Bears show Lions they’re not afraid to get dirty

Chris Conte has seen some nasty stuff on the football field.

And he’s been in some nasty stuff on the football field.

But the rookie from Cal has never seen or been in the kind of nasty stuff that took place Sunday at Soldier Field between the Bears and the Lions.

“I thought the Packers were our main rival, and what I’m sure of now is that they are,’’ Conte said with a smile after the Bears dismantled Detroit. “I think I’m learning that what we have with the Packers is a rivalry.”

And the Lions?

“Detroit is just a team we hate,’’ Conte said. “We have a lot of respect for the Packers. It’s a good rivalry. This is different. It’s just mutual hatred. This is just two teams that hate each other. There’s a big difference.”

Well, it seems the Bears are going to have to get in line because Detroit under Jim Schwartz is trying to become the most hated team in the NFL with a reputation for playing dirty.

And they’re progressing quite nicely in their quest.

“Teams tend to take on the personality of their coach, and you can flat out see in them that they are trying to be a certain way on Sundays,” said nine-year veteran Roy Williams. “He’s a guy they definitely want to play for and they’re 6-3. You’ve got to give them that. Lots of teams wish they were 6-3.”

Both the Bears and Lions are 6-3 and secure in a wild-card position after 10 weeks, though Detroit leads for the fifth playoff spot by virtue of a better division record. The reality, however, is they are two teams headed in opposite directions.

With a 37-13 victory Sunday, the Bears have won four straight, while the Lions have lost three of four since defeating the Bears on Oct. 10 to go to 5-0. And Sunday they looked as pathetic as an NFL team can look in losing to a Bears team that did little offensively.

Of course, with special teams and the defense scoring at will, and a plus-5 in turnovers, the Bears’ offense didn’t have to do much of anything.

“We were kind of put in a position where we didn’t have to do a lot,’’ said Jay Cutler. “Just run out the clock for the most part.”

The game was over in the first half and a couple of Matthew Stafford pick-6s early in the second half only meant the game was certain to get out of hand. Down big, the Lions ramped up the cheap shots.

“I know I would,” Brian Urlacher admitted. “Sometimes teams do that when they get down.”

The Lions did it from start to finish, taking stupid penalties early that helped the Bears’ offense immensely.

“It wasn’t clean and it wasn’t quiet,” said Cutler, who was in the game unnecessarily long and wound up taking 11 hits along the way. “That’s just how it is. We play them twice a year and are very familiar with each other.

“It’s a game that’s very important to both sides, so it’s going to be expected.”

Both QBs took some punishment — legal and illegal — so the NFL will look at Ndamukong Suh for tearing off Cutler’s helmet and D.J. Moore for his ejection and scuffle with Stafford, who instigated a brawl with a takedown of Moore.

“I don’t know why he got thrown out,’’ Urlacher said of Moore. “It was a stupid call.”

As was the melee that followed Tim Jennings’ interception return.

“I didn’t see anything,” Jennings said. “I didn’t have much energy to get in there. (Anthony Adams) grabbed me and said, ‘Don’t even get in there.’ That shows the kind of leadership and accountability we have.”

Yeah, you don’t need to see the big men looking out for the little guys to understand the kind of close-knit group this is becoming, but the Lions’ attempt to intimidate the Bears on Sunday only helped the cause.

“We stick together,” Conte said. “When something like that erupts, everyone gets in there to look out for each other.”

From a 2-3 mark with Cutler openly criticizing his coordinator and the offensive line, to 6-3 and in a playoff spot with teammates fighting for each other in a brawl with a beast.

Quite a month it’s been for the Bears, who didn’t even play a great game Sunday and still blew out a team that was considered a playoff lock a couple of weeks ago.

Now, they’re in a postseason position and should be favored in six of their last seven games.

“There’s a long way to go,” said Earl Bennett. “In this league, things change fast. But we can feel good about this tonight.”

After smacking a bully in the face and putting him down, seems a few good nights are in order.

ŸHear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.