Bears need better output from stalled running game

The Bears will look for more production from their running game Sunday night when they host the Philadelphia Eagles. Chicago’s rushing attack ranks 30th in the NFL, averaging just 85.2 yards per game.

“There are a lot of things that go into running the football,” said coach Lovie Smith. “Blocking up front, the running back, the passing game being productive to take a little bit of pressure off the run. And then just staying committed to it, which we’ll do.”

The Bears rushed for just 43 yards on 21 carries in last Thursday night's loss to the 49ers. Constantly hit at or close to the line of scrimmage, second-year pro Matt Forte was held to 41 yards on 20 attempts, a 2.1-yard average. 

Coach Lovie Smith was asked if Forte is dancing before he hits the hole more than he did last year when he set a Bears rookie rushing record with 1,238 yards.

“I think he danced last year too,” Smith said. “We’re at a point in our season right now where we’re 4-5. I think anything you asked me as far as any position, it’s not where we want it to be. Hopefully [in] this game [Sunday night], we’ll see some of those things. We’ll see Matt make a couple more runs. We’ll see every player on the field do some of the things that we’ve grown accustomed to.”

Bears' backs are planted firmly against the wall

There probably isn’t a better song to describe how the Bears feel heading into Sunday night’s game against than the Eagles than the Elvis Presley hit “It’s Now or Never.”

“I started having that mindset going into the 49ers game, and things didn’t work out,” defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said of last Thursday night's 10-6 loss in San Francisco. “I think we played well enough on defense to at least have some hope and regenerate some life back into this team.

“I think we’re nearing that phase where we know that every game counts, and we need to win out to get to the playoffs. But the only way we can do it is take it one game at a time and not look ahead.”

With a 4-5 record after losing four of their last five games, the Bears have their backs up against the wall. But that doesn’t mean that they weren’t trying prior to this point.

“It doesn’t take all the doomsday predictions to get  us moving,” said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. “You come out every week, and every week is a new week. Guys who play in the league for a long time, they learn. You’ve got to be a pro. You’ve got to show up every day. You’ve got to do your job. You’ve got to go about it with a purpose. I know it’s hard to talk about right now, but if we win a lot of football games, if we win down the stretch, we’ve still got a chance.”

Clark, Payne held out of practice due to injuries

Tight end Desmond Clark (neck) and safety Kevin Payne (back) both sat out practice for the second straight day Thursday, and their status for Sunday night’s game against the Eagles is not known.

Safety Al Afalava (shoulder), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and center Olin Kreutz (back) all practiced without limitations and are expected to play.

For the Eagles, running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) and wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) have been ruled out of the game. Safety Quintin Demps (ankle) and linebacker Akeem Jordan (knee) did not practice Wednesday, while cornerback Sheldon Brown (hamstring) was limited.

Offense and defense often moving in different directions

Like two ships passing in the night, the Bears offense and defense have been headed in opposite directions for most of the season. When one unit has excelled, it seems the other has struggled.

Just look at the last two games. Against the Cardinals, Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes to Greg Olsen, but the defense allowed Arizona to score four TDs and two field goals on its first six possessions. Four days later in San Francisco, the defense permitted just 10 points, but Cutler threw five interceptions.

“It’s a little frustrating,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. “Hopefully this will be the week where we all put it together, and we have to against a team like the Eagles.”

Unfortunately, the Bears haven't performed well enough on offense or defense to overcome a poor performance on the other side of the ball.

Great football teams, if one side has a bad night, then the other side has a good enough night that they can still win,” said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. “The best teams win ugly sometimes. Right now we’re not doing that, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t. I think we have the personnel that we can do that.”

Briggs feels players responsible for Bears' recent skid

Linebacker Lance Briggs doesn’t think that it’s fair to blame Lovie Smith or his assistant coaches for the slump the Bears currently are mired in.

“At the end of the day, it falls back on the players,” Briggs said Thursday. “People can talk about the scheme or the way we’re being coached or some of the play calls. But ultimately it comes back on the players. Coaches can’t go out there and play for us. Fans can’t go out there and play for us.

“We’ve all been doing this for a long time, and these coaches weren’t the coaches to [originally] create the defenses or the offenses that we’re playing in. When we get on that field and we have opportunities, when it comes down to fourth-and-one and we can’t get in the end zone, or it’s third-and-16 and the team converts a third down, there’s no coach in the world that can stop that. It’s the players.”

With the Bears losing four of their last five games, criticism of Smith has intensified.

“It’s what’s going to happen,” Briggs said. “You’re going to have to point fingers somewhere, and fingers always go to the head coach and the quarterback. But this is a team sport, and it all falls on us.”