NFC Title Game: Chicago edges New York by 1 to gain Super Bowl Birth

No one expected this - 69 points scored in a game featuring two of the best defenses in the NFL. . The key was six turnovers, four by NY and two by Chicago. Every turnover happened inside a team's own territory.The opening kick was typical. NY fumbled and Chicago recovered on the Giants' 18 yard line. Three plays later McMahon (19-41-198) found Payton(12-73 rushing; 7-47 receiving) for a 4-yard TD. Each team also returned an interception for a score.

Here's how things played out after the opening TD by the Bears. New York tied the game on their next possession moving 82 yards in just 9 plays. Stacy Robinson caught a 37 yard pass from Simms (23-38-299) for the score. Later in the quarter NY took just 3 plays to take a 14-7 lead.The big play was a 49 yard TD jaunt by Joe Morris (25-119).

The Chicago offense did nothing the rest of the half (70 total yards)while NY's next three possessions led to FGAs. Allegre made 2 of 3,missing a 50 yarder. The Giants looked very confident with a 20-7 lead at the break.

Chicago received the second half KO and moved 80 yards in just 6 plays.That made it 20-14, NY. The Giants then fumbled and things suddenly looked different on the Giants' sideline. No worries though as two plays later McMahon was picked by George Martin who took it to the house for a 27-14 lead.

The NY offense then disappeared. Their next 5 possessions totaled 16plays and 5 yards. Meanwhile the Bears sandwiched their own INT return for a TD between two scoring drives (40 and 73 yards). It was now 35-27Chicago midway through the last quarter. Time for the NY offense to wake up. A Landeta punt had pinned Chicago at their own one yard line. Giants' defense held and NY took over at the Chicago 37. They converted on 3rd and 10 and made just 8 yards on another 3rd and 10. It was 4th and goal from the 2. Down 8 points NY needed a TD and a two point conversion to tie. They went for it on 4th and 2 .... but failed.

All was not lost though as the Giants defense held and the NY offense took over at the Chicago 38 yard line with with 3:33 remaining. This time they converted a 3rd and 7, a 4th and 9 and a 3rd and goal from the six yard line. The last TD made it 35-33. Time for two. D**M - no two point conversion in 1986. The XP point is good, the onsides kick fails,and Chicago goes to the Super Bowl with a 35-34 win.

This was a tale of two halves. Eddie did a great job shutting down NY in the second half and revving up the Bears' offense at the same time.Chicago put up 28 points in the second stanza, including 21 unanswered.NY had a very un-Parcells game: 4 turnovers, 11 penalties and 5 sacks of Simms.

Congratulation to Eddie and the Bears. Too bad this wasn't the real NFC Championship game in 1986.

-contributed by Wayne Poniewaz-