CHICAGO BEARS vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS : GAME ANALYSIS

A position-by-position matchup of the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears in today’s Super Bowl XX:

QUARTERBACKS Fire and ice. Chicago’s Jim McMahon is the wacky leader of his team’s offense who likes to bang heads with his offensive linemen after touchdowns and wear “Rozelle” headbands to taunt the commissioner. New England’s Tony Eason is a laid-back Californian who seldom shows emotion. McMahon finished second in the NFC in passing and has played well in postseason, completing 26 of 47 for 380 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Eason has cut down on his mistakes after missing five regular season games with a shoulder injury. He is 29 of 42 (69%) for 367 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs.

Key statistics: McMahon threw 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in regular season, compared to Eason’s 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

EDGE: Chicago.

RUNNING BACKS Walter Payton’s first Super Bowl after 10 long years is one of the more interesting aspects of the game. Payton, who managed just 125 yards in Chicago’s two playoff victories after gaining 1,551 during the season, should be ready to break loose. Bears fullback Matt Suhey is a strong blocker and caught 33 passes during the regular season. The Patriots backfield is deeper and more versatile. Craig James has emerged as the top runner, with 100-yard games against the Miami Dolphins and Raiders. Tony Collins is a dependable blocker with a team-high 58 catches counting playoffs. Second-teamers Robert Weathers and Mosi Tatupu provide occasional rest for the starters. Weathers broke 45-yard run vs. Miami and Tatupu scored the final touchdown.

Key statistic: Patriots have run 147 times (for 511 yards) compared to 49 pass plays in playoffs.

EDGE: New England. WIDE RECEIVERS There’s lots of speed but relatively few receptions on both sides. New England wide receivers Stanley Morgan and Irving Fryar caught 39 passes each in regular season. Chicago’s Willie Gault caught 33 passes and Dennis McKinnon 31. Morgan, Fryar and Stephen Starring have ability to break big play against Chicago’s man-to-man pass defense. Fryar’s cut finger may hinder his receiving ability, so Starring will start.

Key statistics: Running backs led both teams in receptions but starting wide receivers averaged 19.7 yards per catch for Chicago and 18.3 for New England.

EDGE: New England. TIGHT ENDS Bears completed combined 57 passes to tight ends Emery Moorehead and Tim Wrightman in regular season. Moorehead, who caught 35, gets most of playing time but Wrightman is the tight end of the future. New England uses Lin Dawson to block and Derrick Ramsey to catch.

Key statistics: Chicago tight ends accounted for 25% of regular-season completions, compared to 18% for New England.

EDGE: Chicago.

OFFENSIVE LINE Both teams have two Pro Bowlers here. New England’s line up next to each other--left guard John Hannah and left tackle Brian Holloway. They excel at pulling to lead James on sweeps. Veteran unit also includes center Pete Brock, guard Ron Wooten and tackle Steve (Big House) Moore. Bears left tackle Jimbo Covert and center Jay Hilgenberg are Pro Bowlers. Covert plays next to Mark Bortz, with tackle Keith Van Horne and guard Tom Thayer on the right side. Bears’ line has combined 17 years of NFL experience, yet is one of league’s best units.

Key statistics: Bears led NFL in rushing; Patriots cut sack total from 66 in 1984 to 39.

EDGE: Chicago. DEFENSIVE LINE Bears have best combination of defensive ends in NFL with Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. Dent led league with 17 sacks and forced seven fumbles. In the playoffs, he has 3 1/2 sacks. He has knocked down eight passes in regular season and playoffs. Hampton shifted from tackle in midseason to make room for celebrated rookie William (The Refrigerator) Perry. Former Patriot Steve McMichael is the other tackle. New England rookie end Garin Veris had 10 sacks but nose tackle Lester Williams and 14-year veteran Julius Adams contribute little.

Key statistics: Bears’ line had 41 sacks, compared to Patriots’ 23 1/2.

