Payton Gets Boost From Anderson in Bears’ Win

Walter Payton wasn’t talking, and Neal Anderson wasn’t listening to talk comparing him to Payton.

Payton scored twice, once on a 1-yard dive for his National Football League-record 107th rushing touchdown and once on a 9-yard pass, and Anderson scored on a 27-yard run Sunday as the Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-3.

Payton, whose rushing touchdown broke a tie with Jim Brown, brushed past reporters and didn’t even acknowledge congratulations for what was his 10th NFL rushing record.

“He was angry because he didn’t think the press treated him well this week,” a Bear spokesman said.

Payton, the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, gained only 24 yards in 15 carries, and Anderson enjoyed the first 100-yard game of his 18-game career with 16 carries for 115 yards.

Payton, 33, who is in his 13th season, played most of the game, even though he suffered an ankle injury last Monday night against the new York Giants and didn’t practice much of the week.

Why did he play at all?

“Because he wanted to play,” Coach Mike Ditka said. “We made adjustments on offense. They took some things away from Walter, and Neal made some great plays.

“Anderson is going to be a great football player. He has speed, speed, speed and he’s going to get Better, Better, Better.”

Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Vinny Testaverde, the No. 1 pick in the draft, make his NFL regular-season debut when he replaced starter Steve DeBerg, who hurt his leg, for the final three minutes of the game.

DeBerg, who threw 5 touchdown passes last week against Atlanta, completed 18 of 35 passes for 195 yards. Testaverde completed 1 of 4 passes for 14 yards.

The Bears (2-0) turned the ball over twice on interceptions and twice on fumbles, but the Chicago defense kept Tampa Bay (1-1) out of the end zone with two fumble recoveries and tow interceptions.

“We try to make things happen, “ said Bear defensive lineman William Perry, who had one of four sacks. “We cranked thing up.”

Chicago’s Mike Tomczak completed 15 of 27 passes for 150 yards and had 2 passes intercepted.