Matt Forte, Jay Cutler and the Bears just want a little respect!
(Matt Slocum – AP)
The Chicago Bears went into Philadelphia on Monday night as 8-point underdogs.

The Bears entered with a 4-3 record, having won three of four. The Eagles came in at 3-4 with a modest two-game win streak.

Based on talent alone, the Eagles should have been given the edge on their home turf. But eight points?

That didn’t sit too well with the Bears, who did their best to change NFC perceptions with a come-from-behind 30-24 win.

“The Chicago Bears should not be 8-point underdogs in a game like this on the road. And our guys played like they felt that way,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “We feel like we have a pretty good team that is not getting a lot of respect.”

When they play the way they did Monday, there’s little doubt the Bears deserve more respect than they’re getting.

Jay Cutler threw for a pair of touchdowns — including the go-ahead score with 2:21 left — and running back Matt Forte continued his campaign for a first Pro Bowl bid with yet another 100-yard day.

Forte, who last week said his team was “grinding (him) into a pulp,” bounced back from a pair of early fumbles to rush for 133 yards on 24 carries against the Eagles porous run defense. He’s now second in the NFL (behind Eagles RB LeSean McCoy) with 805 rushing yards.

Don’t look now, but the Bears are smack dab in the middle of the playoff hunt. They’re currently one game behind the Detroit Lions for second place in the NFC North… and look who’s coming to Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Lions rode a raucous Monday night crowd to a 24-13 win in Week 5, but the Bears have now won three straight with Forte’s 365 yards during that stretch.

With the loss, the Eagles fell to 3-5 and now trail the NFC East leading Giants by three games.

LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears failed their first two true road tests this season, and failed them miserably. They will get a retake, of sorts, Monday night when they head to Philadelphia, and they’re looking to bounce back, coming off a bye and some well-needed rest.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, however, sounded far from confident that his team can make a complete turnaround after its performance during the first two inner-continental road trips.

“I hope we can. That’s all you can do, at this point,” Cutler said, shrugging his shoulders. “There’s going to be some problems, some glitches, like in any game.”

They did knock off Tampa Bay 24-18 in an official road game in London on Oct. 26, but it was much closer to a neutral-site game than an away contest for the Bears.

They are 0-2 in their two American-held road games, and their flaws (or glitches, as Cutler called them) really jumped out in both the trip to New Orleans and the one to Detroit.

“It’s a lot of different things. Not executing. Missed assignments. Missing throws. Missing hots. Lining up wrong,” Cutler said. “At the end of the day, we’re not executing like we should, when we get down there.”

In a 30-13 Week 2 loss at New Orleans, Chicago’s offense managed a season-low 246 yards, and Cutler was sacked six times while completing just 42 percent (19-for-45) of his passes. The Bears defense, on the other hand, allowed the Saints to march up and down the field, chewing up 36:14 (compared to 23:46 for Chicago) on the clock while converting 8 of 17 third-down tries. The Saints even had three touchdown passes on third down.

And then the next time they headed into a hostile environment, the Bears looked abysmal again. The Lions rolled to a 24-13 win in Detroit on Oct. 10, one that was marred by nine false-start penalties for Chicago’s offense as the Bears’ defense surrendered two touchdown plays of 70-plus yards.

“We never want the same situation that we had in Detroit,” injured offensive lineman Gabe Carimi said. “Is it going to happen? Who knows.”

Carimi has been out of the mix for more than a month, and doesn’t appear to be ready to return after missing practice Friday. But his teammate Roberto Garza seems to think the Bears’ offense is way more ready for a road test this time around.

“We’re aware of what we’re going into now. We had rough start in Detroit and New Orleans, but we’ve learned from that,” the first-year center, Garza, said. “We’ll be ready for another tough challenge in an environment like that this time.”

The crowds at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia are generally considered to be one of the craziest and loudest in the league. Just ask Bear linebacker Lance Briggs.
“There are a couple of stadiums that rank up there with the rowdiest,” Briggs answered. “Philly’s right up there.”

So it won’t be an easy place for the Bears to find out how much they learned from their prior mistakes. The Bears coaching staff is hoping it will suffice.

“We had Monday Night Football in Detroit, and I don’t know if we got caught up in the moment, or the moment caught us, but it wasn’t very good,” offensive line coach Mike Tice said. “We just hope that we can learn from that and not have a repeat performance. I’m sure that we’ve learned from that experience. That was tough duty.”

They’re hoping Monday in Philadelphia will be lighter duty.

Reach staff reporter Jay Taft at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) – Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has
given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the
secondary.

