Bears’ Urlacher just talks football

NEW ORLEANS — Brian Urlacher attended his mother’s funeral in Lovington, N.M., on Saturday and was in his usual spot at middle linebacker on Sunday.

The seven-time Pro Bowl player did not want to address personal questions after the game but acknowledged the support he received in the days since his mother’s passing last Monday.

He downplayed the difficulty of his situation.

“I’ve got great teammates,” Urlacher said. “It was a football game, you know? I came to get ready, just like I normally do. Just a normal day. I went out there and played.”

Urlacher and the Bears’ defense was riddled by Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 118.1.

“He’s a good quarterback,” Urlacher said. “I’m sure there are some breakdowns on our end, which usually don’t happen.

“But he’s a good quarterback. They have a good scheme, and he knows where to go with the football. You’re not going to trick them too much.”

The play that hurt the most was Brees’ 79-yard TD pass to Devery Henderson on a third-and-12 play with the Bears leading 7-3.

“The one time we did get (the Saints) in third-and-long, they threw a 100-yard touchdown,” Urlacher said, exaggerating a bit. “We just have to get into better situations.”

No safety zone:The last line of defense, the safeties, didn#146;t provide much of a safety net for the Bears.The game-turning 79-yard touchdown toss victimized Major Wright, as Devery Henderson sprinted past him while catching the ball in stride.Wright later suffered a concussion that knocked him out of the game, when he tackled 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end Jimmy Graham.The Bears already were playing without strong safety Chris Harris, who was out with a hamstring injury, and will not have Wright back for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.Later Graham hauled in a 30-yard pass when safety Brandon Meriweather, who started in place of Harris, was late getting into position.By the end of the game Meriweather, rookie Chris Conte and Craig Steltz were the only healthy safeties left.#147;It#146;s not just secondary,#148; Steltz said when asked about blame. #147;It#146;s the team, whether it#146;s the front four or the back seven.#147;We work together. We win as a team, we lose as a team, so overall we have to work as a team to create take-aways and give the ball back to the offense.#148;The Bears#146; only take-away came from cornerback Charles Tillman, who forced a fumble and recovered it late in the game.Line of duty:Dane Sanzenbacher got increased snaps after Earl Bennett suffered a knee injury, and the rookie from Ohio State caught 3 passes for 33 yards, including his first NFL touchdown, an 8-yard grab that gave the Bears a 7-0 lead.#147;Obviously, at the time it feels good to get one in there,#148; he said, #147;but at the moment now it doesn#146;t seem like that big of a highlight, coming in a loss.#148;Sanzenbacher also took a vicious hit from Malcolm Jenkins on an overthrown pass. A welcome-to-the-NFL moment? #147;It#146;s one of them,#148; he said. #147;You know that#146;s part of the game if you#146;re going to go play in the middle. There#146;s going to be guys flying around, and sometimes you have to take those.#148;Painful loss:Earl Bennett took a helmet to the ribs from Saints safety Roman Harper midway through the first quarter that resulted in a chest injury, and he did not return. In the second quarter, offensive right tackle Gabe Carimi needed help walking off the field after a knee injury, and he did not return. Carimi was replaced by Frank Omiyale.Safety Major Wright was knocked unconscious late in the third quarter after tackling Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. He eventually walked off under his own power but did not return.Sitting it out:Sunday#146;s inactives were: wide receiver Roy Williams (groin), running back Marion Barber (calf), safety Chris Harris (hamstring), guard Lance Louis (ankle), defensive tackle Stephen Paea, defensive end Corey Wootton (knee) and quarterback Nathan Enderle.ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.