NFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Best Teams in NFL History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Bill Walsh 49ers were the NFL team of the 1980s. But the 1985 Bears were the 1980s.

They were funky, punky, edgy and rebellious. The were Walter Payton's Jheri curl and Jim McMahon's headband, Mike Ditka's scowl, Mike Singletary's cobra-like gaze and Buddy Ryan's cocky grin.

The 1985 Bears wanted their MTV, and MTV wanted them. No boy-band Svengali could assemble a more compelling mix of personalities—Payton's trademarked Sweetness, Singletary's intensity, William Perry's lovability, Ryan's outlaw country vibe, McMahon's proto-Bart Simpson insouciance. No one could get enough of the 1985 Bears.

No one could stop them, either. Their 46 Defense terrorized opposing quarterbacks for 64 sacks and 34 interceptions. Meanwhile, Payton smoothly churned out over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. McMahon played quarterback and did everything else his own way, with ample relief from backup Steve Fuller, because McMahon performed all his own stunts.

The 1985 Bears beat opponents by a combined score of 104-3 over one three-game stretch. It was a preview of the playoffs, when they shut out the Giants and Rams before inaugurating the era of unwatchable Super Bowl routs with a 46-10 demolition of the Patriots.

The Bears might have been even better in 1986, but McMahon's injuries left them playing musical chairs at quarterback. Ryan left, Payton and others retired, and the Bears slowly became just another good team with a great defense.

Eventually, MTV stopped playing videos, too.

But in 1985, the Bears were more than an exceptional football team. They were a phenomenon.