1988 NFC Championship Game: Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers

Jan. 8, 1989

Their second NFC championship game of the decade was played in ''Bear weather,'' 17 degrees and wind gusts up to 30 miles an hour.

The 49ers turned it into a gentle bay breeze, with Montana finding Rice twice for touchdowns in the first half. After completing 17 of 27 passes and another touchdown to John Frank, Montana`s performance was called by Walsh

''his greatest game under the conditions.''

McMahon was starting his first game since a knee injury Oct. 29. He completed 14 of 29 passes before he was replaced by Tomczak in the fourth quarter. It was McMahon`s second playoff loss in Soldier Field in two years, and though it was his first loss to the 49ers in four starts, it turned out to be his final Chicago appearance in a Bear uniform.

The 49ers had helped mold and end an era. They went on to win their third Super Bowl.

''You have to look at it this way: Personnel-wise, they`re a little better than us,'' Ditka said. ''It will be a tough road back, but we`ll be back. It`s not the end of the world.''

Just the end of the decade. The Bears aren`t back yet and the 49ers never went anywhere. For the first time, their game Sunday means nothing to either team.

Box Score:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901080chi.htm-++++++++++++++++++++++++++++