–Head coach Matt Nagy said he didn’t worry about the possibility the Bears would face the Vikings this week, and if they lose, would have to play Minnesota again next week at Soldier Field.
“Not really. It’d be different if you couldn’t move at all (in the NFC seeding), but the fact that you’re going here to win this game and do everything you can based on where we’re at now as we stand in this situation, you have to go about it that way,” Nagy said. “There’ll be some things maybe here or there that we’ll take a look at. But we’re just trying to keep this as normal as we possibly can knowing that we’re going to win.”
–Kyle Long’s return to practice provided a morale boost, and coaches are hopeful the three-time Pro Bowl guard can return to his starting spot by the playoffs, and possibly play some this week against the Vikings. He is in the 21-day window for evaluation, but can be activated to play Sunday.
Long didn’t get to play in the last game with the Vikings, a 25-20 win on Nov. 18.
“I know how hard this team has worked since Day 1 of showing up, and the first meeting with Coach Nagy,” Long said. “The first meeting was the day I got my Ed Block Courage Award. It’s kind of ironic that now I’ve got a chance to come back and help my team.
“They’ve been so supportive, and I want to do my part. I’m just one of 11 guys on offense. I’m trying not to be the one of 11 that’s not doing his job.”
Long said he felt like a “ghost” at times at Halas Hall since he was there but unable to practice or play while recovering from a foot tendon injury. Long had three surgeries before the season to get back on the field, and the year prior had surgery to return from a severely broken ankle.
When he went to see the MRI results of this injury, he was relieved.
“I’ve had images before where it might be time to clean out your locker, and this was a good image session,” he said.
–Head coach Matt Nagy said there will be no retribution for Harrison Smith after the Vikings safety injured Mitchell Trubisky earlier this year.
“No. Our guys, they understand that,” Nagy said.
Then again, they didn’t look exactly like a group ready to turn the other cheek Sunday when they got into a brawl along the sideline with Richard Sherman after Maurice Harris’ late hit on Trubisky after he slid.
“It was their instincts, regardless of who it is,” Nagy said. “To tell you the truth, I don’t even know if our guys (whole team) truly know the exact person that it was. The offense does. So, that’s just not where we’re at as a team. Our team wasn’t about that the other day with that hit. It was just more of a defense mechanism to protect your guy. But we’re not about being revengeful or getting back to anybody. Nothing. None of that.”
–Linebacker Danny Trevathan has taken to calling the defense a bend-but-don’t-break type, although their league-high 36 forced turnovers might say otherwise.
“I see us just being comfortable in all situations,” Trevathan said. “It looks a little gloomy out there, but we never stumble over ourselves, we never blink twice.”
The Bears have dropped from third in defense to fourth, behind the Vikings.
–Two weeks ago, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said the team may have “overloaded” wide receiver Anthony Miller in the offense because he had stopped being a factor. His return to significance with a touchdown catch and four overall receptions was a step in the right direction.
“I think we talked about it before, we probably overloaded him to some extent in the middle of the season because we, ‘Oh, my gosh, throw everything at him!'” Helfrich said. “And we kind of throttled that back a little bit.
“People adjusted to him, you know. For a while it was, hey, let’s cover this guy or double this guy. Or what about this guy? So he’s been played a little bit differently but very, very excited about his future.”
–Safety Deon Bush got through his first start since his rookie year without being burned for any significant plays. He did appear to mis one run fit badly, but nothing in pass coverage.
Bush, who is in his third year, is replacing injured safety Eddie Jackson.
“He’s been waiting for this opportunity,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “One thing about Deon, he works hard. Football’s important to him. He wants to do well.”
–Linebacker Roquan Smith needs nine tackles to break Brian Urlacher’s rookie tackles record of 124.
Smith has made at least nine tackles in six of the past eight games, and has earned high praise from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
It’s difficult to imagine Smith’s numbers if he had been ready to play the first two weeks, but he missed all of training camp and preseason in a holdout.
“Like I said, there’s no substitute for practice, no substitute for playing,” Fangio said. “He’s just a little bit more dialed in on more details than he was then (earlier this year).
“And he’s still not where he’s going to end up being, even two weeks from now.”
Being up mentally on Fangio’s defense has been the key.
“Earlier in the year, he was missing some details,” Fangio said. “And those come back to bite you and they are happening less and less now.”
–Tarik Cohen continues to lead the NFC in punt return average and his consistency is what impresses special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
“I know he hasn’t had a touchdown this year, but he still leads the league in 20-plus-yard returns, still leading the league in 15-19-yard returns,” Tabor said. “To me, it’s been the consistency of it. That goes to him, that goes to the guys blocking. Knock on wood, they are not picking up penalties in that area and they are playing clean. My hats off to all of those guys.”
–Josh Bellamy’s brash style and constant hustle have endeared him to coaches, particularly Tabor. His value has been high on coverage units all season.
“Love having him in our unit because he brings a lot of energy to the unit and we appreciate that,” Tabor said.
Tabor said Bellamy isn’t always talking. He’s quiet during meetings, but that’s about it.
“I love it,” Tabor said. “To his credit, we gave him a laugh about that, but he’s going to sit right in the front row in ST meetings and he’s done a great job.”
Special teamers often get stereotyped as being a bit crazy and Bellamy doesn’t seem to break this mold.
I think sometimes ST guys get stereotyped as that …
“In a good way,” Tabor said. “His energy level — seriously — he picks people up (mentally) and I really respect that about him. Whether it’s a good play or a bad play he’s ready to go on to the next play. I’ve been very pleased with that.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 19 — Number of touchdowns given up by the Bears inside the red zone, the same number as NFL defensive red-zone percentage leader Minnesota.
