This NFL Thursday miniseries is winding down as we approach the Top 5 franchises all-time, in terms of winning percentage. So, from Miami last week we move to the Windy City: the Chicago Bears were founded in 1920 and have a .557 winning percentage over the many years since then. Overall, the team has won 9 NFL championships, although that includes just 1 Super Bowl title (see below). Still, it’s a winning group.

With 24 division titles, it seems like the Bears often are competitive; it just has not translated to a lot of postseason victories over the years. In fact, Chicago has a losing playoff record (17-20) despite those 9 championships, which ranks second all time in NFL history. Along with the Cardinals, a franchise that also started in Chicago, the Bears are the oldest organization in North American professional football. Trivia!

No. 5: 2006 Chicago Bears

With a 13-3 record, these Bears won the NFC North Division, thanks to the No. 2 offense, the No. 3 defense, and the No. 4 overall SRS ranking. They escaped the Seattle Seahawks, 27-24, in the division playoffs before trouncing the New Orleans Saints, 39-14, in the NFC title matchup. In the Super Bowl, however, Chicago could not sustain first-quarter momentum that gave it an 8-point lead—and lost 29-17 to Indianapolis.

Linebackers Brian Urlacher (19 Approximate Value) and Lance Briggs (16) topped the team in value, along with center Olin Kreutz (15). The Bears needed a fourth-quarter comeback to win in overtime against the Seahawks, and then Chicago scored three touchdowns in the fourth to overwhelm the Saints. In the Super Bowl, the Bears got off to the best start possible but just could not maintain the effort throughout the game.

No. 4: 1963 Chicago Bears

The Monsters of the Midway went 11-1-2 to top the NFL West Division, built on the No. 10 offense, the No. 1 defense, and the No. 3 SRS overall ranking. In the league at the time, it was on to the title game directly, and there, the Bears beat the mildly favored New York Giants by a 14-10 score. Chicago’s defense famously forced six turnovers, including five interceptions off the voted NFL MVP, New York quarterback Y.A. Tittle.

Six defensive players topped 15 AV for the year: defensive end Doug Atkins (20), LB Joe Fortunato (20), LB Bill George (18), free safety Rosey Taylor (18), strong safety Richie Petitbon (17), and LB Larry Morris (16). The Bears gave up just 144 points in 14 games, so the defensive smothering of the Giants offense was not too surprising; Chicago’s offense only managed 222 total yards while winning the NFL championship.

No. 3: 1956 Chicago Bears

It’s hard to imagine too many teams topping that ’63 beast, but somehow this relatively anonymous squad did so. With a 9-2-1 record, Chicago won the NFL West and advanced to the title game on the backs of the No. 1 offense, the No. 7 defense, and the No. 1 overall SRS ranking. However, the Giants flat-out annihilated the Bears, 47-7, in the NFL Championship Game, despite the Bears’ being favored. It’s still hard to decipher.

QB Ed Brown posted an 83.1 QB rating for the year, but he was benched in the title game after Chicago fell behind 20-0 in icy weather. Fullback Rick Casares (1,329 scrimmage yards and 14 TDs) and end Harlon Hill (1,152 yards and 11 TDs) were the lone bright spots against New York, combining for 171 total yards and the Bears’ only score. In the end, it seems a choice in footwear was the deciding factor for this title tilt. Truth.

No. 2: 1965 Chicago Bears

How does the No. 1 team in the overall SRS rankings end up just third in its division?! We give you the 9-5 Chicago Bears. This team was also No. 2 on offense and No. 2 on defense—but an 0-3 start doomed the team, and four losses came by a combined 23 points. Here’s a strange fact: the Bears lost to San Francisco in Week 1 by a 52-24 score, but then Chicago beat the 49ers in Week 13 by a 61-20 margin. How weird is that?!

The Bears put up a plus-134 point differential, tops in the NFL, due to the valuable contributions of halfback Gale Sayers (18 AV) and LB Dick Butkus (15), both Hall of Fame legends. The former was the Rookie of the Year, of course, with 2,722 all-purpose yards and 22 total TDs. This was the last great team coached by George Halas, another guy who is enshrined in Canton—but it remains a sabermetrical puzzle.

No. 1: 1985 Chicago Bears

This team often comes up in discussions of the greatest champions ever in the sport … and rightfully so. These Bears went 15-1 with the No. 2 offense, the No. 1 defense, and the No. 1 overall SRS ranking. Then, Chicago shutout its two NFC playoff opponents before obliterating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl by a 46-10 margin—the largest Super Bowl blowout ever at the time. “The Super Bowl Shuffle” indeed.

DE Richard Dent (20 AV), defensive tackle Steve McMichael (18), running back Walter Payton (18), LB Mike Singletary (16), and LB Otis Wilson (16) were the top dogs here. The Giants gained just 181 yards in the divisional round, while the Los Angeles Rams put up a mere 130 yards in the NFC title game. The Patriots? Just 123 yards in a Super Bowl loss that set new standards for defensive dominance. Sweetness!