Between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019, the Chicago Bears played 164 games, including three playoff games, compiling a record of 78-86. Surprising playoff runs in 2010 and 2018 were sandwiched around lengthy stretches of mediocrity from 2013-2017, and fans were treated to a below-average product for much of the decade.
Still, there were quite a few bright spots for the NFL’s charter franchise during the last 10 years, including memorable games that provided thrilling victories. As a disappointing 2019 season concludes, let’s look back on some of the better games and moments the ’10s had to offer.
To kick off the next decade as we enter 2020, here are my top 20 Bears games from the 2010s.
20. 2019, Week 14, Cowboys at Bears
Bears 31 – Cowboys 24: Easily the best game of an otherwise disappointing season, the Bears offense came alive in primetime against the Cowboys, with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky accounting for all four touchdowns with his arm and legs in arguably his best game as a Bear. On defense, despite not creating a turnover, the unit frustrated the Cowboys offense all evening with QB pressures and excellent play from their secondary. The matchup was a pseudo-playoff game, with the Bears keeping their hopes alive for one more week in a complete-team win.
19. 2018, Week 8, Bears at Bills
Bears 41 – Bills 9: While the Buffalo Bills weren’t a powerhouse in 2018, the Bears defense still made their offense look completely inept in a blowout. Forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions from quarterback Nathan Peterman, the Bears scored twice on defense thanks to outside linebacker Leonard Floyd’s pick six and safety Eddie Jackson’s fumble recovery, and limited the Bills’ offense to just 264 yards. The reason this game isn’t higher on the list is due to the Bears offensive performance, as they gained just 190 yards.
18. 2011, Week 1, Falcons at Bears
Bears 30 – Falcons 12: No, this wasn’t the Bears-Falcons matchup that saw the debut of quarterback Mike Glennon, this was the first game following the Bears heartbreaking loss to the Packers in the NFC Championship game. Led by quarterback Jay Cutler, who threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, the Bears won convincingly against the reigning NFC South champions and held the Falcon offense to just six points. This game also featured an impressive performance from Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, who had an interception and a fumble recovery for a score. The defense had a total of three takeaways and started the 2011 season with a bang.
17. 2012, Week 1, Colts at Bears
Bears 41 – Colts 21: From 2010-2013, the Chicago Bears came out of the gate strong, winning four-straight regular season openers. Their best victory during that stretch came against the new-look Indianapolis Colts. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, the first overall pick in the draft, was the talk of the offseason, but had a rough debut against a stingy Bears defense. Luck threw three interceptions while the team turned the ball over five times. The Bears offense, after an early pick six, settled into a groove. Quarterback Jay Cutler totaled 333 yards and two scores to his new receivers, Brandon Marshall, acquired via trade in the offseason, and rookie Alshon Jeffery. The win was the beginning of a 7-1 start to the season and provided arguably the best throw a Bears quarterback has ever had.
16. 2011, Week 10, Lions at Bears
Bears 37 – Lions 13: In the heart of the Bears’ best stretch of 2011 in which they won five games in a row, they completely dominated a playoff-bound Detroit Lions team on the lakefront. This game had it all: Devin Hester’s record-breaking punt return for a touchdown, four interceptions off Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, including two returned for touchdowns, and a memorable scrum between Bears cornerback D.J. Moore and Stafford. Much like the Bears-Bills game from 2018, the offense didn’t need to do much in the victory.
15. 2013, Week 3, Bears at Steelers
Bears 40 – Steelers 23: The first game of the Marc Trestman era to appear on this list, the Bears thumped the Steelers in primetime to give them a 3-0 record on the season. This was a classic-Bears win, featuring two defensive scores (an interception return by safety Major Wright and a fumble recovery by defensive end Julius Peppers) a strong running game behind running backs Matt Forte and Michael Bush, and a solid performance from quarterback Jay Cutler. The Steelers committed five turnovers in total and didn’t have a chance from the start as the Bears went up 17-0 and didn’t look back. For a very brief period in time, Trestman’s squad looked like Super Bowl contenders following this win.
14. 2018, Week 14, Rams at Bears
Bears 15 – Rams 6: Is there anything better than a dominant performance from a Bears defense? Maybe when it’s against the eventual-NFC champions. The Rams and Bears met at Soldier Field for a late-season matchup that could have been a playoff preview. Offense went out the window as both teams combined for seven turnovers. The Bears’ stifling defense made quarterback Jared Goff miserable as he threw four interceptions, was sacked in the endzone for a safety, and failed to score a touchdown. While quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had his own struggles, throwing three picks, he did enough to seal the win, dealing the Rams just their second loss of the season. The win put the Bears at 9-4 as they became true contenders in the NFC.
