Note: *Three victories are deducted from the indicated overall winning total on page 416 of the 2020 Chicago Bears Media Guide (page 418 on PDF). The Eagles and Steelers (Steagles) amalgamated in 1943 (0-1) while the Cardinals and Steelers (Card-Pitt) merged in 1944 (1-0). (2-0). The merger left all four teams with 10 wins and no losses. In order to put more competitive games on television, the NFL split its teams into two divisions - East and West - which ensured that each team would play every other team twice during the regular season. The top two teams in each division advanced to the playoffs, with the winners meeting in the Super Bowl.
The Bears last won the National Football League Championship before the World War II era was started in 1934. They had been competing as a modern franchise since 1920. Prior to that they were known as the Racine Watchmakers or just the Watchmakers. They adopted their current name after a group of investors led by George Halas bought the rights to the nickname from the Cleveland Indians for $10,000.
In 1945, the Bears and the Cardinals (formerly St. Louis Rams) joined together to form a new league called the American Football League (AFL). The two leagues competed against each other for many years until the AFL ceased operations in 2001. The remaining team, the Chicago Bears, then joined what is now the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles amalgamated their squads for one season in 1943, becoming what was formally known as the Phil-Pitt Eagles-Steelers Combine. Several weeks after the announcement, a Pittsburgh Press editor coined the team's unofficial moniker, "Steagles," which stuck. The merger was necessitated by World War II and both teams played their home games at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
After winning the World Series in 1907, the Chicago Cubs failed to win another title until 2016. During that time, they had many great players but no Joe Carter. In 2018, the team decided to give it a try with Carter on board. However, after one season, he was let go. Coincidentally or not, 2019 is also the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series victory. The team may have moved away from its traditional roots and hired someone new this year, but that doesn't mean they won't win the Series again next year.
Al Michaels is an American sportscaster who has called NFL football games for most of his career. He calls football games for the Detroit Lions during Thanksgiving Day games. His son, Adam, is the assistant coach for the Lions.
The Bears make the playoffs despite a defeat. Despite losing 35-16 to the Packers in Sunday's season finale at Soldier Field, the Bears won the third and final wild card position in the NFC playoffs thanks to the Cardinals' 18-7 defeat to the Rams in Los Angeles. With the win, Chicago improves to 9-7 and will play at Minnesota on Saturday (AEDT) for the right to face Seattle in the Super Bowl.
The Bears clinched their spot with just over two minutes left to play when Arizona lost 23-20 at home to St. Louis. It was Chicago's second straight win over a division rival after beating Green Bay earlier this month. The Bears also finished with nine wins under head coach John Fox for the first time in his career. They went 8-8 in 2011 and then 9-7 last year - their most wins since 2002 when they had the NFL's best record at 13-3.
Chicago has made the postseason for the ninth consecutive year - the longest active streak in the NFL - but it's the first time they'll be playing in February rather than March or April. The Bears have never reached the Super Bowl before. They've been to the championship game five times but have never won it all.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said making the playoffs is what matters most now. "We're happy for our fans.
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