Bears Put the Reigns On Dickerson, Colts To Win Again, 17-13

If Eric Dickerson can’t get 100 yards against the Chicago Bears’ stifling defense, maybe no one can.

Dickerson had 95 yards and a touchdown for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but his fourth-quarter fumble preserved the Bears’ 17-13 victory and stretched to 26 games the Chicago streak of not allowing an opposing runner to break the 100-yard mark.

Dickerson was the last person to reach triple figures in rushing against the Bears, when he gained 111 playing for the Rams in 1986.

“He ran right over somebody for the touchdown,” Chicago Coach Mike Ditka said of Dickerson’s fourth-quarter run that gave Indianapolis a 13-10 lead. “The main thing is you are not going to shut him out. If he is going to get his yardage, you can’t let the other guys get big yardage.

“I’m not sure how much we kept him under wraps, because he’s a great football player. There is no question Eric Dickerson is the greatest back in the game today.”

The Bears, ranked No. 1 in the NFL in defense, have allowed first downs on only 2 of 17 third-down plays in the first 2 games of the season. The Colts were 2 of 10 in third-down efficiency and were outgained in total offense, 332 yards to 173.

After Dickerson’s touchdown, Matt Suhey put the Bears (2-0) back on top with a 2-yard scoring run. The Colts came back to drive to the Chicago 37 with less than 6 minutes remaining, but Dickerson fumbled and Steve McMichael recovered for the Bears.

The Bears took over and worked the clock to 1:38 before a punt gave the Colts (0-2) their last chance. But the first pass from quarterback Jack Trudeau was intercepted by Vestee Jackson, and the Bears held the ball the rest of the game. Jackson also intercepted Trudeau’s first pass of the game, starting Chicago’s first touchdown drive.

The Chicago defense held Indianapolis to two field goals by Dean Biasucci and limited Trudeau to 1 completion in 10 attempts until he hit Clarence Verdin for 48 yards late in the third period. Three plays later, Dickerson scored for a 13-10 lead, the only time Indianapolis led.

Chicago’s other scores came on a 35-yard pass from Jim McMahon to Dennis Gentry and a 40-yard field goal by Kevin Butler.

Bear defensive end Richard Dent, whose 30-day suspension for refusing to take a drug test was temporarily lifted on Friday, didn’t start the game. He came in during the first quarter and was in on two sacks of Trudeau, and the first, late in the opening period, sent the Indianapolis quarterback to the sideline with a damaged rib cage. Trudeau returned early in the second quarter.