NFL game summary for 12/20/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 121.3 (19) | 220.6 (8) | 341.9 (12) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 122.3 (13) | 184.1 (7) | 306.5 (5) | 44 | |
 | OFFENSE | 133.4 (11) | 156.7 (27) | 290.1 (26) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 138.0 (21) | 201.7 (13) | 339.7 (18) | 37 |
Line: Broncos by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (10-6-0) | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
| Chicago Bears (6-10-0) | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
( 3- 0) DEN Fred Steinfort 46 yard field goal
( 3- 7) CHI Walter Payton 19 yard pass from Vince Evans (John Roveto kick)
( 3-14) CHI Roland Harper 4 yard rush (John Roveto kick)
( 3-21) CHI Gary Fencik 69 yard interception return (John Roveto kick)
(10-21) DEN Riley Odoms 6 yard pass from Craig Morton (Fred Steinfort kick)
(10-28) CHI Al Harris 44 yard interception return (John Roveto kick)
(17-28) DEN Rick Upchurch 25 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Fred Steinfort kick)
(17-35) CHI Walter Payton 7 yard pass from Vince Evans (John Roveto kick)
(24-35) DEN Rick Upchurch 39 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Fred Steinfort kick)
DEN CHI
First Downs: 19 15
Rushes-yards: 19-76 41-170
Yards/rush: 4.0 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 22-49-278-3 10-20-118-2
Sacked-yards: 6-56 1-7
Net pass yards: 222 111
Net yards/pass: 4.0 5.3
Total net yards: 298 281
Total plays: 74 (25% run) 62 (66% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 4.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-0
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 9-74 11-101
Attendance: 40,125
Passing:
DEN: Steve DeBerg, 14 of 26 for 190 yards and 2 TDs; Craig Morton, 8 of 23 for 88 yards and 1 TD (3 int) CHI: Vince Evans, 10 of 20 for 118 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Dave Preston, 6 for 25 yards; Larry Canada, 5 for 17 yards; Rob Lytle, 4 for 14 yards; Rick Parros, 3 for 20 yards; Tony Reed, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 62 yards; Roland Harper, 15 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Vince Evans, 6 for 50 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 10 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 6 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Watson, 6 for 82 yards; Dave Preston, 5 for 55 yards; Ron Egloff, 3 for 21 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 12 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD CHI: Walter Payton, 3 for 42 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Margerum, 3 for 28 yards; Rickey Watts, 2 for 42 yards; Brooks Williams, 1 for 4 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Mike Harden, 4 for 69 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 13 yards CHI: Emery Moorehead, 3 for 51 yards; Brooks Williams, 1 for 35 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 2 for 14 yards; Aaron Kyle, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Jeff Fisher, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Dennis Smith, 1 for 65 yards; Aaron Kyle, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Gary Fencik, 1 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Al Harris, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Mike Singletary, 1 for -3 yards
Punting:
DEN: Luke Prestridge, 7 for 263 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Fred Steinfort, 1/1 CHI: John Roveto, 0/1
DEN: Steve DeBerg, 14 of 26 for 190 yards and 2 TDs; Craig Morton, 8 of 23 for 88 yards and 1 TD (3 int) CHI: Vince Evans, 10 of 20 for 118 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Dave Preston, 6 for 25 yards; Larry Canada, 5 for 17 yards; Rob Lytle, 4 for 14 yards; Rick Parros, 3 for 20 yards; Tony Reed, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 62 yards; Roland Harper, 15 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Vince Evans, 6 for 50 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for 10 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 6 for 102 yards and 2 TDs; Steve Watson, 6 for 82 yards; Dave Preston, 5 for 55 yards; Ron Egloff, 3 for 21 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 12 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 6 yards and 1 TD CHI: Walter Payton, 3 for 42 yards and 2 TDs; Ken Margerum, 3 for 28 yards; Rickey Watts, 2 for 42 yards; Brooks Williams, 1 for 4 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Mike Harden, 4 for 69 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 13 yards CHI: Emery Moorehead, 3 for 51 yards; Brooks Williams, 1 for 35 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 2 for 14 yards; Aaron Kyle, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Jeff Fisher, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Dennis Smith, 1 for 65 yards; Aaron Kyle, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Gary Fencik, 1 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Al Harris, 1 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Mike Singletary, 1 for -3 yards
Punting:
DEN: Luke Prestridge, 7 for 263 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 6 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Fred Steinfort, 1/1 CHI: John Roveto, 0/1