The rookie free safety is about to get his biggest test of the
season when the Bears play at Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and
obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said
Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out
of favor in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defense had allowed 12
passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games.
Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs
of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defense.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks
ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a
tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of
range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our
safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting
as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him
instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose
tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in
the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a
lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” he said.
“And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break
downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman
in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had
the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defense. But
Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and
LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind
the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating
victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six
possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll
have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same
amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot
of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback
Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is
going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So
we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass
rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making
big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit
them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for
them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and
San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

• NOTES: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice
squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5
and was released Oct. 11.

LAKE FOREST — Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the secondary.

The rookie free safety is about to get his biggest test of the season when the Bears play at Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out of favor in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defense had allowed 12 passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games. Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defense.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” he said. “And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defense. But Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

Notes: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5 and was released Oct. 11. 

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out of favor in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defense had allowed 12 passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games. Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defense.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” Conte said. “And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defense. But Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

Notes: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5 and was released Oct. 11.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the secondary.

The rookie free safety is about to get his biggest test of the season when the Bears play at Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out of favour in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defence had allowed 12 passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games. Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defence.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” he said. “And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defence. But Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

Notes: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5 and was released Oct. 11.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the secondary.

The rookie free safety is about to get his biggest test of the season when the Bears play at Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out of favor in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defense had allowed 12 passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games. Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defense.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” he said. “And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defense. But Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

Notes: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5 and was released Oct. 11.

Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the secondary.

The rookie free safety is about to get his biggest test of the season when the Bears play at Philadelphia on Monday night.

“I think they drafted me in the third round for a reason, and obviously that was to come in and play,” a confident Conte said Tuesday. “I’m going to continue to do that.”

The Bears turned to Conte when former safety Chris Harris fell out of favor in a loss to the Detroit Lions. The defense had allowed 12 passes and four runs of 25 yards or longer through five games. Against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, they gave up one pass and no runs of 25 yards or longer with Conte as the last line of defense.

“Chris Conte, we moved him into the starting lineup a couple weeks ago, have been very pleased with what we’ve gotten from him as a tackler, just a guy in the middle of the field with a lot of range,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We drafted him to someday be our safety. That time is now.”

Conte played only one season of safety at California after starting as a cornerback, but his range and long arms have earned him instant accolades as well as the nickname “Bird Man” from nose tackle Anthony Adams.

The Bears have been deploying their free safety at a deeper spot in the secondary, which has helped.

“I think we just aligned deeper, and it’s not that we’re getting a lot of depth, we’re just getting our depth initially,” Conte said. “And then we’ve been able to play with depth so we can break downhill instead of being in a rush to backpedal.”

Conte made his first interception against Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman in the Bears’ final game before their bye week last weekend. He had the benefit of tapping into Harris’ knowledge of the defense. But Harris was cut and signed on with Detroit.

Now it’s up to Conte to adapt with Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy up next. The Eagles (3-4) are just two games behind the division-leading New York Giants and coming off a dominating victory over the Cowboys. The Eagles scored on their first six possessions and went 4 for 6 inside the red zone.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me,” Conte said. “I’ll have the same role I had before. So I think I’ll have the same amount of pressure.”

Vick’s mobility challenges safeties and cornerbacks.

“It’s real difficult for us as a secondary because he creates a lot of time for the (receivers) to get open with his legs,” cornerback Tim Jennings said. “But we believe in our pass rush and our rush is going to get to him and make it easy for us in the back seven. So we’ve just got to stay in cover and believe in our pass rush.”

Jennings called it the key to stopping Philadelphia.

“We know that they’re a big play making team that thrives on making big plays down the field,” he said. “So we have to be able limit them and make them drive down the field and make it tough for them.”

After Vick, the Bears have to face Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and San Diego’s Philip Rivers the next two games.

Notes: The Chicago Bears signed RB Armando Allen to the practice squad. Allen was originally signed to the practice squad Sept. 5 and was released Oct. 11.

Most of the attention being paid to the Chicago Bears game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers here in week 7 of the NFL season is due to the game being played at Wembley Stadium in London. The fact that’s not been given the same attention is how important this game suddenly has become as the NFC begins to take shape for the second half of the season.

The Buccaneers (4-2) find themselves in a much better position than the Bears (3-3) currently. The Bucs sit tied atop the NFC South as the Bears sit in third in the NFC North. Given the early successes of the Detroit Lions (5-1) and the Green Bay Packers (6-0), the Bears are in a much tighter predicament of needing the win than Tampa is.

The Bears are beginning a stretch of three games that could greatly impact the rest of the season. With games coming up against the Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions, the Bears can put themselves in a great position for a run given those above teams figure to be in the mix for the wildcard spots within the NFC.

