The Chicago Bears made the playoffs on Sunday, despite losing to the Green Bay Packers 35-16. Chicago will go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints next Sunday afternoon in the NFC Wild Card. Facing the Saints will be a tough challenge for the Bears, but it will be even harder playing in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where the team has not won a game there since 1991.

The Bears' last Two Victories in New Orleans Were Vastly Different

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome will always have a special place in Bears' history as it was the site in which the team won its only Super Bowl back in 1986. Super Bowl 20 was remembered due to Chicago's dominant win over the New England Patriots by a final score of 46-10. The Bears defense forced seven sacks, five turnovers, a defensive score, and safety in one of the best Super Bowl defensive performances ever. https://youtu.be/ITeozxHXzVE Chicago's only victory in New Orleans in the last 30 years came back in 1991 when the Bears beat the undefeated Saints in week nine by a final score of 20-17. It was a bizarre last-second victory as Bears' quarterback Jim Harbaugh engineered a game-winning touchdown drive. The Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" defense confused Harbaugh all day as he had only completed two passes for 16 yards through the first 58 minutes of the game. In the final two minutes, Chicago's quarterback completed three passes, including a 12-yard game-winning touchdown pass receiver to Tom Waddle. The Bears' only other win on the road against the Saints came back in 2005, but not in New Orleans. Due to Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 Saints were forced to play their home games in either San Antonio or Baton Rouge. The Bears prevailed 20-17 in front of a half-empty Tiger stadium, with LSU Tigers colors covering the field. https://youtu.be/wuX46eETjOM

The Saints Have Marched Over The Bears at Home Since 1991

Since their 1991 victory over the Saints, it has been downhill for the Bears anytime they have played in New Orleans. They have lost their last five consecutive games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome including a 20-12 loss back in 2017. In 1992, the team lost in a blowout by a score of 28-6, while in 1996, they lost in heartbreaking fashion 27-24, due to a missed field goal. Chicago has only played three times in New Orleans since the new millennium, which is odd, given the fact that they will have played the same amount of game in Los Angeles by the end of 2021. In 2003, The Bears lost to the Saint by a score of 20-13. https://youtu.be/xs8OYF7BqJw In 2011, The Bears got blown out by the Saints 30-13, in a game that would play a vital part in the Saints' Bounty Gate Scandal investigation. Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked six times and lost his voice after being kicked in the throat by a Saints defensive player. Wide receiver Earl Bennett missed five games after a vicious hit by a Saints defender left him with cracked ribs.

The 2017 loss was memorable for both good and bad reasons. In the 20-12 loss, the Bears defense held the Saints offense, which was the best offense in football at the time, to just 20 points and forced two turnovers. Chicago almost pulled off an upset but was robbed of a touchdown by a controversial ruling made by the referees. https://youtu.be/nwrykH3Nhtg   Rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky appeared to connect with tight end Zach Miller on a 25-yard touchdown pass making the score 14-10. Miller, who would suffer a career-ending and almost life-threatening knee injury on the play, was ruled by the refs to not have completed the process of the catch in the end zone. It was controversial as the tight end maintained possession of the ball but let go of the ball out of pain, believing the play was over. Although many believe the Bears will lose, they did nearly beat the Saints earlier this year as they lost to them at home in overtime 26-23 back in week eight. A playoff win would be perfect for the franchise that won their only Super Bowl in the same stadium. A win, more importantly, would be the biggest upset of Wild Card weekend.