 25–6 Wrigley Field Giants 7–6 1932 Bears 28–8 Polo Grounds Tied 7–7 Bears won 1932 NFL Championship. Bears 6–0 Wrigley Field Bears 8–7 1933 Bears 14–10 Wrigley Field Bears 9–7 Giants 3–0 Polo Grounds Bears 9–8 1933 playoffs Bears 23–21 Wrigley Field Bears 10–8 First scheduled NFL Championship game in league history. 1934 Bears 27–7 Wrigley Field Bears 11–8 Bears 10–9 Polo Grounds Bears 12–8 1934 playoffs Giants 30–13 Polo Grounds Bears 12–9 1934 NFL Championship Game. Popularly known as the Sneakers Game. 1935 Bears 20–3 Polo Grounds Bears 13–9 Giants lose NFL Championship. Giants 3–0 Wrigley Field Bears 13–10 1936 Bears 25–7 Polo Grounds Bears 14–10 1937 Tie 3–3 Polo Grounds Bears 14–10–1 Bears lose NFL Championship. 1939 Giants 16–13 Polo Grounds Bears 14–11–1 Giants lose NFL Championship.
1940s (Bears, 6–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1940 Bears 37–21 Polo Grounds Bears 15–11–1 Bears win NFL Championship. 1941 playoffs Bears 37–9 Wrigley Field Bears 16–11–1 1941 NFL Championship Game 1942 Bears 26–7 Wrigley Field Bears 17–11–1 Bears lose NFL Championship. 1943 Bears 56–7 Polo Grounds Bears 18–11–1 Most lopsided Bears victory and highest-scoring game in the rivalry. Bears win NFL Championship. 1946 Giants 14–0 Polo Grounds Bears 18–12–1 1946 playoffs Bears 24–14 Polo Grounds Bears 19–12–1 1946 NFL Championship Game 1948 Bears 35–14 Wrigley Field Bears 20–12–1 1949 Giants 35–28 Polo Grounds Bears 20–13–1 Final meeting at Polo Grounds.
1950s (Giants, 1–0–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1956 Tie 17–17 Yankee Stadium Bears 20–13–2 First meeting at Yankee Stadium. 1956 playoffs Giants 47–7 Yankee Stadium Bears 20–14–2 NFL Championship Game. Giants' largest margin of victory in the rivalry.
1960s (Bears, 3–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1962 Giants 26–24 Wrigley Field Bears 20–15–2 Giants lose NFL Championship. 1963 playoffs Bears 14–10 Wrigley Field Bears 21–15–2 Sixth and final NFL Championship Game between the two teams. The Bears finished with a 4–2 record in NFL Championship Games against the Giants. Last playoff meeting until 1985. 1965 Bears 35–14 Yankee Stadium Bears 22–15–2 1967 Bears 34–7 Wrigley Field Bears 23–15–2 Final meeting at Wrigley Field. 1969 Giants 28–24 Yankee Stadium Bears 23–16–2
1970s (Bears, 3–0) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1970 Bears 24–16 Yankee Stadium Bears 24–16–2 Final meeting at Yankee Stadium. 1974 Bears 24–16 Soldier Field Bears 25–16–2 First meeting at Soldier Field. 1977 Bears 12–9(OT) Giants Stadium Bears 26–16–2 First meeting at Giants Stadium. Chicago's victory clinched their first post-season appearance since 1963.
1980s (Bears, 2–0) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1985 playoffs Bears 21–0 Soldier Field Bears 27–16–2 NFC Divisional Round. Bears win Super Bowl XX. 1987 Bears 34–19 Soldier Field Bears 28–16–2
1990s (Giants, 3–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1990 playoffs Giants 31–3 Giants Stadium Bears 28–17–2 NFC Divisional Round. First meeting in New York since 1977. Giants win Super Bowl XXV. Most recent playoff meeting between the two teams. 1991 Bears 20–17 Soldier Field Bears 29–17–2 1992 Giants 27–14 Soldier Field Bears 29–18–2 1993 Giants 26–20 Soldier Field Bears 29–19–2 1995 Bears 27–24 Giants Stadium Bears 30–19–2
2000s (Tied, 2–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2000 Giants 14–7 Soldier Field Bears 30–20–2 Giants lose Super Bowl XXXV. 2004 Bears 28–21 Giants Stadium Bears 31–20–2 2006 Bears 38–20 Giants Stadium Bears 32–20–2 Final meeting at Giants Stadium. Bears lose Super Bowl XLI. 2007 Giants 21–16 Soldier Field Bears 32–21–2 Giants win Super Bowl XLII.
2010s (Giants, 3–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2010 Giants 17–3 MetLife Stadium Bears 32–22–2 First meeting at MetLife Stadium. 2013 Bears 27–21 Soldier Field Bears 33–22–2 2016 Giants 22–16 MetLife Stadium Bears 33–23–2 2018 Giants 30–27(OT) MetLife Stadium Bears 33–24–2 2019 Bears 19–14 Soldier Field Bears 34–24–2
2020s (Bears, 2–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2020 Bears 17–13 Soldier Field Bears 35–24–2 No fans in attendance for game due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Bears 29–3 Soldier Field Bears 36–24–2 2022 Giants 20–12 MetLife Stadium Bears 36–25–2
Summary of results Season Season series at Chicago Bears at New York Giants Notes Regular season Bears 31–22–2 Bears 16–11 Bears 15–11–2 Postseason Bears 5–3 Bears 4–0 Giants 3–1 NFC Divisional Round: 1985, 1990. NFL Championship Game: 1933, 1934, 1941, 1946, 1956, 1963 Regular and postseason Bears 36–25–2 Bears 20–11 Bears 16–14–2

