NFL: Very foggy memories of an Eagles-Bears playoff tilt
PHILADELPHIA— Buddy Ryan’s feud with Mike Ditka dominated headlines when the Philadelphia Eagles returned to the playoffs following a six-year absence to play the Chicago Bears on New Year’s Eve 1988. Then weather stole the show. Late in the second quarter with the Bears leading 17-6, things got weird. A dense fog rolled in off Lake Michigan and seeped into Soldier Field.
“I remember looking to the left side of the field and we thought the stadium was on fire because it was that thick and it was billowing over the side of the wall,” former Eagles middle linebacker Mike Reichenbach recalled this week. “It was like a horror movie. It kind of engulfed the stadium in no time.”
CBS play-by-play announcer Verne Lundquist and analyst Terry Bradshaw couldn’t see the field from the booth. Fans in the stands had no idea what was happening.
“It’s eerie,” Lundquist said on the broadcast before Bradshaw explained how warm weather — the temperature was above freezing — mixed with cold water from the lake created the fog.
The fog grew thicker after halftime and it became more difficult for players and fans at the game to see anything. Viewers couldn’t see the action on TV even though CBS switched to its sideline cameras.
Reichenbach said he had to run over to Ryan on the sideline to get the defensive calls before going back to relay it in the huddle. But the game continued. Eagles running back Keith Byars wasn’t sure what the officials were seeing.
“I couldn’t see past the left tackle,” said Byars, who caught nine passes for 103 yards.
Longtime Eagles play-by-play radio announcer Merrill Reese compares calling the game in the fog to staring at a white wall.
“We saw absolutely nothing,” Reese said.
Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham passed for 407 yards, but he threw three interceptions in a 20-12 loss.
Many Philadelphia players insist the outcome would’ve been different if it wasn’t for the fog. Byars said the Eagles would have gone on to win the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the championship.
There was plenty of animosity between Ryan and Ditka from the time they were together in Chicago with the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl-winning team and afterward.
Chicago’s victory in the Fog Bowl 30 years ago is the only time the Bears have defeated the Eagles in three playoff meetings. The Bears (12-4) get another chance when they host the Eagles (9-7) on Sunday in an NFC wild-card game.
Sans the fog, hopefully.