13. 2012, Week 4, Bears at Cowboys
Bears 34 – Cowboys 18: This slot could feature this game or the following game against the Jacksonville Jaguars since they were both convincing victories that featured defensive touchdowns by cornerback Charles Tillman and linebacker Lance Briggs, but we’ll stick with the Cowboys. After a somewhat sluggish start, the Bears came alive and never looked back, picking off quarterback Tony Romo five times. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had one of his better games, despite the friction with offensive coordinator Mike Tice, going completing 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and touchdowns to receivers Devin Hester and Brandon Marshall. This was the beginning of the Bears’ impressive start to the 2012 season, when they went 7-1 and tore their opponents apart. It also provided one of the best Cutler gifs of all time.
12. 2010, Week 3, Packers at Bears
Bears 20 – Packers 17: It was a rarity for the Bears to defeat the Packers during the 2010s so any chance to highlight one of their few victories is a must. Both teams were undefeated and battling for the early-season division lead on Monday Night Football. After falling behind 10-0, the Bears battled back, scoring a touchdown near the end of the first half to shrink the lead. Kick returner Devin Hester then gave the Bears the lead coming out of halftime by returning the opening kick of the second half to the endzone. Both teams were netted at 17-17 near the end of the game, until kicker Robbie Gould broke the tie to give the Bears the win and control of the NFC North. Unfortunately, this would be the last win the Bears would get against Green Bay for nearly three years.
11. 2018, Week 4, Buccaneers at Bears
Bears 48 – Buccaneers 10: There are certain games early in an NFL season that can mark the beginning of a special season for a team. That game for the 2018 Bears was the beat down of the Buccaneers at Soldier Field. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a field day, throwing six touchdowns (five in the first half) with no picks. The Bears offense was completely in sync while the defense stifled the Tampa Bay offense, causing three turnovers and sacking quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jamesis Winston four times. This was the game that put the rest of the league on notice that the Monsters of the Midway were back and was the unofficial beginning of the team’s successful 2018 season.
10. 2010, Week 16, Jets at Bears
Bears 38 – Jets 34: The Bears and Jets were two teams that almost met for a rematch in Super Bowl 45 until both were knocked out in their respective conference championship games. This game featured an impressive performance by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who had three passing touchdowns and one rushing against one of the top defenses in the league. The Bears defense, despite giving up 27 points, had multiple turnovers on the day and stepped up when they needed to. This was a back-and-forth game, with both teams going on scoring runs and coming back from significant deficits. It even included some drama at the end, with Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez driving his team down the field late in the fourth quarter before getting picked off. While not a perfect game, it was highly entertaining in one of the best seasons of the decade.
9. 2014, Week 2, Bears at 49ers
Bears 28 – 49ers 20: You’ll be hard pressed to find bright spots from the 2014 Bears season, but before the team imploded, they had a nice start to the season. In week two, they stunned the San Francisco 49ers in their new stadium, coming back from a 17-0 deficit to win 28-20. Quarterback Jay Cutler threw three touchdowns to receiver Brandon Marshall, including a dazzling one-handed catch to bring them back in the fourth quarter. Rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller had his coming out party as well, picking off 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick twice on back-to-back drives. This game got off to an ugly start, but the Bears rallied to create an instant classic and while both teams vastly under performed the rest of the year, it was still a signature win of the decade.
8. 2018, Week 11, Vikings at Bears
Bears 25 – Vikings 20: The country’s first look at the Bears since week two, the NFL flexed this game into primetime with both teams starting hot. The 6-3 Bears welcomed the 5-3-1 Vikings to Soldier Field in a game that would essentially decide the NFC North. Behind a rambunctious crowd, the Chicago defense flexed their muscles, limiting the Vikings to just 22 rushing yards and forcing quarterback Kirk Cousins to try and win the game. But with the Bears jumping out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a couple field goals and a touchdown pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to receiver Anthony Miller, the Vikings couldn’t overcome the deficit. A mounting drive in the fourth quarter was thwarted by safety Eddie Jackson when he ran back an interception for a touchdown, sealing the victory. It was the biggest game on the lakefront in years and the Bears thrilled the nation with their defensive domination.
7. 2010, Week 12, Eagles at Bears
Bears 31 – Eagles 26: Like the Bears-Vikings game in 2018, this matchup between two playoff-bound NFC teams lived up to the hype. With both squads entering this game at 7-3 on three-game winning streaks, playoff seeds were on the line. But thanks to Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s four touchdowns on just 14 completions, the Eagles, led by resurgent quarterback Michael Vick, weren’t able to muster up a comeback. While the defense only caused one turnover, they forced Vick to throw his first interception of the season and dropped him for four sacks on the day. This was a gritty, hard-fought game that had some drama right up to the end and was a staple victory for the 2010 division champion Bears.
