Bears Have Last Word, 30-24 : NFC: Chicago wide receiver Wendell Davis lets his play do the talking in victory over Atlanta.

Wendell Davis didn’t get wrapped up in the pregame poor-mouthing. All the wide receiver did was go out and play the best game of his career Sunday, leading the Chicago Bears to a 30-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Davis had career highs of five receptions and 105 yards. He scored one touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh and set up another with a catch that gained 51 yards.

Meanwhile, the war of words between cornerbacks Lemuel Stinson of the Bears and Deion Sanders of the Falcons picked up steam.

It started last week when Stinson said Sanders couldn’t cover the Bears’ wide receivers one-on-one. Sanders charged Stinson was simply using him to build himself up, and Atlanta receiver Andre Rison jumped in and said the Bears had the worst wide receivers in the NFL.

Stinson predicted he would have two interceptions Sunday, and he did.

“Sometimes you talk to get pumped up,” Stinson said, adding that Sanders “knows who I am and he’ll never forget me.”

Sanders called Stinson a “liar.” He said he phoned Stinson during the week to question him about remarks Stinson had made.

“He denied everything to me and went out the next day and said everything (all over again),” Sanders said.

“He (Stinson) accomplished what he wanted,” Sanders said. “He got you (the media) to boost him up in the papers. You don’t use another man like that. You don’t use another man to gain your confidence. You don’t use another man to get the success you should earn on your own.”

Stinson said, “No. 21 (Sanders) has no class.”

Stinson was angry because Sanders held him down on an onside kickoff. “He wouldn’t let me up,” Stinson said.

The Bears’ Davis said, “I didn’t get into the talk thing. In fact, I shook hands with Sanders before the game. I came out to play football and not jaw.”

Of Rison’s remark, Davis said, “We know we have good receivers.”

Rison, who caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds, finished with six catches for 47 yards.

“I believe the game had more hype than it was supposed to have,” Rison said. “But that goes with the territory.”

The Bears played an outstanding first half, then struggled in the second half after taking a 24-3 lead.

“The first half was ours, the second half was theirs,” Bear Coach Mike Ditka said. “They blitzed and we didn’t handle it. That was a primary concern. Stinson backed what he had to say to a degree but I hate to have people talk.”

Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville said: “If the Bears want to talk, that’s fine. If our guys want to talk, the bottom line is if you talk, then you have to go out and you have to play good. You can’t talk and go out and be a dog. I don’t evaluate talk.”

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Bears (8-1). The Falcons (3-6) lost their 15th consecutive road game.

Stinson intercepted a pass by Chris Miller late in the first half. The Bears turned it into a touchdown when Harbaugh connected with Davis on an eight-yard scoring play.

The Bears went ahead, 30-17, when Vestee Jackson intercepted a pass by Miller and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown with 1:28 left.

A 45-yard pass interference call on David Tate gave Atlanta the ball at the Chicago 11, and Miller threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Rison with 13 seconds left.

The Bears’ defense held Atlanta to three first downs and 81 yards in the first half. Richard Dent had two sacks and recovered a fumble.