Smith likes Bears' game plan

Coach Lovie Smith said last week that the offense needed more balance in its attack after calling 47 pass plays and just 12 runs against Seattle, but the Bears called 44 run plays and just 16 runs Sunday.

“I like our game plan,” Smith said. “We can't turn the ball over as many times. Losing by 3 points, we got ourselves in position to still do some things.

“When I say balance, I'm not talking about 50-50, anything like that. I'm just talking about keeping them off balance a little bit with the run, taking what they're giving us, and I think we did that for the most part.”

The Bears, who were 26th in the NFL, picked up 66 yards against Washington for a 4.1-yard average after getting 61 against the Seahawks with a 4.4-yard average.

Matt Forte had 41 yards on 10 carries and Chester Taylor added 20 yards on three runs.

Not that impressed:

Even though Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall caught more of his passes than most of the Bears receivers, quarterback Jay Cutler said he didn't consider throwing away from the seven-year veteran even after the second or third of his NFL-record-tying 4 interceptions.

“No, not at all,” Cutler said. “I've played against him before, and there's no reason to shy away from him. It's hard for me to say (after) throwing 4 picks to a guy, but if we had to play him tomorrow, we'd go at him every time if we could.”

By the numbers:

Amazingly, the offense's 2-for-10 mark on third-down conversions Sunday actually improved their season average. They began the day at 17.6 percent, the worst in the NFL, and are up to 17.9 percent.

The league average is 38.5, and Bears opponents are averaging 29.6 percent.

Injury update:

Linebacker Lance Briggs, who sat out last week with a sprained ankle, started Sunday, and the plan was for him to alternate series with Brian Iwuh. But by the end of the first quarter that plan was scrapped when Briggs was unable to continue. Iwuh had a sack, 2 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Unintended receiver:

Jay Cutler's fourth-quarter pass that was deflected 20 feet in the air by safety LaRon Landry wound up in the hands of Bears left guard Chris Williams for a 4-yard gain on third-and-14.

It was the first reception by a Bears offensive lineman since John St. Clair's 2-yard TD catch on a tackle-eligible play against Kansas City on Sept. 16, 2007.

Sitting it out:

Sunday's inactives were safety Major Wright (hamstring), running back Kahlil Bell, cornerback Zack Bowman (foot), guard Roberto Garza (knee), tight end Desmond Clark, defensive end Corey Wootton and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison. Todd Collins was the third quarterback.

It was the third time in four weeks that Clark was a healthy scratch and the sixth time in seven games that Harrison was on the bench.

Wright and Bowman are expected back for the Buffalo game after next week's bye, and Garza could return then, too. Wootton sat after playing as a backup in the previous two games.