6. 2012, Week 9, Bears at Titans
Bears 51 – Titans 20: There are epic, dramatic clashes on this list and there are dominant performances from start to finish. And then there’s the Bears-Titans game from 2012 where dominant doesn’t come close to describing what took place in Nashville. The Bears destroyed the Titans in all facets of the game. Linebacker Brian Urlacher had a pick six, quarterback Jay Cutler threw three touchdowns to receiver Brandon Marshall, and cornerback Charles Tillman put himself on the map with his “peanut punch” forcing four fumbles on his own, an NFL record. The Bears went up 28-2 in the first quarter and capped of their impressive first half of the season with the most points they’ve scored since 1980. The only downside of this game is what came after during the second half of the season, as the Bears went 3-5 to miss the playoffs, ultimately costing coach Lovie Smith his job. But for one final time, the vaunted Bears defense of the 2000s and early 2010s showed how special they could be.
5. 2015, Week 12, Bears at Packers
Bears 17 – Packers 13: The John Fox era from 2015-2017 provided very few great moments, but his first year had one of the best wins of the decade. Playing in Green Bay on Thanksgiving as the 7-3 Packers honored their Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, one would think there was no chance the Bears could be in this game, let alone win it. But a gutsy defensive performance, well-timed turnovers, and a goal-line stand to end the game helped the Bears complete the upset and give quarterback Jay Cutler his first win at Lambeau Field. This wasn’t pretty and it didn’t give the Bears a significant chance to make the playoffs, but every fan likely knows where they were when this game ended. It was the biggest win the team had in nearly two seasons.
4. 2013, Week 14, Cowboys at Bears
Bears 45 – Cowboys 28: Whether you remember this as the “Josh McCown game”, the “Mike Ditka game”, or the “freezing cold” game, you remember one of the greatest games by a Bears quarterback in team history. McCown threw four touchdowns and ran in another. Receiver Alshon Jeffery was on the receiving end of one of those throws and made a spectacular catch to put the Bears up 24-14 at the half. From there, the offense continued the onslaught as McCown had a career day to lead the Bears to victory. The cherry on top was the honor for coach Mike Ditka at halftime, where his #89 jersey was retired. He gave an impassioned speech to the 63,000 fans freezing their toes off, capped off with “Go Bears” that brought the crowd to their feet. This wasn’t the most complete game and the win didn’t get the Bears to the postseason, but it stands out even six years later.
3. 2018, Week 15, Packers at Bears
Bears 24 – Packers 17: The first of two division-clinching games on this list, the Packers came into town trying to play spoiler as the Bears honed in on their first division title since 2010. Thanks to a couple touchdowns from running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen in the first half, the Bears led 14-3 at halftime, stifling quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense. But scores by the Packers in the third quarter tied the game up at 14-14. The Bears went up by two scores following a field goal and a pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to tight end Trey Burton, but Rodgers still had time to do his thing. Fortunately, safety Eddie Jackson intercepted Rodgers near the end of the fourth quarter, all but sealing the title for the Bears. To capture another division crown was sweet, but to do it at home against the rival Packers was even sweeter.
2. 2010, Week 15, Bears at Vikings
Bears 40 – Vikings 14: This game wasn’t as dramatic as their clincher against the Packers eight years later, but not only did the Bears wallop the Vikings to win the NFC North, they made history. Kick returner Devin Hester became the all-time record holder for most return touchdowns in league history, and the Bears defense knocked Vikings quarterback and nemesis Brett Favre out of the league on a hit from defensive end Corey Wooten. The Bears defense caused five turnovers and the offense, led by quarterback Jay Cutler’s three touchdowns, kept the game out of reach. The game itself delivered and the Bears left Minnesota as division champs, but this one stands out for those two moments. Favre terrorized the Bears throughout his whole career and, like clinching by beating Rodgers, there’s a different vibe when you clinch a playoff spot against a rival. And Hester’s record-breaking return culminated an impressive season for him as he returned to greatness in 2010.
1. 2010, Divisional Playoffs, Seahawks at Bears
Bears 35 – Seahawks 24: The best game of the decade has to be the Bears lone playoff win, right? Even thought the game took place almost nine years ago, the vision of tight end Greg Olsen sprinting to the endzone behind the Seattle defense for a touchdown is as vivid as ever. A somewhat surging Seahawks team took down the heavily-favored New Orleans Saints thanks to “Beastquake” and now came into Soldier Field in a rematch of the 2006 divisional round. This game, however, would be less dramatic, as the Bears stormed out of the gates to a 28-0 lead in the first half. Quarterback Jay Cutler accounted for four touchdowns on the day, and moved the ball down the field effectively thanks to Olsen, who had 113 yards on three catches. In his first-ever playoff game, Cutler looked sharp for most of the day and the Bears moved on to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game, a matchup that arguably provided the most anticipation for a Bears game ever.
