Fans Head To A Football Stadium

FANS HEAD TO A FOOTBALL STADIUM expecting to see a game. But a thick blanket of fog made it difficult for everybody to see during the 1988 NFL divisional playoffs.

Despite fears of biting winds and single-digit temperatures, the Soldier Field thermometer read 32 degrees when the Chicago Bears hosted the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears struck early on a Dennis McKinnon 64-yard touchdown reception. Chicago padded the margin on a 4-yard Neal Anderson touchdown run and a 46-yard Kevin Butler field goal. Meanwhile, the Eagles scored three first-half field goals.

Just before the intermission, the unusually warm weather created a thick fog rolling off Lake Michigan. Referee Jim Tunney and NFL executive director Don Weiss conferred and agreed the game should continue.

But fans and television viewers witnessed little of the second half. Sideline cameras showed grainy images, while overhead shots revealed a gray mess. Reporters and television announcers received information relayed from roaming sideline officials with walkie-talkies.

Due to the fog and a shoulder injury to quarterback Mike Tomczak, the Bears attempted only seven passes in the second half. Although Philadelphia reached Bears territory on 9 of 13 possessions, Chicago’s defense limited the Eagles to Luis Zendejas’s four field goals, and the Bears advanced with a 20–12 triumph.

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POINT Poor visibility created difficulty for both teams. Long passes were impossible. Coaches couldn’t read offenses or defenses. Players only saw a small part of what occurred on the field.

The Bible says that we know only part of God’s wonders. We view a blurry image like a reflection in an old, cracked mirror. But when we get to heaven, we’ll see God clearly . . . just as clearly as God sees us now.

GOAL! Why not make a New Year’s resolution to reflect God’s love to everyone this year? Write down any other resolutions you may have.