Dent and Tomczak Injured, but Bears Down Packers, 16-0

Running out of quarterbacks, the Chicago Bears turned to Neal Anderson.

Anderson ran 80 yards in the third quarter for his second touchdown of the game Sunday and the Bears downed the Green Bay Packers, 16-0, behind third-string quarterback Jim Harbaugh.

“It was just icing on the cake,” Anderson said. “It helped take the pressure off Harbaugh.”

Harbaugh replaced Mike Tomczak, who suffered a separated left shoulder late in the first half with the Bears leading, 7-0. Coach Mike Ditka said Harbaugh will start next Monday night against the Rams, with Jim McMahon, returning from a knee injury, in reserve.

The Bears also lost the services of defensive end Richard Dent, who suffered a broken bone in his left ankle early in the second half and could be out 6 to 8 weeks.

“It’s tough when you lose good people, but we’ve dealt with adversity before,” Ditka said. “Harbaugh will be starting, I think he’s ready.

“They are bad injuries, but we are not going to quit playing. Our objectives are more than reaching the playoffs.”

The Bears (11-2) notched a fourth straight victory and clinched at least a wild-card playoff berth. The Packers (2-11) have scored only 39 points during a 6-game losing streak.

Tomczak, making his fourth straight start since McMahon was sidelined with a knee injury, went down with a minute left in the first half when he was sacked by Tim Harris.

“We had a stunt on the other side,” Harris said. “I faked like I was going to stunt, and I got around (Jim) Covert. When I saw Tomczak with the ball, I sped up. I wanted to get to him before he released the ball. It was a good hit.”

The Bears were nursing a 7-0 lead when Anderson broke his 80-yard touchdown run after Chicago cornerback Vestee Jackson intercepted Don Majkowski’s pass on the Bears’ 2-yard line.

Originally, officials said he was knocked out on the 1-yard line by Dave Brown, but after review of the tape, it was ruled he scored by diving into the end zone.

The Bears scored a safety with 4:22 left in the game when Majkowski stepped out of the end zone attempting to pass.

The Bears took the opening kickoff and marched 70 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown and the only score of the first half.

Tomczak completed 4 passes in the drive for 43 yards. He hit Ron Morris with a 14-yard pass to the Green Bay 19-yard line on third-and-7.

Tomczak followed with an 11-yard pass to Cap Boso. Anderson had a 6-yard gain before he finally went over for the touchdown on a 1-yard sweep to the right.

The Packers came right back with their only scoring opportunity in the first half. Majkowski completed a 36-yard pass to Perry Kemp to the Chicago 29, but Dean Dorsey’s 48-yard field goal attempt was short.

The shutout was the Bears’ first since Oct. 5, 1986, when they defeated Minnesota, 23-0.