Following the script, the Bears will run up a halftime lead Sunday of, say, 28-0 against Atlanta.
The Falcons will spoil the shutout late in the game with a consolation score before the Bears exit Soldier Field with an 8-1 record.
Ho-hum.
That has been the pattern the past three weeks as the Bears outscored their opponents 73-7 in the first half.
”We don`t script anything,” said coach Mike Ditka, who couldn`t care less about the excitement level generated in his team`s recent victories.
”I love it. There is nothing to talk about. The only time to talk is when it is all over. Then . . . if you are not in a position to talk, then maybe you should listen.
”We have had success because we have had good execution. If you execute well, it really doesn`t matter what the other team is doing.”
The Bears will be seeking their fifth straight victory against the Falcons (3-5). Atlanta, which has lost three of its last four, is 0-4 on the road this season and owns a 14-game road losing streak, longest in the NFL.
”The object is just to win, even if it is by one point. But it has been kind of nice to get off to a fast start,” said quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who became the Bears all-time completion leader (250 attempts minimum) when he hit on 14 of 23 in last Sunday`s 26-6 victory over Tampa Bay.
”We can`t expect that every week, but we try. There is nothing wrong with that.”
The Bears want their crowd (57th consecutive sellout of 66,946) to be animated Sunday, whether they manage to win in methodical or dramatic fashion. The Falcons, behind their new coach, Jerry Glanville, have won and lost in exciting manner. They rank fourth in the NFL in scoring (26 points per game) and 26th in defense. Now if they could only figure out a way to win consistently.
”Our fans have been absolutely unbelievable,” said Glanville. ”They have been too kind. I wish there was some way in the very near future that we could pay them back. It`s like the Chicago fans. They have a love affair with this team.”
The Bears don`t want to hear the Falcons` sob story.
”Atlanta has a good offense,” said Harbaugh. ”Chris Miller (fifth in NFC passing rating) is a good quarterback, and Andre Rison (49 catches, second in NFC) is a good receiver, and they have a good offensive line. So I think our offense is going to have to generate some points.”
Glanville, who coached Houston to a 33-28 upset triumph over the Bears last season, would love to end Atlanta`s long road losing skid.
”Bad teams don`t win games wherever they are,” said Glanville, who took over for the fired Marion Campbell.
”I think we are not a bad team now, but evidently we haven`t been a good team. When you always get the first or second pick in the draft, I wouldn`t call yourself a great team.
”When we (Houston) did slip up and beat them, I thought Coach Ditka said (to his players): `If that Oiler team can beat you, you may not ever win another one,` ” said Glanville.
”I never thought of us being that bad, but he evidently thought we were. And he was almost right.”
Asked if he considered that an insult, Glanville replied: ”Our players did.
”I`m not questioning what Coach Ditka thought or said. His prediction came true. I don`t know how many they won after that. It wasn`t many (2), so he was much wiser than me.”
The Falcons` 21-9 loss at Pittsburgh last Sunday was typical of the team`s self-destructive nature. Atlanta committed five turnovers, including a key fumble by running back Mike Rozier at the Steelers` 21-yard line with three minutes left and the score 14-9.
”We have to overcome a devastating loss that has left us emotionally drained,” said Glanville. ”I would hope our team comes back and plays as hard as it can. It is easy to say. What we have to do is prove it.
”I am very proud of the way we try to get after you. Unfortunately, we have made mental errors. You get mental errors when you change systems.”
With the Bears on an offensive roll behind Harbaugh and backs Neal Anderson and Brad Muster, a high-scoring game like last season`s Bears-Oilers affair could result.
”I don`t think you ever know,” said Glanville. ”Everybody thought our Cincinnati game (a 38-17 Atlanta victory) would be a high-scoring game. It ended up it wasn`t (for the Bengals).”
Glanville and Ditka, special teams coaches for Detroit and Dallas, respectively, in the mid-1970s, seem to respect each other as head coaches.
”You look at the results, and he has had unbelievable results,” said Glanville. ”I have always enjoyed visiting with him. He has assistant coaches come and go and players come and go, but the results remain pretty much the same.”
”They do a good job,” said Ditka of Glanville and his staff. ”But we don`t play against coaching staffs. We play against teams.”
