NFC Wild Card at Soldier Field on Sun January 6, 1991. The New Orleans Saints (8-8) travel to face the Chicago Bears (11-5) in the NFC playoff matchup.
Mike Tomczak at quarterback for Chicago. Neal Anderson at running back. Wendell Davis at receiver. The Saints start Steve Walsh and John Fourcade in rotation. Dalton Hilliard and Craig Heyward at running back. Eric Martin at receiver. Mike Ditka in year nine as head coach.
Mike Ditka brings his 11-5 Bears home to face a Saints team that backed into the wild-card berth with a Week 16 win at Seattle. The Bears' defense, even in transition after Buddy Ryan's departure, ranks fourth in points allowed. Mike Tomczak has taken over for Jim Harbaugh as the QB1 across the final five games. Neal Anderson is the offense's identity.
The Saints' two-quarterback rotation (Walsh, Fourcade) has produced 16 turnovers across the last five games. The Sunday-afternoon NFC wild-card game is the kind of mid-tier matchup that has the home team as a two-touchdown favorite.
Wild Card Sunday is the playoffs' second day. The Bears (NFC #5) host the Saints (NFC #6). The Bengals (AFC #4) host the Oilers (AFC #5). The Giants and 49ers sit on bye in the NFC. The Bills and Raiders sit on bye in the AFC. The Sunday-afternoon NFC matchup is the year's final Wild Card game.
Through the regular season the Bears finished 11-5 (NFC Central champs) and the Saints finished 8-8 (NFC #6 wild-card berth). Mike Tomczak 720 passing yards over five reg-season starts. Neal Anderson 260 carries for 1,078. Brad Muster 154 for 664. Steve Walsh 1,400 passing yards in 10 starts (rookie pro year). Dalton Hilliard 167 for 545. The two teams played in W12, the Bears won 27-13.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-7 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 9-7 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-13 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 13-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 12-4 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 7-9 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 6-10 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 1-15 | L14 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 12-4 | W5 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 11-5 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-7 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-10 | L3 |
| Denver Broncos | 5-11 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 14-2 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 8-8 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-11 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-11 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 11-5 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 6-10 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-10 | L5 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-10 | L4 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 13-3 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10-6 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 10-6 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-9 | L2 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5-11 | L3 |
1990 Wild Card New Orleans v Chicago
N.O. Saints vs Chicago Bears 1990 NFC Wildcard Game
Dallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears, 1991 Wild Card Playoffs Full Game
New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears (January 6, 1991) (NFC Playoffs) "The Bears Sink The Saints"
SECOND SEASON FOOTBALL 1990 Wildcard Playoffs New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears 1-6-1991
New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears ☆ 1990 NFC Wildcard Game (part 2)
SECOND SEASON FOOTBALL 1990 Wildcard Playoffs New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears 1-6-19912nd HalfNew Orleans Saints None, Chicago Bears None
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 03366 |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 310131616 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Kevin Butler 19 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | James Thornton 18 yard pass from Mike Tomczak ( Kevin Butler kick) | 0-10 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 47 yard field goal | 3-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Kevin Butler 22 yard field goal | 3-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 38 yard field goal | 6-13 |
| Bears | Kevin Butler 21 yard field goal | 6-16 |
Mike Tomczak threw an 18-yard touchdown to James Thornton, Neal Anderson ran 27 times for 102 yards, and the Chicago Bears beat the New Orleans Saints 16-6 at Soldier Field in the NFC wild-card round. Kevin Butler kicked three field goals. Morten Andersen kicked two field goals for New Orleans' only points. The Saints' two-quarterback rotation produced no touchdowns. The Bears improved to 12-5 and advanced to the divisional round at New York.[1][2]
A 16-6 NFC wild-card round home win for the Chicago Bears over the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. Mike Tomczak's 18-yard touchdown to James Thornton in the second quarter was the only touchdown either side produced. The Saints' two-quarterback rotation managed two Morten Andersen field goals across four quarters.
Tomczak finished 12 of 25 for 166. Thornton caught two for 43 with the touchdown. Neal Anderson ran 27 times for 102 with no touchdowns. Brad Muster added 12 carries for 71. The Bears' offense produced 268 total yards on a Soldier Field afternoon that featured wind chill and the kind of pass-game limitations the conditions produced.
John Fourcade and Steve Walsh combined for 11 of 34 for 153 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Hilliard ran four times for 13 yards. Craig Heyward four for 10. The Saints' offense produced one trip inside the Bears' red zone, on a third-quarter possession that ended in an Andersen 38-yard field goal. The defensive front of the Bears (Dent, McMichael, Hampton) produced three sacks and limited the Saints to 14 first downs.
Bears 16, Saints 6. Margin: plus 10. NFC Wild Card.
A 16-6 NFC wild-card-round home win at Soldier Field for the Chicago Bears. Chicago advances to the divisional round at New York.
How it unfolded
Kevin Butler's 19-yard field goal opened the scoring. James Thornton's 18-yard touchdown from Tomczak made it 10-0. Andersen kicked a 47-yarder for 10-3. Butler's 22-yard field goal made it 13-3 in the third quarter. Andersen added a 38-yard kick to cut it to 13-6. Butler's 21-yarder in the fourth made the final 16-6.
The turning point
The Saints' opening-drive fumble. After the Bears took an early 3-0 lead, the Saints' first possession ended on a Craig Heyward fumble at the Saints' 31. Tomczak hit Thornton three plays later for the 18-yard touchdown that made it 10-0 and ended the Saints' first-half scoring chances.
By the numbers
Tomczak 12 of 25 for 166 with the lone touchdown. Neal Anderson 27 carries for 102 (the conference's playoff leading rushing total for the wild-card weekend). Brad Muster 71 on 12. The Bears' two-back rotation combined for 39 carries and 173 yards. Fourcade-Walsh 11 of 34 for 153 with three interceptions.
What it means
12-5. Divisional round at New York Giants next Sunday. The Bears' home wild-card win advances them to a road divisional matchup at Giants Stadium.
| Saints | Bears | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 11 | 18 |
| Total Yards | 193 | 365 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 11/34 | 13/26 |
| Pass yards | 153 | 188 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 25 | 12 |
| Net pass yards | 128 | 176 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 18 | 43 |
| Rush yards | 65 | 189 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 2 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 10 | 57 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | |||||
| John Fourcade | 5/18 | 79 | 0 | 2 | |
| Steve Walsh | 6/16 | 74 | 0 | 1 | |
| CHI | |||||
| Mike Tomczak | 12/25 | 166 | 1 | 0 | |
| Neal Anderson | 1/1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | ||||
| Gill Fenerty | 8 | 29 | 0 | 14 |
| John Fourcade | 2 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 4 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Craig Heyward | 4 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| CHI | ||||
| Neal Anderson | 27 | 102 | 0 | 13 |
| Brad Muster | 12 | 71 | 0 | 28 |
| Mike Tomczak | 2 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| Mark Green | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | ||||
| Eric Martin | 2 | 47 | 0 | 36 |
| Greg Scales | 1 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| Gill Fenerty | 4 | 22 | 0 | 9 |
| John Tice | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Hoby Brenner | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Brett Perriman | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Floyd Turner | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| CHI | ||||
| James Thornton | 2 | 43 | 1 | 25 |
| Neal Anderson | 4 | 42 | 0 | 31 |
| Dennis Gentry | 2 | 41 | 0 | 38 |
| Ron Morris | 2 | 28 | 0 | 22 |
| Brad Muster | 2 | 21 | 0 | 11 |
| Wendell Davis | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1990 Wild Card Round - New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears - Game Thread
