Injuries at linebacker? Not a problem for Bears

ATLANTA - There's playing short-handed, and then there's what the Bears' defense was forced to do Sunday. Each of the top four linebackers were inactive against the Falcons because of injuries.

Khaseem Greene, who started for Lance Briggs at weakside linebacker, said he didn't know he was starting until Sunday morning, but he wound up with a game-best 8 tackles.

"We just went out there and played," Greene said. "We know that we can't control anything but what we do, and that's what we did, every time we were on the field. We were controlled and played with maximum effort."

Christian Jones went undrafted out of Florida State following a senior season in which he moved from linebacker to defensive end and saw his production fall off. But Jones had 4 tackles Sunday, filling in for Jon Bostic (back) in his first NFL start just six games into his career.

Jones was told Tuesday he might be starting, so he said nerves weren't much of a problem for him, but he still had strong feelings.

"It was emotional just because of the stuff that happened back in the draft, and then I get my opportunity to start," Jones said. "I feel like I came so far, so it was awesome just getting my opportunity to go out there and play with the first group. It's a blessing, give God the glory for that."

And give a lot of NFL teams a black mark for not seeing in Jones what the Bears did.

"I know I'm a good player and it kind of hurt a little bit when they passed me up," he said. "But I try not to think about it too much and just go out there every day and just play and try to get better every day.

"I know there's a plan for me, and my time will come."

Getting coached up:

Five-year veteran Darryl Sharpton credited Bears coaches for getting him ready to start in place of D.J. Williams (neck), even though he wasn't signed by the Bears until Sept. 25.

"It was fairly short notice." he said of his start, "but the coaches always prepare us with the mentality of 'next man up.' No one ever gets treated as secondary or a backup. Everyone's prepared to start at all times, so when your number is called, you shouldn't be shocked. You should just rely on the coaching and step up."

Ending the drought:

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall had just 6 catches for 69 yards in Weeks 3-5, the least productive three-game stretch since his rookie season of 2006, as he battled a sprained ankle,

The five time Pro Bowler's previous low-water mark for three consecutive games was 8 catches for 91 yards in 2010. Since joining the Bears before the 2012 season, Marshall never had fewer than 14 catches in any three-game stretch.

But Marshall looked to be 100 percent Sunday, catching 6 passes for a season-best 113 yards.

"Jay was really just dropping those balls in places that him and only a few guys can do," Marshall said. "I think we took advantage of our opportunities. I'm just proud of our offense for bouncing back."

Going long:

After letting the Falcons tie the game at 13-13, the Bears went long. Really, really long.

On the second play after the Falcons tied it up, Jay Cutler took a deep drop and threw the ball about as far as he can from his 10-yard line.

It dropped softly into the hands of Alshon Jeffery at the Falcons' 25, and he brought it down to the 9-yard line, from where Matt Forte scored on a draw play.

"We had Alshon on a deep route, and more than anything we had the protection," coach Marc Trestman said. "Alshon split the safeties, and really the ball could have gone to either guy, Alshon was open deep, and Brandon (Marshall) was open on a crossing route."

Sitting it out:

Besides the linebackers, Sunday's other inactives were offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (knee/ankle), cornerback Sherrick McManis (quad/knee) and safety Ahmad Dixon (hamstring).