Читать книгу The 50 Greatest Players in Chicago Bears History - Robert W. Cohen - Страница 17

Although the Bears lost to the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 52–24 in the opening game of the 1965 regular season, Butkus excelled in his pro debut, recording 11 solo stops.

Butkus once again starred in defeat two weeks later, making 27 unassisted tackles during a 23–14 loss to the eventual NFL champion Green Bay Packers on October 3, 1965.

Butkus recorded the first interception of his career during a 31–6 win over the Los Angeles Rams on October 10, 1965, subsequently returning the ball 11 yards.

Butkus earned NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first of four times by intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble during a 35–14 win over the Giants on November 28, 1965.

Butkus anchored a Chicago defense that allowed just 42 yards rushing and 168 yards of total offense during a 14–3 win over the Detroit Lions on October 15, 1967.

Butkus helped lead the Bears to a 38–7 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 9, 1969, that represented their only win of the year by making 25 tackles and recording a safety when he sacked quarterback Dick Shiner in the end zone, with his brilliant play gaining him recognition as NFL Defensive Player of the Week.

Butkus had another big game against the Steelers in the 1971 regular-season opener, picking off two passes during a 17–15 Bears win.

Butkus gave the Bears a 16–15 victory over the Washington Redskins on November 14, 1971, when, following a 40-yard touchdown run by Chicago’s Cyril Pinder late in the fourth quarter, the linebacker broke a 15–15 tie by making a leaping catch in the end zone of a pass thrown by holder Bobby Douglass following a botched extra-point attempt. Butkus later called the play the favorite of his career.

Butkus carried the ball for the only time in his career during a 38–24 loss to the Lions on October 1, 1972, gaining 28 yards on a fake punt attempt.

Butkus contributed to a 35–14 win over the Houston Oilers on October 28, 1973, by intercepting a pass and scoring his lone career touchdown when he recovered a fumble in the end zone.