How the Bucs were battered again After slithering by their last three foes, the Bears buried the Tampa Bay Bucs 48-14 in their last regular season home game. "We wanted to have a real blowout before we entered the playoffs, and fortunately Tampa Bay didn't let us down," said Gary Fencik, who broke Richie Petitbon's team interception record against the Bucs with his 38th career theft. The Bears were in control throughout the game, building a 42-0 lead in just three periods behind two quarterbacks. Mike Tomczak and newcomer Doug Flutie each ran, handed off and passed for touchdowns. Tomczak made his sixth start of the season, improving his perfect record to 6-0. Chicago opened the scoring onslaught when Tomczak followed guard Kurt Becker for a touchdown on an eight-yard quarterback draw. Thomas Sanders' nine-yard scoring run tipped off a 21-point second quarter. Flutie replaced Tomczak at quarterback and promptly dashed four yards for a touchdown, and tossed a spectacular 27-yard pass to an outstretched Walter Payton in the end zone which Jay Hilgenberg described as the "greatest catch I ever saw in my life." The touchdown strike followed a 52-yard bomb to Willie Gault on the previous play as the Bears moved 79 yards in tow plays to score and go ahead 28-0 at the half. The rout continued in the second half as Tomczak re-entered the game and threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Gault. Payton crossed the goal line from four yards out on the Bears' next possession, making the count 42-0. The Bucs averted the shutout on the first play of the fourth period after the Bears' secondary played hot-potato with a Todd Bell interception. After picking off a Steve Young pass, Bell lateraled the ball to Mike Richardson, who attempted to heave it to teammate Shaun Gayle. Buccaneer wide receiver Vince Heflin snagged the errant lateral and scrambled 48 yards for touchdown on the Bucs' longest play of the afternoon. Calvin Magee accounted for Tampa Bay's final points on a 14-yard scoring pass from Young. The last of the game's nine touchdowns came midway through the final period when Lew Barnes, substituting for an injured Dennis Gentry, returned his third pro kickoff 85 yards for a score. The defense was on the mark again, yielding just 271 net yards, forcing five turnovers and recording three sacks. On offense it was a day for the quarterbacks to shine. Tomczak completed seven of 11 attempted for 108 yards and a TD, while Flutie was two of seven for 79 yards and a TD. It was Flutie's most extensive action of the season, and a definite learning experience. "The other players were really helpful to me," said Flutie. "It was more fun than anything. I'm just happy to do whatever I can to contribute. I've still got a lot to learn, though."