Players who played for both teams

Name	Pos.	Years with Bears	Years with Giants
Prince Amukamara	CB	2017–2019	2011–2015
Martellus Bennett	TE	2013–2015	2012
Zack Bowman	CB	2008–2011, 2012–2013	2014
Dave Duerson	S	1983–1989	1990
Mike Glennon	QB	2017	2021
Robbie Gould	K	2005–2015	2016
Brandon Marshall	WR	2012–2014	2017
Brad Maynard	P	2001–2010	1997–2000
Bennie McRae	CB	1962–1970	1971
Alec Ogletree	LB	2021	2018–2019
Antrel Rolle	CB	2015	2010–2014

See also

• National Football League rivalries
• Bulls–Knicks rivalry

References

1. James Kratch (May 16, 2019). "The history of the Giants-Bears rivalry, from the Sneakers Game to Devin Hester". NJ.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
2. Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 18, 1933). "Bears beat Giants in sensational, ripsnorting game, 23 to 21". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2.
3. Kirksey, George (December 17, 1933). "Bears win pro title in thrill-packed game". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 28.
4. Smith, Wilfrid (December 18, 1933). "Bears whip Giants, 23-21; world champions". Chicago Tribune. p. 23.
5. "Bears win pro grid league title". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (Chicago Tribune). December 18, 1933. p. 14.
6. "Giants stage amazing rally to beat Chicago Bears 30-13". Miami News. Associated Press. December 10, 1934. p. 10.
7. Canavan, Tom (January 5, 1986). "Sneakers game is most famous episode in Bears-Giants rivalry". Gainesville Sun. Florida. Associated Press. p. 4F.
8. Hoff, Dave (December 22, 1941). "Bears wallop Giants for pro title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3B.
9. Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 22, 1941). "Bears swamp Giants, 37 to 9, in pro play-off before 13,341". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.
10. "Riotous Bears roar as champions of football world". Pittsburgh Press. (photo). December 22, 1941. p. 29.
11. Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 16, 1946). "Bears defeat Giants, 24 to 14; attempted bribery uncovered". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.
12. Prell, Edward (December 16, 1946). "Bears win 7th title, 24-14, before 58,346". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
13. "Giants stampede Bears, 47-7". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 31, 1956. p. 7.
14. Sell, Jack (December 31, 1956). "Giants crush Bears in title game, 47-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
15. Mosby, Wade (December 31, 1956). "Giants outclass Bears, 47-7, to win first pro football title in 18 years". Milwaukee Journal. p. 9, part 2.
16. Maule, Tex (January 6, 1964). "The Bears upend the Giants". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
17. Litsky, Frank (January 6, 1986). "Bears Pound Giants, 21-0, in Wind and Cold". The New York Times.
18. Litsky, Frank (January 14, 1991). "Back to San Francisco: Giants Bury the Bears, 31–3". The New York Times.
19. Farmer, Sam (November 13, 2006). "Bears Blow by Giants, 38–20, after early deficit". Los Angeles Times.
20. Vacchiano, Ralph (October 4, 2010). "New York Giants sack Jay Cutler nine times, record 10 total in 17-3 win over Chicago Bears". New York Daily News.

External links

• The BEST Moments from Giants vs. Bears Rivalry History at the New York Giants official YouTube channel