49ers Wrap Up Regular Season Against Bears Today

The San Francisco 49ers have given meaning to a football version this year of the basketball fans’ adage about not paying attention until the last few minutes.

The comeback trend seems to be continuing even as the 49ers play out the regular-season schedule and prepare for the playoffs. They trailed Buffalo 3-0 with 18 minutes remaining last Sunday before rallying for a 21-10 victory--their sixth come-from-behind win this year. They also broke second-half ties in three other victories.

The 49ers (13-2) would like to get comfortably ahead and coast to their fifth straight win when the the Chicago Bears (6-9) come to Candlestick Park today, particularly in order to get their regulars out of the game early and avoid injury. But they won’t be uptight if it comes down to the final period again.

“You expect a big play is going to happen,” said guard Terry Tausch, new to the 49ers this season. “The big difference is Joe (Montana). It’s his presence, knowing what’s going on. He’s done it so much.

“It’s amazing for me, being here one year, watching what he’s done in the fourth quarter. There’s nothing like it.”

The comeback king is typically modest on the topic of rallying from double-digit deficits.

“It’s not me,” he said. “It’s everybody. If everybody is not playing well (at the end), one guy is not going to make a difference.”

San Francisco has led only seven of its 15 games at halftime and been tied in two others. Five times the 49ers were tied or trailing in the fourth quarter and fought back to win.

Practice only takes a team so far, but the 49ers do seem to work on their two-minute drill more than just about any other team.

“Usually there’s no need to panic,” Montana shrugged.

The Bears might have panicked had they known what lay ahead for the rest of 1989 when they lost the NFC championship game to San Francisco 28-3 last January. They’re a well-publicized 2-9, with five straight losses, since starting out 4-0 and will end their season before Christmas for the first time since 1983.

Only one player from Chicago’s once-vaunted defense, middle linebacker Mike Singletary, made the Pro Bowl. And with good reason: the Bears’ defense ranks 25th in the league.

“If I were going to put my finger on one thing ... we don’t have any team speed on defense,” Ditka explained.

“You just can’t play with a lack of consistency and play good. And that’s what we’re doing.”

In fairness to Chicago, injuries have been the single biggest factor. Only two defenders have started every game -- Singletary and lineman Steve McMichael.

The 49ers, who can reach 14 victories for the second time since 1981, may have only two healthy wide receivers -- Jerry Rice and Mike Wilson. John Taylor (ankles) is questionable.

Both teams will be hurting in the secondary. Cornerbacks Eric Wright and Tim McKyer are both out with groin injuries for the 49ers, and Donnell Woolford (broken right hand) and Shawn Gayle (ankle sprain) are sidelined for the Bears.

Chicago will start Jim Harbaugh, but Mike Tomczak will get some playing time. Montana, back from a one-week layoff due to sore ribs, wants to play more than token minutes but is almost certain to be replaced by Steve Young at some point.