Trestman, Bears not giving up hope

Bears coach Marc Trestman's message to his underachieving team as it returned from an off week was this: It's possible to overcome a 3-5 start and still make the playoffs.

Trestman cited two recent examples. The Philadelphia Eagles, who started 3-5 last season but went 7-1 in the second half and won the NFC East at 10-6. A year earlier the Washington Redskins started 3-6 and won the NFC East by running the table in their final seven games to also finish 10-6.

It's fair to wonder if Trestman's disappointing crew has the intestinal fortitude to cobble together that type of streak, even with five of its final seven games at home.

The first step, and probably the most difficult assignment in any potential Bears resurrection is Sunday night against the Packers in Green Bay.

There is very little in the Bears' first eight games to suggest they can knock off a Packers team that has won four of its last five games, beginning with a 38-17 rout of the Bears at Soldier Field on Sept. 28.

The key, according to Trestman, is to put the 3-5 record in the rearview mirror and look ahead.

"It really comes back to Green Bay," he said. "It doesn't come back to our record. It doesn't come back to the last eight weeks. It comes back to we've got an opportunity to get started, and that's this week in Green Bay. That's really what we're focused to do."

All eight of the Bears' remaining games are against NFC opponents, including five against teams in their division, which provides an opportunity to make up ground.

The Bears are last in the NFC North, but they have two games remaining with the 4-5 Minnesota Vikings (4-5) and the Detroit Lions (6-2) after they face the Packers (5-3).

"Everything that we want is still ahead of us," strong safety Ryan Mundy said. "They're all NFC opponents, so they're all must wins for us."

After the Packers, the Bears host the Vikings and Lovie Smith's 1-7 Buccaneers. Following a Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions in Detroit, the Bears entertain three straight indoor teams - the Cowboys, Saints and Lions.

Though Trestman's team has yet to establish a homefield advantage while going 0-3 at Soldier Field, it should benefit from playing against visitors who will not be comfortable in typical Chicago weather in December.

But none of that may matter if the Bears can't steal a game against the 7½-point favorite Packers.

"We've got to hit them a little bit harder," defensive end Willie Young said of the rematch. "We've got to outhit our opponents. There's nothing about what we've got to do (that) is going to be pretty. Nothing whatsoever.

"We've got to outhit our opponents for however long that game goes and continue to bring the pain."

That was the formula that worked last season in the Bears' only victory over the Packers in the past six years. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a fractured collarbone on the first series on a Shea McClellin sack, and the Bears struggled to a 27-20 victory.

But, when Rodgers returned for the regular-season finale that determined the NFC North title, he directed a 33-28 victory. In this year's first meeting, Rodgers was devastating, throwing for 302 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, while being sacked just once.

"We need to put more pressure on him up front, and we have to do our job in the back end to make sure those guy are covered up," Mundy said. "The rush and coverage (have to) come together.

"And we have to be physical. We have to be physical with their wide receivers and their running back, because they're a talented group. If we go out and play physical football like we did in Atlanta (a 27-13 win), we'll be all right."

If not, it'll be all over for the Bears.

• Linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hamstring), guard Eben Britton (appendectomy) and defensive end Trevor Scott (personal day) did not practice Monday.

Sharpton and Britton are week to week and not expected to play Sunday. Wide receiver Marquess Wilson (fractured collar bone) remained on injured reserve/designated to return but could be back later in the week.

Defensive end David Bass was added to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, replacing defensive end Lamarr Houston, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Offensive tackle Jason Weaver was added to the practice squad.

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