The Bears are 8-13 on ”Monday Night Football” but just 2-9 in road games. This is the second of three Monday night appearances this season for them. The first was a 34-19 victory over the New York Giants at Soldier Field and the last one is Dec. 14 at San Francisco.
– The Bears, with a record of 21-6, are the National Football League`s best road team since 1984, and Denver has the second-best league record at home since 1984 with a 23-5 mark. Which team has been better at home? The Bears at 26-3.
– Jim McMahon has faced the Broncos twice as a starter and been very effective. He was a combined 20 for 31 passing for 267 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted three times.
– Strangely enough, McMahon has started only one of the six Monday night games the Bears have had since he came aboard in 1982. That was a 23-7 victory over Green Bay in 1985. He played a reserve role that year in the 38-24 loss at Miami. Injury sidelined him the other four games.
– The Bears` defense will try to restart their sack streak. The lack of a sack against the Packers was the first game they`d been shut out since playing the Rams last season.
– Ditka plans to give more playing time Monday to backup running backs Matt Suhey, Calvin Thomas and Thomas Sanders. ”I hate to see them sitting on their helmets after they`ve practiced hard all week.”
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– With defensive lineman Dan Hampton and linebacker Otis Wilson out with injured knees, is Denver the Bears` biggest challenge so far? ”It`s the biggest challenge of the season-this week,” Ditka said with a smile.
– Ditka said his defense isn`t playing a true zone. ”You`re suppose to drop back and read the quarterback. But they`re dropping back until a man comes into their area and then they`re jumping into that area. Then the quarterback is throwing the ball over their heads. That`s not a zone.”
– Defensive end Al Harris hopes the Bears recapture the attitude they had going into the opener against the Giants. ”Everything was totally about the Giants leading up to that game, so we said `Let`s see what we`re made of.` We need to get that chip on the shoulder back.”
– Broncos wide receiver Vance Johnson has scored a touchdown in three straight games and in four of his last five.
– Denver punter Mike Horan has punted only twice all season at Mile High Stadium for a 42.5-yard average and no returns. One of the two was inside the 20-yard line.
– The Bears will try to block a kick for the fourth straight game. They had knocked away two field-goal tries and an extra-point attempt the last three weeks. Denver placekicker Rich Karlis is 9 of 11 on field goals this season. He has made 105 of 143 attempts in his career, the fourth-best percentage in NFL history.
– Remember Stan Jones, an All-Pro offensive lineman with the Bears. He`s now Denver`s defensive line coach.