Super Bowl XX
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| Super Bowl XX | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Super Bowl XX |
| Visitor | New England Patriots |
| Home | Chicago Bears |
| Visitor abbr | NE |
| Home abbr | CHI |
| Visitor conf | AFC |
| Home conf | NFC |
| Visitor total | 10 |
| Home total | 46 |
| Home q1 | 13 |
| Home q2 | 10 |
| Home q3 | 21 |
| Stadium | Louisiana Superdome |
| City | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Attendance | 73,818 |
| Mvp | Richard Dent |
| Favorite | Bears by 10 |
| Referee | Red Cashion |
| Anthem | Wynton Marsalis |
| Halftime | Up with People presents "Beat of the Future" |
| Network | NBC |
| Announcers | Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen |
| Rating | 48.3 |
| Share | 70 |
| Commercial | $550,000 |
| Last | XIX |
| Next | XXI |
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It pitted the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears against the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots. The Bears, led by coach Mike Ditka and a historically dominant defense, delivered a 46–10 victory, capturing their first Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Background
The Chicago Bears entered the game with an 18–1 record, having dominated the 1985 NFL season with a revolutionary 46 defense orchestrated by defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. Key players on this unit included Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, and William Perry. Their path included decisive playoff victories over the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. The New England Patriots, coached by Raymond Berry, were a surprise contender, becoming the first team to win three playoff games on the road, defeating the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Raiders, and Miami Dolphins to win the AFC Championship Game. The Bears were established as 10-point favorites by oddsmakers in Las Vegas.
Broadcasting
The game was televised in the United States by NBC, with the broadcast team of Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen in the booth. The network paid ABC for the right to air the game, part of the National Football League's rotation among the major networks. The pregame show featured reports from Willard Scott and Bob Costas, while the halftime spectacle was produced by Up with People under the theme "Beat of the Future." Renowned trumpeter Wynton Marsalis performed the national anthem, and a 30-second commercial spot cost advertisers a record $550,000.
Game summary
The New England Patriots took an early 3–0 lead on a Tony Franklin field goal, but the Chicago Bears responded with 44 unanswered points. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon threw two touchdown passes, while running back Walter Payton contributed key yards. The defense was utterly dominant, recording seven sacks and limiting the Patriots to just seven rushing yards. Defensive end Richard Dent had 1.5 sacks and forced two fumbles, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. A memorable moment came when defensive tackle William Perry scored a one-yard touchdown run. The only Patriots touchdown came late in the fourth quarter on a pass from Tony Eason to Irving Fryar.
Aftermath
The victory cemented the 1985 Chicago Bears season as one of the most dominant single seasons in National Football League history. The team was celebrated with a massive parade in Chicago and featured on the cover of *Time* magazine. The "Super Bowl Shuffle" music video, recorded before the playoffs, became a cultural phenomenon. For the New England Patriots, the loss was a setback, but their playoff run established a foundation for future success under owners Billy Sullivan and later Robert Kraft. The game's lopsided nature sparked discussions about AFC and NFC competitive balance during that era.
Officials
* Referee: Red Cashion (#43) * Umpire: Pat Harder (#27) * Head Linesman: Jerry Bergman (#6) * Line Judge: Dick McKenzie (#41) * Back Judge: Paul Baetz (#21) * Side Judge: Bob Rice (#80) * Field Judge: Jim Kearney (#86)