Chicago Wins Behind Tomczak : McMahon Suffers Concussion, but Backup Comes Through, 24-7

If there is one thing Mike Tomczak has learned as Jim McMahon’s backup, it is be ready at all times.

McMahon lasted through the first 5 games of a season for the first time of his career, but was knocked out with a concussion Sunday in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions. Tomczak came on for Chicago and outplayed Rusty Hilger, the former Raider who replaced injured Lion starter Chuck Long, as the Bears won, 24-7.

“You’ve got to expect the unexpected,” Tomczak said. “That’s the role of a backup quarterback. I don’t call the shots and I don’t say when to play, but I can’t say, ‘Coach, I’m not ready.’ ”

Tomczak completed 12 of 22 passes for 158 yards, including a 31-yard scoring strike to Ron Morris in the fourth quarter. Hilger completed 13 of 43 attempts for 187 yards. Long left after completing 6 of 14 for 57 yards.

Chicago improved to 5-1 and the Lions fell to 1-5 with their fifth straight loss.

Chicago Coach Mike Ditka said he expected Tomczak’s efficiency.

“I didn’t have any problems with Mike,” Ditka said. “I expected him to perform at the level of McMahon.”

Tomczak is 11-2 in games he started the last 2 seasons when McMahon was injured. He entered Sunday’s game with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half, after McMahon was sacked by linebackers Dennis Gibson and George Jamison.

“I was still kind of dizzy from a hit by (Mike) Cofer and the next time I went down I think I caught a knee in the head,” McMahon said. “That was all she wrote for today.”

McMahon completed 8 of 11 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, an 11 yarder to Dennis McKinnon to open the scoring.

Long was also injured in the second quarter, when he was hit while releasing the ball by Bear defensive end Richard Dent. Long suffered a sprained knee.

Hilger was signed as a free agent last Monday after backup quarterback Eric Hipple suffered a broken ankle.

The situation for Tomczak, who has been with the Bears since 1985, was a lot easier than that of the newcomer Hilger.

“I told Chuck before the game that if he got hurt, it better be bad enough to go to the hospital or I’d kill him after the game,” joked Hilger, who combined with Long to throw a club-record 57 passes.

“I want to make a public apology to the organization and to the fans of the Detroit Lions. A veteran ought to be able to come in and play a little bit better.”

Detroit Coach Darryl Rogers, however, said he was satisfied with Hilger’s performance on short notice.

“Rusty did an excellent job for someone who’s only been in camp for 3 days,” Rogers said. “Obviously a guy can’t step in after being out of camp for 5 weeks and know our offense. We tried to keep it as basic as we could for him being here just 3 days.”

Long probably will not need surgery, but Rogers expects him to miss next week’s game against the New York Giants.

The Lions’ deepest drive of the first half ended at the Chicago 45. Detroit managed only 97 yards in total offense in the half and trailed, 17-0, at halftime.