Bears–Cardinals rivalry

The Bears–Cardinals rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals. It is the oldest rivalry in the NFL and features the only two teams that remain from the league's inception in 1920. At that time, the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys, and the Cardinals were the Racine Cardinals.[1][2][3] In 1922, both teams moved to Chicago, and the matchup between the teams became known as "The Battle of Chicago" for 38 years, making it the first true rivalry in the league's history.[4]

Chicago Bears–Arizona Cardinals rivalry
Chicago Bears
Arizona Cardinals
First meetingNovember 28, 1920
Cardinals 7, Staleys 6
Latest meetingDecember 5, 2021
Cardinals 33, Bears 22
Next meetingDecember 24, 2023 in Chicago
Statistics
Meetings total94
All-time seriesBears, 59–29–6
Largest victoryBears, 53–7 (1941)
Longest win streakBears, 9 (1940–1943)
Current win streakCardinals, 1 (2021–present)

The rivalry diminished after the 1959 NFL season, when the Cardinals relocated to St. Louis.[5] After the re-location, the NFL treated the Cardinals and Bears like any other inter-divisional pairing for scheduling purposes, resulting in the teams playing much less frequently. With the completion of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the enlarged NFL seriously considered (in addition to at least four other possible solutions) an alignment for the new National Football Conference that would have placed the Cardinals and Bears in the same division. Ultimately, this alignment was not chosen, and instead the Bears were placed in the NFC Central and the Cardinals in the NFC East. When the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988, the rivalry was further diminished.[6]

Under the current NFL scheduling formula, the Bears and Cardinals play at least once every three years. The Bears currently lead the all-time series 59–29–6.[7][8]

History

The first meeting

The Decatur Staleys and Racine Cardinals met for the first time on November 28, 1920 at Normal Park. Around 5,000 fans showed up to watch the Cardinals defeat the Staleys, 7–6.[6] The lost was the only blemish in the Staleys record that season (ties were disregarded), and cost them the first American Professional Football Association title.

Grange's debut and 0–0 games

Shortly after finishing his college career at the University of Illinois, Red Grange made his NFL debut with the Bears on Thanksgiving against the Cardinals in 1925. Around 36,000 fans showed up at Cubs Park to see the Bears tie the Cardinals 0–0. In fact, this was one of 17 consecutive games after their first meeting which ended in a shutout for either or both teams, with four 0–0 scores. The Cardinals would win their first (and highly disputed) of two NFL championships that season.[7][3]

The Ernie Nevers Game

The Cardinals' Ernie Nevers scored a still-standing NFL record of 40 points in a single game, doing so with six touchdowns and four extra points. Nevers scored all of the points in the Cardinals' 40–6 victory over the Bears on November 28, 1929. It was also the first game between the two teams since their inaugural game that did not end in a shutout.[9]

Pat Coffee's 97-yard touchdown

The Cardinals' 42–28 loss to the Bears at Wrigley Field in 1937 was mostly remembered for Pat Coffee's then-record 97-yard touchdown pass to Gaynell Tinsley, one of ten combined touchdown passes in the game.[3][6]

1950s: The end of the local rivalry

The Cardinals won their second and most recent NFL championship in 1947, but by the 1950s, the team was struggling on the field and at the gate. Nevertheless, in the 13 meetings between the Bears and Cardinals during the decade, the Bears only won seven of them. The Cardinals' last victory as a Chicago team over the Bears was a memorable one, as they won 53–14 at Comiskey Park in 1955 behind Ollie Matson's two touchdowns, including a 77-yard punt return. The Bears finished with a 47–19–6 all-time record against the Chicago Cardinals.[6][8]

