Walter Payton ran for three touchdowns, Vince Evans threw for three more and the Bears beat the Packers 61-7 on Dec. 7, 1980 in the most lopsided game in series history.
Earlier that season, Green Bay beat Chicago 12-6 when Chester Marcol advanced a blocked Packers field-goal attempt 25 yards for a touchdown in overtime.
The rematch at Soldier Field exactly three months later appeared to be a low-scoring affair after the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. But Chicago exploded for 28 points in the second quarter — including two Payton touchdown runs — to take a three-touchdown lead into half.
The Bears’ defense scored as many points as Green Bay’s offense thanks to Len Walterscheid’s 36-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter.
Entering the game, Chicago hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in its previous three games against Green Bay, according to ChicagoBears.com. But the 61 points scored that day remains a Bears franchise record.
Leading 48-7, Payton was pulled from the game in favor of backup Willie McClendon, but reentered to make the score 55-7 during the fourth quarter, drawing the ire of Green Bay players.
“When you see guys like [Payton] come back in with the score that lopsided, it kind of sticks in your mind,” Packers cornerback Estus Hood said after the game, according to ChicagoBears.com. “Yeah, we’ll remember it next time we play the Bears. What goes around comes around.”
View image | gettyimages.comThe Bears lost each of their next three games against Green Bay before beginning a streak of 15 wins in 18 tries against the Packers.
Watch: Chicago beats Green Bay 61-7
All stats via Pro-Football-Reference.
[FBTW]
