1986 Chicago Bears season The 1986 Chicago Bears season was their 67th regular season and 17th post - season completed in the National Football League . The club posted a 14 - 2 record and won the NFC Central for the third consecutive season . After winning the championship in 1985 , the team seemed like a dynasty in the making . However , quarterback Jim McMahon showed up to training camp 25 pounds overweight - the product of the post - Super Bowl partying he ' d partaken in . Nonetheless , he was once again named as the starter . But injuries derailed his season . McMahon played in only six of the team ' s first 12 games . In week 12 , he was on the receiving end of one of the most vicious hits in NFL history . In a game against the Green Bay Packers , McMahon was blindsided by Packers defensive lineman Charles Martin . Martin had gone into the game with a hit list of Bears players . McMahon was his first victim . After throwing an interception , Martin hoisted McMahon into the air and slammed him into the ground , a few seconds after the play had ended . McMahon writhed on the ground in pain , having suffered a separated shoulder . He was out for the remainder of the year . Still , the Bears won that game , and went undefeated for the rest of the regular season as well . McMahon ' s loss may have been a blessing in disguise , as by any standard , he was having a horrible season . Aided by a strong offensive line , the Bears were once again lead on offense by Walter Payton . Payton remained his usual stellar self , posting his 10th and final 1000 - yard season . With McMahon ' s poor play , as well as the equally poor play of backups Mike Tomczak , Steve Fuller and Doug Flutie , Payton was the sole spark on offense , which ranked 13th in the NFL . As had been the case the year before , the Bears were once again led by their explosive defense . Any shortcomings on the offensive side of the ball were more than made up for on the defensive side . They once again were ranked # 1 in the NFL . The Bears ' defense became the third defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons . The Bears were heavy favorites in the post season . They earned a first round bye . But in the first game at Soldier Field , they were upset by the Washington Redskins . A holding penalty and a missed field goal by Kevin Butler frustrated the Bears in the first quarter . However , they still managed to take a 13 - 7 lead into halftime . But their usual stellar defense fell apart in the second half , allowing the Redskins to score 20 unanswered points . " Maybe my dreams didn ' t come true , " said Chicago Coach Mike Ditka . " The defense has to play outstanding and today they were just not up to the way the Redskins were playing . " Despite injuries to offensive linemen Joe Jacoby and Russ Grimm , they and the rest of the blockers were able to pick up the Bears patented blitzes . Quarterback Jay Schroeder was sacked only twice . He was also able to use the blitzes to his advantage , completing passes while being chased out of the pocket . Trailing 14 - 13 in the 4th quarter , the Bears good fortune ran out , when the usually dependable Payton lost a fumble , which led to an 83 - yard touchdown drive by the Redskins . The long drive perpetrated against the NFL ' s best defense seemed to take the wind out of the Bears ' sails . A few minutes later , the Bears muffed a punt return which set up an easy field goal for the Redskins . When it was all said and done , the Bears lost 27 - 13 . Still , they had a fantastic season overall , despite their weaknesses on offense and the poor play of their quarterbacks .