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Unbeaten Bears host Dolphins

Nov 1, 2006 - 12:11 AM Miami (1-6) at Chicago (7-0) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The last time the Chicago Bears were entertaining thoughts of an unbeaten season they were upended by the Miami Dolphins.

Off to their best start since winning their first 12 games in their Super Bowl-winning season in 1985, the Bears look to remain perfect Sunday when they host the Dolphins.

In 1985, the Bears had designs on joining the '72 Dolphins as the only unbeaten, untied teams in NFL history. But those hopes were dashed in one of the most publicized regular-season games in league history, a 38-24 loss at Miami on a Monday night.

The game garnered a Nielsen rating of 29.6, which still is the highest in the history of Monday Night Football.

On the sidelines for the Dolphins that night were quarterback Dan Marino and coach Don Shula, who also guided the '72 team. It marked the only loss of the season for the Bears, who went on to capture the Lombardi Trophy behind their dominant 46 defense.

Now 21 years later, the Bears again are perfect heading into a meeting with the Dolphins. This time, there is no Marino or Shula - a pair of Hall of Famers - to deal with.

Trying to remain unbeaten, the Bears face perhaps the NFL's biggest disappointment this season. Miami's 1-6 record is the worst in the AFC and tied for the second-worst mark in the league behind Arizona (1-7).

Joey Harrington, who is familiar with the Bears from his days in Detroit, continues to start at quarterback for Miami while Daunte Culpepper rehabilitates his surgically repaired knee. Harrington has lost all three of his starts.

Coming off their bye, the Dolphins endured a 34-24 loss to Green Bay on October 22. Harrington completed 33-of-62 passes for an NFL season-high 414 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions.

Harrington and the Dolphins will try to stay competitive against the Bears, something no team has been able to do at Soldier Field. Chicago has won its four home games by a combined 152-30.

Last week, the Bears made the San Francisco 49ers their latest victim in a 41-10 rout. Rex Grossman completed 23-of-29 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, Thomas Jones rushed for 111 yards and a score and the Bears forced five turnovers.

Chicago ranks first in the league in scoring defense, allowing 9.9 points per game. They also top the league by giving up just 245.9 yards per game.