The Buccaneers are a team I can’t quite figure out. I will admit to being a perpetual unbeliever in what they’ve accomplished —a 48-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers didn’t help that— but they generally have been in the business of proving me wrong. Even with their terrible loss to the 49ers, they’re still 4-2 and in first place. They turned that game around by beating New Orleans in Week 6 and further confusing this commentator. Let’s be clear real quick: despite my unbeliever status on the Bucs, don’t confuse that fact and think that means I have faith in the Bears. I have huge questions on them as well.

The game in London is important for both teams. Though, I’d say it’s more important for the Bears given their current situation. It’s fairly clear, they can’t afford to lose anymore games. The latter part of their schedule lightens up considerably, so if they can take down some quality opponents now, they’ll have a chance later.

If they don’t win now, at least they’ll enjoy London.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the National League Football league throughout.

Sources

Bears Prepare for London

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It’s been a decade since the Detroit Lions have appeared on Monday Night Football. Why? Well, no one really wanted to see them play. But now the Lions are 4-o and if they beat the Chicago Bears tonight, they’ll be off on their first 5-0 start in more than half a century.

Kicker Jason Hanson, who will be playing his 300th game with the Lions tonight, was on the Lions the last time they play on Monday Night Football in 2001 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In that game, the Lions lost 35-0.

Hanson said:

“Wow, it has been that long… Monday Night Football is the NFL’s showcase game and it’s exciting that people want to see us play on it again.”

The Lions are just one of six teams to have four wins so far this season. The Lions and division rivals the Green Bay Packers are the only teams to currently be undefeated. The Associated Press reports that if the Lions win tonight, it will be their first 5-0 start since 1956.

But the Lions could have a tough time against the Chicago Bears. The Bears are just 2-2 at the moment, but they do have history on their side. The Bears have defeated the Lions in their last 6 match-ups. The Bears are also in a dire need for a win if they want to get back to the NFC title game.

Chicago Linebacker Lance Briggs said:

“It’s a game that puts us right in the mix or will set us back three games. This is a must-have. We have to have it. Period.”

Win or lose, it looks like the Lions are going to be heading to the playoffs this year for the first time since 1999. STATS LLC reports that 70 percent of teams who have won their first four games have made the playoffs since Chicago’s 4-0 start in 1933.

So will the Detroit Lions be able to earn their first 5-0 start in more than a half a century? Or will the Chicago Bears break the streak tonight on Monday Night Football? Or has the abrupt dismissal of Hank Williams Jr. left you too depressed to even think about football on a Monday night?

The last time the Lions hosted a Monday Night Football game, not many fans paid attention to it. The same won’t hold true tonight when Detroit takes on the Chicago Bears in a key NFC Central showdown.

On that day, just four weeks removed from the 9/11 tragedy, the Lions were in an 0-12 start that turned into a 2-14 season. There was little excitement before, during or after the 35-0 loss to the Rams.

This time, exactly 10 years and two days after the last MNF game in Detroit, there is plenty of hype and plenty of motivation for both teams.

The Lions are 4-0 for the first time since 1980, while the Bears are 2-2 and are fighting to get back into the NFC North race, being dominated by Detroit and Green Bay, the NFL’s only undefeated teams.

“It’s a division game, and it’s a game that puts us right in the mix or will set us back three games,” Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said.

“We’re just coming off two losses in the conference. This is a must-have. We have to have it, period.”

And it won’t be easy.

The Lions have the league’s second-highest scoring offense (33.8 points per game), and quarterback Matthew Stafford (1,217 yards passing with 11 TDs and three interceptions) and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (321 yards receiving and eight TDs) are one of the NFL’s best pass-catch combos.

“He’s like 9-foot-3, and he’s fast as all get-out,” said Bears wideout and Johnson’s former teammate Roy Williams. “This guy’s a freak of nature.”

The Bears are second-to-last in total defense (425.8 yards allowed per game) and are 11th in points allowed (24.5) after finishing fourth (17.9) last year.

“We’re giving up too many long runs, too many long passes,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said.

“We’re giving up big plays and not making any ourselves.”
They will need to make some tonight. And everybody knows Ford Field is going to be rocking.

“We’ve played in loud environments, so this is nothing new to us,” Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said.

“We just have to handle the first onset and that wave. They’re going to be fired up. Defensively, they’re going to be coming to get us.”

Bears reporter Jay Taft can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

There is undoubtedly a part of Mike Martz that will be tempted. The Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator will see the Green Bay Packers’ difficulty defending the pass and will feel an urge to start calling passes all over Soldier Field on Sunday. And if he does, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears should fire him — immediately.

