McMahon's audibles surprised even Ditka
This week: Bears take on the Rams for the right to advance to Super Bowl XX.
The Bears had beaten the Giants 21-0 in the first playoff game, and now they were set to take on the Los Angeles Rams for the right to advance to Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. Fragile, crazy quarterback Jim McMahon, as always, was the key. If he was healthy -- and he was -- history could be made.
Thinking about individualism always brings me back to Jim McMahon. He had a great ability to recognize defenses, and when he saw something he knew was wrong or weak, he knew how to exploit it. But the main thing is he was not reluctant to audible after he saw something. Didn't care at all.
McMahon did it all the time. And I gave him the freedom to do it. Sometimes I didn't understand why I did. But I did. And as a result of that, he made some incredible plays for us that year.
That's what he did early in the first quarter. We were down in the red zone, it was third-and-eight and we had a pass play called. McMahon scrambled to his left and faked, looked for receivers, faked, then he took off running. He got a couple of blocks downfield, and this beat-up guy weaved around and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.
Then with the score 10-0 in the third quarter, we have the ball again, and it is second-and-10 at the Rams' 22. I call a draw play. Give it to Wally, see what he could do. Seems like a no-brainer. But there's McMahon at the line, looking around, barking off stuff. Oh, Jesus, I know something's happening. He's calling an audible. There's the snap, and McMahon moves to his left. Willie Gault is lined up on the left, and he runs downfield and gives an inside fake to cornerback LeRoy Irvin. Irvin bites on it, and Jim throws a perfect touchdown pass to Willie.
Seventeen points was way more than we needed because the defense had locked down the Rams' offense and thrown away the key. Eric Dickerson got a total of 46 yards rushing, and Dieter Brock threw for a total of 44 net yards. It was a joke! They had 130 total yards of offense, and our defense even outscored them.
The defensive touchdown came with under three minutes left, and the crowd really started to get excited, realizing we might truly make it this year. Brock dropped back to pass, and Buddy's dogs came roaring in on him, just like they had all afternoon. Dent smacked the ball away, and Brock went flying. William Perry came lumbering by and tried to pick up the loose ball. It kept bouncing, and finally Wilber Marshall got it. He shrugged off Dickerson, who was diving for him, and then he took off upfield. Fridge was running with him like a big old elephant, and some other Bears were all around, looking back, like a posse. My God, it was beautiful. If we could have frozen that scene and made it a billboard, it would have captured the season.
We won 24-0. In two playoff games, we had scored 45 points and hadn't given up one.
There were cigars in the locker room, brought by Covert. But it was still subdued. No champagne, no screaming. Lots of hugs, handshakes. Big smiles. But we had one more rung to climb, one more peak. Everybody knew that.
Excerpted from In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections on the 1985 Bears and Wisdom from Da Coach by Mike Ditka with Rick Telander. It can be found in bookstores everywhere. The hardcover book can be purchased from the publisher by calling (877) 424-BOOK or online at www.sportspublishingllc.com.