Why Bears Fans Won with the Eagles Win over Vikings
The Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears have a history that seems to resonate if you're discussing the era between 1960-2000's. We can always dig a little deeper if you want to include the Frankford Yellow Jackets (Philadelphia’s First NFL Team) making a championship appearance in 1928 which ignited a Bears championship appearance in 1932 but we’ll leave that history alone for now. The Bears seem to have the knack of duplicating an Eagles championship or Super Bowl appearance a few years later, 3.67 years later if you want to get to the bottom line.
It began in 1960 as the Eagles advanced to the NFL championship to defeat the Packers 17-13. In just 3 years the Bears followed suit to advance to the 1963 NFL Championship to defeat the New York Giants 14-10. The Eagles and Bears would endure a brutal decade in the early to mid-1970’s. Both teams would make 2 playoff appearances a piece in the late 70’s with the Bears advancing in “77” and”79” while the Eagles would advance in “78” and “79.”
The Eagles would eventually earn their first Super Bowl berth in 1981 before losing to the Raiders 27-10. Ironically the Bears would make a coaching change in 1982 which brought in Bears legend Mike Ditka and the rest is history as the Bears would eventually roar their way into Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986, and demolish the Patriots 46-10.
The 1990’s bought moderate success for both teams as both would make 7 playoff appearances (Eagles 4, Bears 3) but no Super Bowl berths. The 2000’s, however, would have another unique pattern as the Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl in 2004. Ironically while the Eagles reached another Super Bowl the Bears were once again going through a coaching change as Lovie Smith was hired. The Bears would once again duplicate an Eagles Super Bowl appearance by arriving at the greatest stage in 2007 before losing to Peyton Manning and the Colts 29-17.
There is clearly something in the water when it comes to the Bears and Eagles. Maybe it has something to do with the Frankford Yellow Jackets last win coming against the Bears. Strange but who knows. So here we are it's now 2018. The Eagles are at it again advancing to Super Bowl 52 and the Bears are at it again going through another coaching change. The big question is when will new Bears coach Matt Nagy lead the team back to prominence? Don’t be surprised if its another 3.67 years later thanks to the Eagles.