EDGE: Chicago. LINEBACKERS The soul of both defenses. Chicago middle linebacker Mike Singletary and New England outside linebacker Andre Tippett were defensive player of year in respective conferences. Singletary, who covers vast amount of field, is flanked by All-Pro Otis Wilson and rising star Wilber Marshall. Tippett, who led AFC with 16 1/2 sacks, is joined by Pro Bowler Steve Nelson and Larry McGrew inside and Don Blackmon outside. Blackmon has been at his best in postseason.

Key statistic: Six of seven starting linebackers were first or second round draft choices.

EDGE: Even.

SECONDARY New England is loaded here, with cornerbacks Ray Clayborn and Ronnie Lippett and safeties Fred Marion and Roland James. Lippett had been the weak link but has improved greatly this season. Dan Marino attacked Clayborn last week with no success. Marion intercepted seven passes in regular season and one in each playoff game. Chicago cornerbacks Leslie Frazier and Mike Richardson are asked to play a lot of one-on-one coverage and don’t get burned often. Hard-hitting Gary Fencik and Pro Bowler Dave Duerson do a lot of blitzing from their safety spots.

Key statistic: Patriots’ starters in secondary combined for 20 interceptions in regular season and four in postseason.

EDGE: New England. SPECIAL TEAMS Patriots have thrived in playoffs on forced turnovers on kick and punt coverage. They have two playoff touchdowns on fumbled kickoffs and three in last five games. Chicago is weak on coverage and could have trouble with Fryar, who led AFC with 14.1 punt return average.

Chicago kicker Kevin Butler set rookie scoring record and led NFL with 144 points, hitting 31 of 37 field goals. New England’s Tony Franklin is almost as reliable with a stronger leg. Chicago punter Maury Buford’s 34.6 net average is one yard better than Rich Camarillo of New England. Chicago’s Gault and Dennis Gentry have returned kickoffs for touchdowns.

Key statistics: Fryar has two punt returns for touchdowns and New England linebacker Johnny Rembert has two touchdowns on fumbled kickoffs.

EDGE: New England. COACHES Chicago’s Mike Ditka and New England’s Raymond Berry have done best coaching jobs in NFL this year. Ditka’s Bears have fun without sacrificing their ferocious play. Berry has Patriots believing in themselves despite franchise’s history of failing in big games. Chicago’s Buddy Ryan is considered best defensive coach in NFL.

Key statistic: Berry, in his first full season as head coach, has won his first three playoff games--all on the road.

EDGE: Chicago. TENDENCIES Both offenses like to establish run and pass when they don’t have to. That formula has contributed to no interceptions in playoffs on either side. Today’s game could be an early ground battle between Payton and James.

Ryan’s defensive scheme keeps most offenses off balance. Chicago likes to bring eight men on line of scrimmage, putting pressure on opponents’ offensive line and its own cornerbacks. Marshall, from the strong side, and Wilson from the weak side do the most blitzing and neither defense is afraid to let its corners play one-on-one coverage.

GAME BY GAME SCORES

CHICAGO (17-1) 38 Tampa Bay 28 20 New England 7 33 at Minnesota 24 45 Washington 10 27 at Tampa Bay 19 26 at San Francisco 10 23 Green Bay 7 27 Minnesota 9 16 at Green Bay 10 24 Detroit 3 44 at Dallas 0 36 Atlanta 0 24 at Miami 38 17 Indianapolis 10 19 at NY Jets 6 37 at Detroit 17 Playoffs 21 NY Giants 0 24 LA Rams 0

NEW ENGLAND (14-5) 26 Green Bay 20 7 at Chicago 20 17 at Buffalo 14 20 LA Raiders 35 20 at Cleveland 24 14 Buffalo 3 20 NY Jets 13 32 at Tampa Bay 14 17 Miami 13 34 Indianapolis 15 20 at Seattle 13 13 at NY Jets* 16 38 Indianapolis 31 23 Detroit 6 27 at Miami 30 34 Cincinnati 23 Playoffs 26 at NY Jets 14 27 at LA Raiders 20 31 at Miami 14 *Overtime.