The Redskins travelled to Chicago for a re-match of the previous year's divisional playoff in which Washington had embarrased the Bears by ending their title defense.

Early in the game it looked like the Bears were serious about revenge. Little known players Calvin Thomas and Ron Morris scored TDs for Chicago, and they led 14-0 midway through the second quarter. But Doug Williams led the Skins back on two scoring drives before halftime, one ending with a George Rogers run and the other a TD pass to Didier.

In the third quarter, Washington's defense began stifling the Bears offense, leading to the go-ahead score. Hoping to take advantage of a Bears punt from deep in their own territory, Gibbs put Darrell Green back as a returner. Green caught the punt just inside Redskins territory, then embarked on a wild scamper to the end zone that included a hurdle of a would-be tackler and an injured rib cage. Chicago could only answer with a FG, and a scoreless fourth quarter closed out a playoff win in Chicago for the second straight year.