49ers Pull Another Candlestick-Up on Bears : Pro football: San Francisco wins, 52-14, and now has outscored Chicago by 152-40 in fives games at home since 1984.

The Chicago Bears saw a division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs torn from their grasp Monday night by the San Francisco 49ers.

Steve Young threw three touchdown passes, two to Jerry Rice, and ran for another score as the 49ers beat the Bears, 52-14, the most points San Francisco has scored and Chicago has given up in 26 years.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll coach, but I have a great memory,” said Bear Coach Mike Ditka, miffed about what he considered overkill by the 49ers.

“Life goes on,” Ditka added. “We play Sunday against Dallas. We either resurrect ourselves or get creamed in the playoffs.”

The loss by the Bears (11-5) in the league’s regular-season finale gave the NFC Central Division title and the first-round playoff bye to Detroit (12-4).

“I probably did this different than any coach in the National Football League,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said Monday night. “But, doggone it, I’ve enjoyed it. If they think I’m silly, I’m sorry. I’m just so excited you can’t believe it.”

Chicago held a tie-breaking edge over Detroit, but needed to win Monday night to match the Lions’ record.

Instead, the Bears must play host to Dallas in a wild-card game Sunday.

Young, starting after sitting out for six weeks because of torn knee ligaments, had touchdown passes of three and 69 yards to Rice and a two-yarder to Jamie Williams as the 49ers took a 24-0 halftime lead. Young added a two-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

In the previous nine games, the Bears held opponents to 17 points or fewer.

San Francisco (10-6) finished with six consecutive victories but failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. The 49ers were eliminated a week ago when New Orleans beat the Raiders to clinch the final NFC playoff spot.

The Bears, who lost by 52-24 at San Francisco--the 49ers’ regular-season club record for scoring--on Sept. 19, 1965, continued their recent history of futility at Candlestick Park, falling to 1-4 since 1984. They have been outscored by 152-40 in those games, which include one in postseason.

A 26-yard touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh to Neal Anderson midway through the third period avoided what could have been a fourth shutout in the Bears’ past five games at Candlestick Park.

The Bears, whose club record for points given up in a game was 53 in 1955, were outgained by 355-134 in the first half, and their best chance at a touchdown ended in a turnover.

The 49ers scored on their first possession as Williams, normally a blocking tight end, caught his first touchdown pass since 1987.

Harbaugh then drove the Bears to the San Francisco 17 and completed a pass to Tom Waddle for a 13-yard gain, but back Kevin Lewis stripped him of the ball, with Don Griffin recovering at the three.

A 10-play drive followed, during which Young went five for five for 76 yards, capped by his first scoring pass to Rice as the 49ers had a 17-point second quarter.

After San Francisco forced a punt, the 49ers took over at their 31 and Young went right back to Rice. He caught the ball at the Chicago 33 as defender Lemuel Stinson fell down, and went the rest of the way untouched as the 49ers opened a 21-0 lead.