Passing of the torch: 49ers defeat Bears as Owens shines, Rice exits homefield in style.

Byline: Cam Inman

SAN FRANCISCO_Jerry Rice said his tearful goodbye Sunday to the 49er Faithful, stepped down from the make-shift stage at the 50-yard line and got whisked off the 3Com Park field on the shoulders of his teammates.

This monumental day in Rice's legendary NFL career had come to a close with all the admiration and grace that 49ers fans had come to expect from Rice the past 16 years.

"I looked at them carrying Jerry off the field and tried to visualize maybe one day that'd be me," 49ers receiver Terrell Owens said.

On any other day, Owens likely would have received a similar escort to the locker room. But even though Owens set an NFL record with 20 catches in the 49ers' 17-0 victory over Chicago, Rice dominated the spotlight and earned the biggest ovations from the crowd of 68,306.

"What I did," Owens said, "by no means overshadowed No. 80."

This day had already …