The Bears, Super Bowl champions or not, got all they wanted Saturday from the Buffalo Bills, decidedly not a championship team.
The Bills, 2-14 in 1985, took a quick 14-0 lead in the preseason game at Notre Dame Stadium. Pride and talent eventually won out. The Bears outscored the Bills 31-3 over the final three quarters.
”To me it was fundamentals,” linebacker Al Harris said. ”We didn`t make the tackles or get off the blocks like we should.
”That first 15 minutes was horrible, some kind of nightmare. Some guys were saying on the sideline, `C`mon, we have to play better than this.` And we were winning when I heard the guys saying that. It shows you exactly where this team is at.”
William Perry, fined $2,000 by the National Football League for his body slam last week of St. Louis Cardinals` quarterback Neil Lomax, said: ”I saw some great hits out there today.” Then he added: ”And none of those guys got a fine. They made the same kind of hits I did.”
Commissioner Pete Rozelle fined Perry for a whirling tackle of Lomax, who was dropped unceremoniously on his helmet. There was no whistle or penalty, but Rozelle decided to take a stand on a play he believed to be too violent.
Bears` linebacker Wilber Marshall was fined $2,000 last season for his hit of Detroit quarterback Joe Ferguson.
”There`s a clear link,” Perry said. ”I don`t think you should get a fine just for playing football. Wilber got it in the same way I did. It`s wrong.
”Quarterbacks aren`t wearing dresses, not that I know of. They get paid more than anyone else so they oughta take a lick same as anyone else.”
Perry received credit Saturday against Buffalo for nine tackles and assists on two other stops. But he and almost all the defenders were not pleased.
”I didn`t play up to my potential,” Perry said. ”I made some plays, but I have to play every down. I`m not happy with my play, not at all.”
Perry also had the chance to score a touchdown in the third quarter from the 2-yard line. He never got a handle on the handoff and the Bills recovered his fumble.
Despite his displeasure, Perry was a big force.
On the second play of the game, he snared fullback Ricky Moore near the neck and dragged him down for a 2-yard loss. With the Bills ahead 14-0 and the team defense sluggish, Perry helped stop another Buffalo drive by grounding running back Robb Riddick for a 5-yard loss. Perry nailed Riddick again in the last half for another 5-yard loss.
