For Smith, One Run, Two Feats : NFC: He gets second consecutive rushing title plus a touchdown on a 31-yard gain in Cowboys’ 27-14 victory.

Emmitt Smith defended his NFL rushing title in style.

Smith’s 31-yard touchdown run in the third quarter not only helped the Dallas Cowboys to a 27-14 victory over the Chicago Bears Sunday but also moved him past Pittsburgh’s Barry Foster into No. 1 on the rushing list.

Smith gained 131 yards in 20 carries to beat Foster by 23 yards and become only the ninth player to win consecutive rushing titles. Also, Smith’s 1,713 yards this season broke the club record of 1,646, set by Tony Dorsett in 1981.

Foster had 103 yards in 26 carries in the Steelers’ 23-13 victory over Cleveland, giving him 1,693.

“I heard what Foster had done before the game so I knew it was going to be difficult, particularly against a team with a good rush defense like the Bears,” Smith said.

The Cowboys (13-3) set a club record for regular-season victories. The Cowboys, who had won 12 games in a season seven times, will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Chicago finished 5-11, its worst season since 1973.

It could have been the last game in Chicago for Coach Mike Ditka, who has a year left on his contract. Mike McCaskey, the club president, and Ditka will discuss the future later.

Ditka has said he wants to return but on his terms.

Ditka said after that “regardless of what happens it has been a hell of a run. I’m not sure where the line is where you apologize, but I won’t be on it. I know that I’m a Bear, whether some people like it or not.”

He added that “it would be nice to know something as soon as possible. When I find out, I’ll talk about it.”

The game marked the final appearance of linebacker Mike Singletary, who retired after 12 years in the league.

“Mike was a joy to coach,” Ditka said.

“Tonight or tomorrow it will hit me emotionally that I’m not going to play anymore,” Singletary said.

On Smith’s decisive run, he broke a tackle by Richard Dent at the line of scrimmage, shook off another attempt by Mark Carrier, then ran through the end zone into the dressing room tunnel.

He returned triumphantly holding the ball and was swarmed by his teammates. Smith put on his baseball hat and didn’t return to the game.

“It was just tremendous the way the offensive line sealed things off on that run,” Smith said. “It was a perfect way to end the regular season.”

Smith rushed for 160 yards against Atlanta in last year’s regular-season finale to win the rushing title.

The Cowboys also scored on field goals of 21 and 34 yards by Lin Elliott, a 26-yard fumble return by tackle Russell Maryland and Curvin Richards’ three-yard run, his first score in the NFL.

Maryland’s first NFL touchdown came after he picked off a bobbled pitch by Darren Lewis and ran untouched for the score.

Chicago rookie Will Furrer, a fourth-round pick from Virginia Tech, made his debut as a starting quarterback, but the Bears’ offense was punchless. Furrer had three passes intercepted.