The Fridge Is Running: Bears hand off ball to DE Hicks for touchdown
In a charmed season that has drawn plenty of comparisons to the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 2018 team took another step toward placing themselves on the Windy City’s most hallowed pedestal.
And they did it by turning back the clock and invoking the play of the legendary William Perry.
With the Bears at the goal line on fourth down against the New York Giants, Chicago brought defensive end Akiem Hicks into the offensive huddle and handed the ball off for an epic touchdown.
.@The_Dream99 IS THE FRIDGE 2.0 😲 #DaBears
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/33cXyC6QFt
— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) December 2, 2018
The 1985 Bears famously deployed Perry — a 6-foot, 350-pound defensive tackle — as a fullback in goal-to-go situations where he scored three touchdowns, including one in Super Bowl XX.
You can hear the announcers practically screaming with joy as Hicks got the ball and dove into the end zone in New York and it’s for good reason: Big Guy Touchdowns are always exciting.
They’re more exciting when the play is designed specifically for them. And they’re even more exciting when they bring back memories of The Fridge. Just take a look at how similar the plays are.
Akiem Hicks like… pic.twitter.com/J75sq9s68w
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 2, 2018
It also needs to be mentioned that Hicks doesn’t get a chance to score here without a miraculous catch by wideout Allen Robinson moments before the touchdown.
.@allenrobinson out here making MAGIC happen.
Unreal grab.
📺: FOX #DaBears pic.twitter.com/JTlKw1D53L
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2018
Usually, this would be the main highlight here, but Hicks’ touchdown makes this merely a footnote. As backup quarterback Chase Daniel struggled to figure out the Giants in Sunday’s overtime defeat, a little trickeration like this can go a long way for the Bears.
– – – – – –
Blake Schuster is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at blakeschuster@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Schustee
More from Yahoo Sports:
• CFP field is set as Oklahoma edges Georgia for last spot
• Wetzel: NFL poorly handled probe on Kareem Hunt
• Mets, Marines pull off big trade involving Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz
• Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins deserves Heisman ceremony invitation