NFL team season
The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a 4–12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt . It was the team's first 4-win season since they posted a 4–10 record in 1975 . The team allowed a franchise-record 421 points in 1997.[1]
Offseason [ edit ] NFL draft [ edit ] [2]
1997 Chicago Bears staff Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
[3]
1997 Chicago Bears roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists Practice squad
53 active, 7 inactive, 3 practice squad
Rookies in italics
[4]
Regular season [ edit ] Schedule [ edit ] Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at Green Bay Packers L 24–38 0–1 Lambeau Field 60,766 2 September 7 Minnesota Vikings L 24–27 0–2 Soldier Field 59,263 3 September 14 Detroit Lions L 7–32 0–3 Soldier Field 59,147 4 September 21 at New England Patriots L 3–31 0–4 Foxboro Stadium 59,873 5 September 28 at Dallas Cowboys L 3–27 0–5 Texas Stadium 64,082 6 October 5 New Orleans Saints L 17–20 0–6 Soldier Field 58,865 7 October 12 Green Bay Packers L 23–24 0–7 Soldier Field 62,212 8 Bye 9 at Miami Dolphins W 36–33 (OT) 1–7 Pro Player Stadium 73,156 10 November 2 Washington Redskins L 8–31 1–8 Soldier Field 53,052 11 November 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 22–29 1–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,443 12 November 16 New York Jets L 15–23 1–10 Soldier Field 45,642 13 November 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–7 2–10 Soldier Field 43,955 14 November 27 at Detroit Lions L 20–55 2–11 Pontiac Silverdome 77,904 15 December 7 Buffalo Bills W 20–3 3–11 Soldier Field 39,784 16 December 14 at St. Louis Rams W 13–10 4–11 Trans World Dome 66,030 17 December 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 15–31 4–12 Houlihan's Stadium 70,930
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings [ edit ] Game summaries [ edit ] Week 1: at Green Bay Packers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
GB – Ryan Longwell 36-yard field goal. Packers 21–11. GB – Ryan Longwell 29-yard field goal. Packers 24–11. Fourth quarter
GB – Dorsey Levens 1-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 31–11. CHI – Ricky Proehl 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 31–17. GB – Gabe Wilkins 1-yard fumble return (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 38–17. CHI – Raymond Harris 68-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Packers 38–24. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
CHI – Raymont Harris – 4 receptions, 36 yards GB – Robert Brooks – 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings [ edit ] Week Two: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 3 0 10 14 27 Bears 0 10 7 7 24
at Soldier Field , Chicago, Illinois
Date : September 7Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 69 °F (21 °C)Game attendance : 59,263TV : Fox Box score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
MIN – Greg Davis 28-yard field goal. Bears 10–6. MIN – Orlando Thomas 22-yard fumble return (Greg Davis kick). Vikings 13–10. CHI – Bobby Engram 10-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–13. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions [ edit ] Week Three: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Lions 3 10 10 9 32 Bears 7 0 0 0 7
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date : September 14Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 69 °F (21 °C)Game attendance : 59,147TV : FoxBox score
Week 4: at New England Patriots [ edit ] Week Four: Chicago Bears at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 3 0 3 Patriots 7 7 0 17 31
at Foxboro Stadium , Foxborough, Massachusetts
Date : September 21Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : 56 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 59,873TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
NE – Troy Brown 52-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 14–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NE – Adam Vinatieri 27-yard field goal. Patriots 17–3. NE – Curtis Martin 70-yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 24–3. NE – Lovett Purnell 20-yard pass from Scott Zolak (Adam Vinatieri kick). Patriots 31–3. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys [ edit ] Week Five: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 3 0 0 0 3 Cowboys 0 7 17 3 27
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : September 28Game time : 3:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 78 °F (26 °C)Game attendance : 64,082TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DAL – Richie Cunningham 33-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–3. DAL – Michael Irvin 26-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 17–3. DAL – Deion Sanders 83-yard punt return (Richie Cunningham kick). Cowboys 24–3. Fourth quarter
DAL – Richie Cunningham 23-yard field goal. Cowboys 27–3. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints [ edit ] Week Six: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Saints 0 3 10 7 20 Bears 3 0 0 14 17
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NO – Mario Bates 49-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 10–3. NO – Doug Brien 48-yard field goal. Saints 13–3. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers [ edit ] Week Seven: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 14 7 3 24 Bears 10 0 7 6 23
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date : October 12Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 68 °F (20 °C)Game attendance : 62,212TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CHI – Erik Kramer 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Bears 17–14. GB – Mark Chmura 12-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick). Packers 21–17. Fourth quarter
GB – Ryan Longwell 37-yard field goal. Packers 24–17. CHI – Chris Penn 22-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Packers 24–23. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: at Miami Dolphins [ edit ] Week Nine: Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 OT Total Bears 7 8 3 15 3 36 Dolphins 7 6 6 14 0 33
at Pro Player Stadium , Miami Gardens, Florida