1960–1987: Chicago vs. St. Louis

In the 1960 season, the Cardinals moved to St. Louis, keeping the team name despite the existence of the baseball Cardinals in the city. Coincidentally, both Cardinals franchises shared the same building during the football Cardinals' 28 seasons in St. Louis: Busch Stadium I from 1960 to 1965, and Busch Memorial Stadium from 1966 to 1987. The two teams met only eleven times during the Cardinals' tenure in St. Louis, with the Cardinals amassing a 6–5 record. The Bears never played at Busch Stadium I. In the teams' first-ever meeting in St. Louis during the 1966 season, Cardinal defensive back Larry Wilson intercepted three passes, including a game-winning pick-six in St. Louis' 24–17 victory.[6] Despite the Cardinals' success in St. Louis against the Bears, they only made four playoff appearances, and would once again be on the move after the 1987 season. The last-ever meeting between the Bears and St. Louis Cardinals came in the 1984 season, a game which saw Neil Lomax gash Buddy Ryan's 46 defense for six completions and 166 yards to Roy Green, and Ottis Anderson score two touchdowns in the Cardinals' 38–21 victory.[6]

1988–present: Chicago vs. Phoenix/Arizona

The Cardinals moved further west to the Phoenix metropolitan area in 1988, becoming the Phoenix Cardinals. They then changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals in the 1994 season. As of 2021, the Bears won seven of 11 meetings with the Arizona Cardinals, but to this day, the teams have yet to face each other in the NFL playoffs.[6]

The Dennis Green Game
Main article: 2006 Chicago Bears–Arizona Cardinals game

The most memorable game of the rivalry took place on Monday Night Football during the 2006 season. The then-undefeated Bears (5–0 heading into the game) trailed the 1–4 Cardinals by 20 points at halftime, and trailed 23–10 heading into the fourth quarter. However, Bears cornerback Charles Tillman returned a fumble by Edgerrin James 40 yards for a touchdown, and returner Devin Hester sealed the Bears' comeback victory with a 83-yard punt return touchdown. The final score was 24–23 Bears. After the loss, Cardinals head coach Dennis Green made a memorable post-game rant with the media, screaming "They (the Bears) are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"[10]

