PRO FOOTBALL : Bears Get Defensive, Rally to Beat Tampa Bay, 38-28

The Chicago Bears’ defense needed some big plays to save its reputation.

Pushed around in the first half, the NFL’s leading defense in 1984 came alive on Leslie Frazier’s 29-yard touchdown runback of an interception on the second play of the third quarter and the Bears turned back the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-28, Sunday.

“We knew we needed a big play after the way they handled us in the first half,” said Frazier, whose interception return for a touchdown was the second of his career. “I had a feeling they would go with that play. They did it a lot in the first half.”

Richard Dent tipped the pass and Frazier went in untouched to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 28-24.

Jim McMahon, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another two on one-yard runs, hit Matt Suhey on a nine-yard scoring pass with 33 seconds left in the third quarter to put Chicago ahead to stay.

Chicago added an insurance touchdown after Shaun Gayle blocked a Buccaneer punt at Tampa Bay’s 17. McMahon rolled to the right and went in untouched two plays later.

“The defense did an excellent job,” Chicago Coach Mike Ditka said. “The offense did an excellent job. I’m tired of hearing about one or the other doing the job. The Bears did it as a team.”

The defeat, Tampa Bay’s 12th in a row on the road, spoiled the Buccaneers’ coaching debut of Leeman Bennett.

“Lack of concentration killed us,” Bennett said. “That tipped pass turned things around. It was such an easy score.

McMahon was 23 of 34 for 274 yards. Walter Payton rushed for 119 in 17 carries for his 64th career 100-yard plus game.