Date : Game time : 8:00 p.m. CST/9:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 82 °F (28 °C)Game attendance : 73,156TV announcers (ABC) : Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn SwannBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 39-yard field goal. Bears 10–7. CHI – Dan Marino sacked in end zone. Bears 12–7. CHI – Jeff Jaeger 23-yard field goal. Bears 15–7. MIA – Jerris McPhail 10-yard pass from Dan Marino (pass failed). Bears 15–13. Third quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 47-yard field goal. Bears 18–13. MIA – Terrell Buckley 22-yard fumble return (pass failed). Dolphins 19–18. Fourth quarter
MIA – Troy Drayton 22-yard pass from Dan Marino (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 26–18. MIA – Karim Abdul-Jabbar 2-yard run (Olindo Mare kick). Dolphins 33–18. CHI – Bobby Engram 8-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Jeff Jaeger kick). Dolphins 33–25. CHI – Chris Penn 25-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Erik Kramer pass to Bobby Engram). Tied 33–33. Overtime
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 35-yard field goal. Bears 36–33. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins [ edit ] Week Ten: Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 14 10 7 0 31 Bears 0 0 0 8 8
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date : November 2Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 42 °F (6 °C)Game attendance : 53,052TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
WAS – Gus Frerotte 1-yard run (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 21–0. WAS – Scott Blanton 38-yard field goal. Redskins 24–0. Third quarter
WAS – Leslie Shepherd 39-yard pass from Gus Frerotte (Scott Blanton kick). Redskins 31–0. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
MIN – David Palmer 7-yard pass from Brad Johnson (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 14–7. CHI – Jeff Jaeger 29-yard field goal. Vikings 14–10. MIN – Chuck Evans 3-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Vikings 21–10. Third quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 22-yard field goal. Vikings 21–13. CHI – Ricky Proehl 59-yard pass from Erik Kramer (pass failed). Vikings 21–19. Fourth quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 36-yard field goal. Bears 22–21. MIN – Leroy Hoard 1-yard run (Brad Johnson pass to Cris Carter ). Vikings 29–22. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: vs. New York Jets [ edit ] Week Twelve: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Jets 10 13 0 0 23 Bears 0 0 7 8 15
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
NYJ – John Hall 36-yard field goal. Jets 13–0. NYJ – John Hall 34-yard field goal. Jets 16–0. NYJ – Otis Smith 38-yard interception return (John Hall kick). Jets 23–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ edit ] Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Buccaneers 0 0 7 0 7 Bears 10 3 0 0 13
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date : November 23Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 27 °F (−3 °C)Game attendance : 43,955TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 25-yard field goal. Bears 13–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 14: at Detroit Lions [ edit ] Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 14 6 0 0 20 Lions 3 14 17 21 55
at Pontiac Silverdome , Detroit, Michigan
Date : Game time : 11:30 a.m. CST/12:30 p.m. ESTGame weather : None (played indoors)Game attendance : 77,904TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 52-yard field goal. Bears 17–3. DET – Herman Moore 8-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 17–10. CHI – Jeff Jaeger 32-yard field goal. Bears 20–10. DET – Barry Sanders 40-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Bears 20–17. Third quarter
DET – Jason Hanson 29-yard field goal. Tied 20–20. DET – Johnnie Morton 50-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 27–20. DET – Barry Sanders 25-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 34–20. Fourth quarter
DET – Barry Sanders 15-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 41–20. DET – Ron Rivers 13-yard run (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 48–20. DET – Tracy Scroggins 17-yard fumble return (Jason Hanson kick). Lions 55–20. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills [ edit ] Week Fifteen: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 3 0 0 3 Bears 0 17 0 3 20
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CHI – Jeff Jaeger 38-yard field goal. Bears 20–3. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
STL – Jeff Wilkins 26-yard field goal. Rams 10–7. CHI – Jeff Jaeger 27-yard field goal. Tied 10–10. CHI – Jeff Jaeger 21-yard field goal. Bears 13–10. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ edit ] Week Seventeen: Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 7 0 8 15 Buccaneers 14 7 10 0 31
at Houlihan's Stadium , Tampa Bay, Florida
Date : December 21Game time : 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 65 °F (18 °C)Game attendance : 70,930TV : FoxBox score
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CHI – Darnell Autry 3-yard run (Jeff Jaeger kick). Buccaneers 14–7. TB – Karl Williams 7-yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 21–7. Third quarter
TB – Michael Husted 20-yard field goal. Buccaneers 24–7. TB – Errict Rhett 5-yard run (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 31–7. Fourth quarter
CHI – Rick Mirer 1-yard run (Rick Mirer run). Buccaneers 31–15. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
References [ edit ] External links [ edit ]
Franchise Records Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Minor league affiliates Retired numbers Key personnel Division championships (21) Conference championships (4) League championships (9) Media Broadcasters Radio: Personnel: Television: WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox , official pre-game and post-game alternate) Marquee Sports Network (official post-game and in-season programming) Personnel: Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter) Adam Amin (pre-season play-by-play) Jim Miller (pre-season analyst) Current league affiliations
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)