Haugh: “If I were general manager Jerry Angelo or [coach Lovie] Smith, I would make clear if Martz goes rogue once more, as he did when the offense inexplicably had a 3-to-1 pass-to-run ratio in the third quarter of a close game, the Bears will move on. One more game plan recklessly putting [Jay] Cutler in harm’s way, the way calling 52 passes to 11 runs did, and I either would fire Martz or strip him of play-calling duties on the spot.”

That’s a strong sentiment, to be sure. The Bears have some talented assistants on their staff, but unless I’m mistaken, none of them have experience as an offensive playcaller. But the point isn’t so much that calling too many passes, as Martz did last Sunday against the New Orleans, should be a fireable offense. It’s that the Bears already addressed the issue with Martz last year, making Sunday’s game a suspicious case of at least passive insubordination.

I highly doubt the Bears would fire Martz during the season, but it’s clear the Bears need to raise the urgency of the message Martz is hearing.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears running back Matt Forte has accounted for 52 percent of the team’s yardage, notes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears shouldn’t let Cutler off the hook for his role in Sunday’s debacle, writes Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com.
• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel profiles Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette considers how the Packers will pick up the pieces after the season-ending neck injury of safety Nick Collins.
• The Packers lost receiver Chastin West from their practice squad. West signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ active roster, according to multiple reports.
• The Detroit Lions’ running game is a work in progress, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions safety Louis Delmas on rookie receiver Titus Young, via Terry Foster of the Detroit News: “That dude might be the cockiest humble guy you will ever know. He does not talk like that, but you can tell by his swagger and style of play out on the field that he has a lot of confidence.”
• The Lions’ personnel upgrade on defense has been evident this season, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Three veterans addressed the Minnesota Vikings on Monday to urge their teammates to remain calm in the face of a 0-2 record, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. The players were quarterback Donovan McNabb, left guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive end Jared Allen.
• McNabb, via Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: “[E]veryone isn’t sitting there pointing fingers. This isn’t the time to be pointing fingers. I don’t believe in that anyway.”
• The Vikings waived defensive end Adrian Awasom to make room on the roster for defensive tackle Kevin Williams, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

The Chicago Bears flipped their offensive tackles during Monday night’s training camp practice, putting J’Marcus Webb on the left side and rookie Gabe Carimi on the right. From the sounds of it, that’s how they hope to enter the regular season.

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he “doesn’t want to play games” with the lineup, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tice said Webb is better suited for the position athletically, and it’s now clear the Bears won’t be signing another veteran free agent to compete for a starting job.

I’m all for maintaining continuity along the offensive line to allow players to develop in their assigned roles, but let’s just say there is some doubt around the NFL about whether Webb can play left tackle. In May, I suggested that Carimi might be the best short-term option on the left side because of his college experience, even if he projected long-term as a right tackle. In the end, the Bears are taking a leap of faith that Webb can develop at a more difficult position after having an up-and-down season on the right side last year.

True left tackles are a rare commodity. If you’re choosing from two on the third day of training camp, maybe you have none.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears players seemed fatigued after Monday night’s practice, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears teammates were sharing anecdotes of awe Monday about now-departed center Olin Kreutz, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Detroit Lions’ free-agent approach: “The Lions have resisted temptation, and for now, they’re wise to do so.”
• Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus rested his surgically repaired knee during Monday’s practice. Donald Thomas worked in his place, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, while Jason Fox continues to work at left tackle in place of the injured Jeff Backus.
• Lions quarterback Shaun Hill has recovered from offseason back surgery, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Linebacker Brad Jones is among the players who have returned to health at the start of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Rookie tight end D.J. Williams is making a good early impression at Packers camp, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Packers are going to give left tackle Chad Clifton plenty of rest during training camp, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie wouldn’t explain why he was placed on the non-football injury list to start the season, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on McKinnie’s situation, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune: “He’s on NFI and we’re going to take a look at some things and just try to get him where we need him to be. But Bryant’s going to be fine. He’s going to be fine. We’ve just got to go through some things and get him ready for the things that are ahead.”
• The Vikings have cleared cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) to practice, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

CHICAGO (CBS) – Defensive back Corey Graham will re-sign with the Chicago Bears, a league source told the Chicago Tribune Saturday.

Graham is a key special-teams contributor for the Bears. The signing is a crucial one, since the team already lost another core contributor, Rashied Davis, to the Detroit Lions.

The Bears will sign Graham to a one-year deal, the source said.