Game results
Decatur Staleys/Chicago Bears vs. Racine/Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals Season-by-Season Results
1920s (Bears, 9–6–4)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1920 Cardinals
7–6		 Normal Field Cardinals
1–0		 The APFA's first season. First meeting at Normal Field.
Staleys
10–0		 Cubs Field Tied
1–1		 First meeting at Cubs Field.
1921 Tie
0–0		 Cubs Field Tie
1–1–1		 First home game of the matchup for the Staleys. First matchup with the Staleys as a Chicago-based team. tied for the lowest scoring matchup in league history. Staleys win 1921 APFA Championship
1922 Cardinals
6–0		 Comiskey Park Cardinals
2–1–1		 The APFA renames itself as the National Football League (NFL). Cardinals' first season being called "Chicago." "Staleys" rename themselves as the "Bears." First game in Comiskey Park. Thanksgiving Day game.
Cardinals
9–0		 Comiskey Park Cardinals
3–1–1
1923 Bears
3–0		 Cubs Field Cardinals
3–2–1		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1924 Bears
6–0		 Cubs Park Tie
3–3–1
Bears
21–0		 Comiskey Park Bears
4–3–1		 Thanksgiving Day game. Bears take the lead in the rivalry
1925 Cardinals
9–0		 Comiskey Park Tie
4–4–1
Tie
0–0		 Cubs Park Tie
4–4–2		 Thanksgiving Day game. Cardinals win 1925 NFL Championship.
1926 Bears
16–0		 Cubs Park Bears
5–4–2
Bears
10–0		 Soldier Field Bears
6–4–2		 First game at Soldier Field
Tie
0–0		 Cubs Park Bears
6–4–3		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1927 Bears
9–0		 Normal Park Bears
7–4–3
Cardinals
3–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
7–5–3		 Cubs Field is renamed Wrigley Field. Thanksgiving Day game.
1928 Bears
15–0		 Normal Park Bears
8–5–3		 Final game at Normal Field
Bears
34–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
9–5–3		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1929 Tie
0–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
9–5–4
Cardinals
34–0		 Comiskey Park Bears
9–6–4		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1930s (Bears, 17–1–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1930 Bears
32–6		 Comiskey Park Bears
10–6–4
Bears
6–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
11–6–4		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1931 Bears
26–13		 Wrigley Field Bears
12–6–4		 Cardinals' first home game at Wrigley Field
Bears
18–7		 Wrigely Field Bears
13–6–4		 Thanksgiving Day game.
1932 Tie
0–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
13–6–5
Bears
34–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
14–6–5		 Thanksgiving Day game. Bears win 1932 NFL Championship
1933 Bears
12–9		 Wrigley Field Bears
15–6–5
Bears
22–6		 Wrigley Field Bears
16–6–5		 Final Thanksgiving Day game to date for the matchup. Bears win 1933 NFL Championship.
1934 Bears
20–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
17–6–5
Bears
17–6		 Wrigley Field Bears
18–6–5		 Bears lose 1934 NFL Championship.
1935 Tie
7–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
18–6–6		 Latest tied game in the matchup
Bears
13–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
19–6–6
1936 Bears
7–3		 Wrigley Field Bears
20–6–6
Cardinals
14–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
20–7–6
1937 Bears
16–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
21–7–6
Bears
42–28		 Wrigley Field Bears
22–7–6		 Bears lose 1937 NFL Championship.
1938 Bears
16–13		 Wrigley Field Bears
23–7–6
Bears
34–28		 Wrigley Field Bears
24–7–6
1939 Bears
44–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
25–7–6
Bears
48–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
26–7–6
1940s (Bears, 14–6)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1940 Cardinals
21–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
26–8–6		 First season back at Comiskey Park for the Cardinals, Wednesday game
Bears
31–23		 Wrigley Field Bears
27–8–6		 Bears win 1940 NFL Championship.
1941 Bears
53–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
28–8–6
Bears
34–24		 Comiskey Park Bears
29–8–6		 Bears win 1941 NFL Championship.
1942 Bears
41–14		 Wrigley Field Bears
30–8–6
Bears
21–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
31–8–6		 Bears go 11-0 in the regular season. Bears lose 1942 NFL Championship.
1943 Bears
20–0		 Wrigley Field Bears
32–8–6
Bears
35–24		 Comiskey Park Bears
33–8–6		 Bears win 1943 NFL Championship.
1944 Bears
34–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
34–8–6		 Cardinals temporarily merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the season and was known as "Card-Pitt"
Bears
49–7		 Forbes Field Bears
35–8–6		 Only matchup at Forbes Field
1945 Cardinals
16–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
35–9–6
Bears
28–20		 Comiskey Park Bears
36–9–6
1946 Bears
34–17		 Comiskey Park Bears
37–9–6
Cardinals
35–28		 Wrigley Field Bears
37–10–6		 Bears win 1946 NFL Championship.
1947 Cardinals
31–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
37–11–6
Cardinals
30–21		 Wrigley Field Bears
37–12–6		 Cardinals win 1947 NFL Championship.
1948 Bears
28–17		 Comiskey Park Bears
38–12–6		 Monday night game.
Cardinals
24–21		 Wrigley Field Bears
38–13–6		 Cardinals lose 1948 NFL Championship.
1949 Bears
17–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
