Bears’ Defense Kicks 49ers Around, Takes Names in 10-9 Victory

They don’t have a nickname like Steel Curtain or Fearsome Foursome, but these guys can play defense.

By whatever name, the Chicago Bears were better than the National Football League’s best offense Monday night, shutting down Joe Montana, Roger Craig and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers for a 10-9 victory.

“I’ve been around a lot and I’ve seen a lot of football and I’ve never seen a better effort from a defense,” said Bears Coach Mike Ditka, whose team lost, 41-0, in San Francisco last year. “There’s probably been a better game somewhere, but tonight they played a great game against a great team.”

Not only did Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Richard Dent and friends keep San Francisco (5-3) scoreless following a touchdown on the first drive, but they also set up all the points for the Bears (7-1).

The Bears were so good that Ditka went for a first down on 4th and 1 at the San Francisco 45 when defensive captain Mike Singletary urged him to do so. Chicago didn’t get the first down, but neither did the 49ers on their last 4 downs.

“The Bears’ defense the best? I wouldn’t argue with that,” 49er Coach Bill Walsh said.

Chicago’s victory ended the 49ers’ 11-game road winning streak one short of a league record the 49ers tied a week ago.

It was mostly the work of the front four--Hampton, McMichael, Dent and Al Harris--which shut down San Francisco after Montana hit Jerry Rice with a 23-yard scoring pass on San Francisco’s first possession to make it 7-0.

The 49ers, who got 97 yards on that initial drive, added just 119 more in the remaining 3 1/2 quarters. Craig, who was the NFL’s leading rusher with 764 yards after 7 games, was limited to 3 carries for minus-2 yards in the first half and finished with 30 yards in 10 carries.

Montana was 13 of 29 for 168 yards, but just 44 yards in the second half before leaving the game in favor of Steve Young for San Francisco’s final series.

The Bears had 4 sacks and were constantly in Montana’s face, particularly at key moments, including a stand that allowed just 1 yard midway through the fourth quarter after John Taylor’s 30-yard punt return put the ball at the Chicago 35. Mike Cofer’s 51-yard field goal attempt fell far short.

Chicago’s only touchdown, on Jim McMahon’s quarterback sneak with 3:38 left in the half to get the Bears eve, came after the Bears got field position at the 49ers’ 37 following consecutive sacks by Hampton and McMichael.

McMichael pressured Montana into an interception by Dave Duerson that led to Kevin Butler’s 18-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

That was enough to offset a second-half safety for the 49ers when McMahon was sacked in the end zone by Larry Roberts.

“We played as hard as we could and they played as hard as they could and just couldn’t get it done,” Walsh said. “I don’t know how good we are. I con’t care how good we are. I just know if we play with the attitude we played with tonight, we’ll go somewhere.”

It was the fifth straight victory for Chicago and left the Bears 2 games ahead of Minnesota (5-3) in the NFC Central. San Francisco trails New Orleans (7-1) and the Rams (6-2), in the West.

San Francisco took a 7-0 lead on its first possession, going 88 yards in 8 plays, with the score coming on a 23-yard pass over the middle from Montana to Rice.