Chicago's league-leading defense has drawn fond comparisons to Super Bowl-winning Bears of old.
By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published November 25, 2005
Richard Dent knows the steps to the Super Bowl Shuffle, but the former Chicago defensive end doesn't recall many of the lyrics to the 20-year-old music video. He and the rest of Windy City might want to brush up.
The Bears are back.
You know, Da Bears!
Winner of six straight, Chicago is 7-3 atop the NFC North heading into Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. Leading the revival is a top-ranked defense so dominant it kindles memories of 1985 and a Bears unit regarded by many as the best in NFL history.
All it needs is a Shufflin' Crew.
"It's nice to see Chicago get back what was given to them for many years, a great defensive ball team," said Dent, the Shuffle's rapping "sackman" and MVP of Super Bowl XX. "It's nice to see the young guys coming around to the city's expectations."
In 1985 the Bears No. 1-ranked defense set the standard by which all defenses have been measured since. Led by linebacker Mike Singletary, ends Dent and Dan Hampton and rotund rookie tackle William "Refrigerator" Perry, Chicago held opponents to 258.4 yards and 12.4 points per game during a 15-1 regular season.
During one three-game stretch the Bears outscored the Lions, Cowboys and Falcons 104-3. In Super Bowl XX the Bears beat the Patriots 46-10.
Flash forward 20 years.
The 2005 Bears defense, which took the No. 1 ranking away from the Bucs two weeks ago, holds opponents to league lows of 252.1 yards and 11 points per game. Chicago has allowed nine touchdowns this season, seven fewer than anyone else, including just three in its opponents' past 78 possessions during the six-game win streak.
Yet, comparisons to 1985 make these Bears uneasy.
"You have to understand, the '85 Bears run this city. This is their city," said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who has a team-high seven sacks. "They've got commercials and car deals and whatever they want to do, they can do it. And they deserve it.
"To be put in the same sentence is an honor, but I think the '85 Bears were in a league of their own, more intimidating. They had a better record. We're still young. We're still learning how to play this defense."
The 1985 Bears had several household names on defense, but four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher is the 2005 squad's only celebrity - for now. It won't take long for a city with a fondness for hard-hitting defenders to fall in love with this bunch.
The front four, including ends Ogunleye and Alex Brown, sacked Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme seven times in last week's 13-3 victory. Strong safety Mike Brown has a franchise-record six career defensive touchdowns. Cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are the NFC's top interception tandem with nine.
The Bucs see a lot of themselves in the Bears. When Chicago coach Lovie Smith arrived last season, he installed the same aggressive scheme he learned as a Tampa Bay assistant to Tony Dungy.
"Go look at our film from 1999," Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said. "It's the same book, the same kind of players. They're running around and killing people."
Just like the old days.
Bucs quarterback Chris Simms remembers the pounding the Bears gave his father, Phil, and the Super Bowl champion Giants in the 1987 season opener on Monday Night Football. Chicago won 34-19.
"Dad got beat up. He actually got knocked out in the fourth quarter," said Chris Simms, who was at the game. "They take pride in their defense in that city."
Titans coach Jeff Fisher was a member of the 1985 Bears defense, though the former defensive back spent most of the season on injured reserve. He sees plenty of similarities between then and now.
"I would say they're where the '84, '85 or '86 teams were and they're very capable on defense of going to the playoffs," Fisher said. "This is a team that teams will not look forward to playing."
It could be argued the 2005 team is outperforming their predecessors. In 1985 the Bears also had the league's second-ranked offense, compared to 28th this season. Also, rules changes in the past decade have helped offenses score.
Dent concedes such points, but will reserve judgment.
"You've got to stay up there. You're only as good as your last game," said Dent, who works as a broadcaster in the Chicago market. "Until they write a song after 12 weeks saying they're going to win the Super Bowl, they've got a ways to go. And not just them, anyone."
