PRO FOOTBALL : Bears Finally Get Offense Going for a 13-10 Victory Over Steelers in Overtime

Walter Payton said the Chicago Bears’ offense came to life Sunday after noticing a fan’s sign in the Soldier Field crowd that read: “Offense, we’re going to the Super Bowl. Are you coming?”

The Bears clinched their third straight NFC Central Division title with a 13-10 overtime victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kevin Butler, who missed two field goals and had a third blocked, kicked a game-winning 42-yarder at 3:55 in overtime. He had missed a 28-yard attempt as the fourth quarter came to an end with the game tied 10-10.

“I’m glad how it turned out, but I shouldn’t have put us in that situation,” Butler said.

Playing in their first game since learning that quarterback Jim McMahon will be out for the season and playoffs, the Bears’ offense sputtered in the first three quarters but got going in the final quarter.

Payton, who had fumbled away a touchdown into the Pittsburgh end zone in the second quarter, scored a touchdown on a three-yard run with 8:00 left in regulation.

Payton rushed for 90 yards in 31 carries and also caught 5 passes for 48 yards.

The Bears had moved from their 21 to the Pittsburgh 7, when Payton had the ball knocked out of his arms and it rolled into the end zone, resulting in a touchback.

Chicago quarterback Mike Tomczak, winning his fifth game as a starter this season, completed 19 of 30 passes for 235 yards, with 2 interceptions.

“All 11 guys pulled together,” said Tomczak of the offense that has had to play a back seat to the team’s defense.

The Bears, 11-2 and still in contention for home-field advantage in the playoffs, won the coin toss to start the overtime and chose to kick. After Pittsburgh punted, Tomczak hit Keith Ortego with a 27-yard pass to the Steeler 24. Four plays later, Butler kicked the winning field goal.

“We decided because of the wind, we were going to defend the north goal to put the wind behind us,” Coach Mike Ditka said.

Winds were clocked at 17 m.p.h. with higher gusts all afternoon.

It was Pittsburgh’s second loss in a row in overtime, but the Steelers (4-9) saw little consolation in keeping the game close.

“Close games are terrible,” Pittsburgh Coach Chuck Noll said. “I hate them. If it’s close, you want to be on the winning side.”

Pittsburgh went ahead 10-3 in the third quarter on a broken field-goal play. Holder Harry Newsome, getting a high snap from the center, hit tight end Preston Gothard with a six-yard touchdown pass.