Capturing the feel and history of a wild season that saw “The Super Bowl Shuffle” take over the airwaves, Strat-O-Matic offers the newest edition in its classic season card sets featuring the champion 1985 Chicago Bears. This new card set includes every NFL team from 1985.

This new card set gives Strat-O-Matic players the opportunity to find if their coaching acumen can bring the Bears to a perfect record, as in real life the Bears rolled to a 15-1 record in the regular season, highlighted by memorable victories over the Redskins, Cowboys, and 49ers. However, while their season was just short of perfect, your game play could mean a difference in their overall record. Legendary for his 1985 season, eventual Hall Of Fame inductee Mike Singletary copped Defensive Player of the Year honors, while the colorful Mike Ditka was named Coach of the Year – but your acumen could mean a lot as you replay a season to remember.

With your skilled coaching, teams to challenge Chicago include:

NEW ENGLAND (11-5): This franchise had never made the Super Bowl before this stellar season that featured performances that pushed the team into the limelight. Despite their championship game loss, the Pats were led by a sturdy offensive line featuring left guard John Hannah, who managed to earn a first-team All-NFL ranking at age 34. Left tackle Brian Holloway earned Pro Bowl honors, and youngsters Craig James and Tony Collins had everyone talking: James ran for more than 1,200 yards; Collins rushed for 657 yards and logged 52 receptions for 549 more yards.

MIAMI (12-4) not only was responsible for the only blemish on the Bears’ lofty record, but also roared to the top of the AFC East. QB Dan Marino, defending his 1984 MVP Award, didn’t earn the nod in ’85 but still threw for more than 4,100 yards and logged 30 touchdown passes. Wideout Mark Clayton aided with 70 catches for almost 1,000 yards, and veteran Nat Moore caught 51 passes for more than 700 yards.

LOS ANGELES RAIDERS (12-4): Marcus Allen rushed for 1,759 yards, compiling 67 receptions, and not only became the Player of the Year but the Raiders’ spiritual leader as well. Even as QB Marc Wilson stumbled, stars such as Allen and tight end Todd Christensen (who caught 82 passes for 987 yards) more than made up the difference.  Howie Long and nose tackle Bill Pickel (12½ sacks) led the defense.

LOS ANGLES RAMS (11-5): Winning the NFC West, head coach John Robinson’s squad finally catapulted to the top of their division, and made believers out of the league after Eric Dickerson, despite missing two games due to a contract snafu, led the offense by running for more than 1,200 yards. He ran behind what now is a legendary offensive line: Hall of Famer Famer Jackie Slater, Kent Hill, Doug Smith, and Dennis Harrah.

DENVER (11-5): The Broncos had made the playoffs for two straight years, but oddly failed to qualify in this season – but your coaching and knowledge could help them earn a nod as you play out the season. QB John Elway hadn’t quite achieved superstar status by this point, but still played well, throwing for more than 3,800 yards and completing 54 percent of his passes. The Broncos’ defense was rock solid, led by inside linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, who recorded 13 sacks en route to the Pro Bowl, joined by teammates in corner Louis Wright and strong safety Dennis Smith.

DALLAS (10-6) finished with the same record as the New York Giants and Washington Redskins following a hard-fought NFC East race, but showed its mettle in what was head coach Tom Landry’s last team to to reach the postseason. This was a team with experience, led by such veteran stars as All-NFL defensive tackle Randy White, who logged 10 ½ sacks;  Tony Dorsett, who at 31 ran for more than 1,300 yards; and legendary defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones, who recorded 13 sacks.

A memorable 1985 season was logged by Dan Marino of the Miami Dolpins, who led all QBs with 4,137 passing yards. The San Diego Chargers led the league in scoring by a wide margin with 467 points.  The Bears’ RB Walter Payton was nearly unstoppable, rushing for 1,551 yards and nine touchdowns while also leading the team in receiving with 49 catches for 483 yards. The Bears kept hogging the leaderboard, as DL Richard Dent led the league in sacks with 18.

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