39–13–6
Bears
52–21		 Wrigley Field Bears
40–13–6		 Final matchup as a Western Division rival.
1950s (Bears, 7–6)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1950 Bears
27–6		 Wrigley Field Bears
41–13–6
Cardinals
20–10		 Comiskey Park Bears
41–14–6
1951 Cardinals
16–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
41–15–6
Cardinals
28–20		 Wrigley Field Bears
41–16–6
1952 Cardinals
21–10		 Comiskey Park Bears
41–17–6
Bears
10–7		 Wrigley Field Bears
42–17–6
1953 Cardinals
24–17		 Wrigley Field Bears
42–18–6
1954 Bears
29–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
43–18–6
1955 Cardinals
53–14		 Comiskey Park Bears
43–19–6
1956 Bears
10–3		 Wrigley Field Bears
44–19–6		 Bears lose 1956 NFL Championship.
1957 Bears
14–6		 Comiskey Park Bears
45–19–6
1958 Bears
30–14		 Wrigley Field Bears
46–19–6
1959 Bears
31–7		 Comiskey Park Bears
47–19–6		 Cardinals play their final game in the matchup as a Chicago-based franchise.
1960s (Tie, 2–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1965 Bears
34–13		 Wrigley Field Bears
48–19–6		 First matchup as a Chicago-St. Louis rivalry.
1966 Cardinals
24–17		 Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium Bears
48–20–6		 First game of the matchup in St. Louis.
1967 Bears
30–3		 Wrigley Field Bears
49–20–6		 Final game of the matchup at Wrigley Field
1969 Cardinals
20–17		 Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium Bears
49–21–6		 Final matchup before the NFL-AFL merger
1970s (Bears, 3–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1972 Bears
27–10		 Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium Bears
50–21–6
1975 Cardinals
34–20		 Soldier Field Bears
50–22–6
1977 Cardinals
16–13		 Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium Bears
50–23–6
1978 Bears
17–10		 Soldier Field Bears
51–23–6
1979 Bears
42–6		 Soldier Field Bears
52–23–6
1980s (Cardinals, 2–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1982 Cardinals
10–7		 Soldier Field Bears
52–24–6
1984 Cardinals
38–21		 Busch Memorial Stadium Bears
52–25–6		 Final matchup as a Chicago-St. Louis rivalry
1990s (Bears, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1990 Bears
31–21		 Sun Devil Stadium Bears
53–25–6		 First time in the matchup where the Cardinals are a Phoenix-based franchise. Only matchup while known as the Phoenix Cardinals. First matchup at Sun Devil Stadium.
1994 Bears
19–16		 Sun Devil Stadium Bears
54–25–6		 First time in the matchup where they are known as the "Arizona" Cardinals.
1998 Cardinals
20–7		 Sun Devil Stadium Bears
54–26–6		 Final time in the matchup at Sun Devil Stadium.
2000s (Bears, 3–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2001 Bears
20–13		 Soldier Field Bears
55–26–6
2003 Bears
28–3		 Soldier Field Bears
56–26–6
2006 Bears
24–23		 University of Phoenix Stadium Bears
57–26–6		 First game in the matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium. Monday Night Football game. Bears lose Super Bowl XLI.
2009 Cardinals
41–21		 Soldier Field Bears
57–27–6
2010s (Bears, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2012 Bears
28–13		 University of Phoenix Stadium Bears
58–27–6
2015 Cardinals
48–23		 Soldier Field Bears
58–28–6
2018 Bears
16–14		 State Farm Stadium Bears
59–28–6
2020s (Cardinals, 1–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2021 Cardinals
33–22		 Soldier Field Bears
59–29–6
2023 Soldier Field
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat Decatur Staleys/Chicago Bearsat Racine/Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona CardinalsNotes
Regular season Bears 59–29–6 Bears 31–13–5 Bears 28–16–1
Postseason No postseason meetings as of 2022
Regular and postseason Bears 59–29–6 Bears 31–13–5 Bears 28–16–1

See also

Other Chicago vs. Chicago rivalries

Other Chicago vs. St. Louis rivalries

References
  1. "NFL Cardinals Team History". Sports Team History. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  2. Eric Meier. "No, Bears-Packers Is Not the Oldest Rivalry in the NFL". K102.5 Kalamazoo Radio. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  3. Andrew Harner. "Who Are the Arizona Cardinals' Biggest Rivals?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  4. Bill King. "Cardinals stake claim: NFL's oldest franchise has a story to tell". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  5. "1960: Why the Cardinals left Chicago". The Big Red Zone. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  6. BigRedBilly. "Cardinals vs. Bears: There's history between Arizona and Chicago". SB Nation. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  7. Barry Wilner. "A look at the first decade of the NFL, the 1920s". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  8. Fred Mitchell. "Too bad Bears-Cardinals local rivalry thing of past". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  9. Josh Katzowitz (29 November 2013). "Remember When: Star FB Ernie Nevers scores 40 points in 1929". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  10. Jared Dubin (22 July 2016). "Looking back on Dennis Green's 'They are who we thought they were' moment". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-11-24.

Further reading


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