The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a 4–12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive year. It was the team's first 4-win season since they posted a 4–10 record in 1975. It was also the second time where the Bears were the only team from the NFC Central to not make the playoffs. The first time this scenario occurred was in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Bears defense struggled mightily throughout the season, allowing a franchise-record 421 points in 1997.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsWR Ricky Proehl (Seahawks) WR Michael Timpson (Eagles)LB Ron Cox (Packers) S Mark Carrier (Lions)DE Mark Thomas (Panthers) C Rob Davis (Packers)G Chris Gray (Dolphins) DT Chris Zorich (Redskins)TE Harper LeBel (Falcons) DB Kevin Miniefield (Cardinals)T Jimmy Herndon (Jaguars) CB Donnell Woolford (Steelers)WR Chris Penn (Chiefs) G Casey Wiegmann (Jets) DB Ricky Bell (Jaguars) DB Tyrone Hughes (Saints) NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at Green Bay Packers L 24–38 0–1 Lambeau Field 60,766 2 September 7 Minnesota Vikings L 24–27 0–2 Soldier Field 59,263 3 September 14 Detroit Lions L 7–32 0–3 Soldier Field 59,147 4 September 21 at New England Patriots L 3–31 0–4 Foxboro Stadium 59,873 5 September 28 at Dallas Cowboys L 3–27 0–5 Texas Stadium 64,082 6 October 5 New Orleans Saints L 17–20 0–6 Soldier Field 58,865 7 October 12 Green Bay Packers L 23–24 0–7 Soldier Field 62,212 8 Bye 9 at Miami Dolphins W 36–33 1–7 Pro Player Stadium 73,156 10 November 2 Washington Redskins L 8–31 1–8 Soldier Field 53,052 11 November 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 22–29 1–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,443 12 November 16 New York Jets L 15–23 1–10 Soldier Field 45,642 13 November 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–7 2–10 Soldier Field 43,955 14 November 27 at Detroit Lions L 20–55 2–11 Pontiac Silverdome 77,904 15 December 7 Buffalo Bills W 20–3 3–11 Soldier Field 39,784 16 December 14 at St. Louis Rams W 13–10 4–11 Trans World Dome 66,030 17 December 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 15–31 4–12 Houlihan's Stadium 70,930 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 4: at New England Patriots
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 9: at Miami Dolphins
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: vs. New York Jets
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16: at St. Louis Rams
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
References
External links
1997 Chicago Bears at Pro-Football-Reference.com