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Pastimes : Football Forum (NFL) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Annette who wrote (8311)	10/24/2001 6:28:25 PM
From: country bob	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45639

HERE YOU ARE!!! 2 people asked me about you this week and I didn't know what to say, so I figured I'd look you up. I tried to tell them that you gave up on Frankie and took off somewhere with zurdo, but I've got this credibility problem and, well, y'know............

To: Annette who wrote (8311)	10/25/2001 3:35:55 AM
From: sandintoes	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45639

It's pretty much the cheeseheads against the world, right? nfl.com Bears & Niners meet in huge game (Oct. 24, 2001) -- The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers are two of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Football League and conjure up many memorable matchups. For some, those memorable games were the annual battles between the two when both were members of the NFL's Western Conference from 1950-66 and players such as Ed Brown and Rick Casares of the Bears and John Brodie and Leo Nomellini of the 49ers graced the field. In the 1980s, the clubs were perennial Super Bowl contenders and although they were in different divisions, they met eight times in the decade, including two NFC Championship Games, both won by the 49ers (1984 and 1988). The list of '80s superstars was no less impressive than in the '50s and '60s with such greats as Jim McMahon, Walter Payton, and Mike Singletary for the Bears and Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Ronnie Lott for the 49ers. Now a new generation of Bears and 49ers are doing their part to bring the rivalry pack to prominence. Both teams are 4-1 this year and meet this weekend at Soldier Field in a game that could have playoff implications. "Guys on this team believe we can dominate people," says Bears quarterback Jim Miller, who is completing a career-high 68.9 percent of his passes. "It's a whole new frame of mind. It starts during pregame when we're in the locker room and it never ends." The Bears have achieved their success with traditional Chicago-style football -- running the ball and solid defense. The running game has been reincarnated by the "A Train," rookie running back Anthony Thomas. Last week against Cincinnati, Thomas rushed for a club rookie-record 188 yards. And a rookie rushing record on the Bears is significant with the likes of Payton, Gale Sayers and "Red" Grange as alumni. The "A Train" also already has had four runs of 20-or-more yards, giving the team a "take-it-to-the-house" threat. The entire team had only 10 such runs in 2000. Defensively, the Bears have been vastly improved by the offseason additions of veterans Keith Traylor (304 pounds) and Ted Washington (330 pounds), who have given the club much-needed bulk up front that has resulted in the unit's improvement from 11th in the NFC in rushing after five games in 2000 to No. 1 this year (75.6). Chicago has allowed one touchdown in the past 13 quarters. This week, the run defense will face its stiffest challenge yet against the 49ers, who have the conference's top rushing attack (158.2). The 49ers' phoenix-like rise has been well-chronicled. Their offense is once again formidable, not only on the ground, but through the air with quarterback Jeff Garcia, who ranks fifth in the NFC with a 92.0 passer rating, and wide receiver Terrell Owens, who set the NFL record for catches in a game (20) against Chicago on December 17, 2000. But San Francisco's defense is where the turnaround is most evident, improving from dead last in the NFC after five games last year to ninth this season. Following is a chart showing the overall improvement of the 49ers and Bears: POWERHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS 49ers Bears Category 2000 2001 2000 2001 Record 2-3 4-1 1-4 4-1 NFC Total Def. Rank 15 9 9 5 NFC Rushing Def. Rank 8 5 11 1 NFC Passing Def. Rank 15 10 10 11 Turnover ratio +3 +1 -5 +2 Giveaways 6 6 11 9 Takeaways 9 7 6 11 Point Differential -17 +17 -55 +55