Chargers QB Rivers effective

Like the Bears' Rex Grossman, Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers' 2006 season was his first as a full-time starter in the NFL.

Rivers was drafted fourth overall in 2004, a year after Grossman was taken with the 22nd pick, and the 6-foot-5, 228-pound North Carolina State product put up some impressive numbers.

Rivers' passer rating of 92.0 was fourth best in the AFC; 18.1 points higher than Grossman's and 4.1 points higher than Tom Brady's. Rivers threw 22 TD passes, 1 less than Grossman, but he was picked off just nine times, 11 fewer than the Bears' quarterback.

"He doesn't turn the ball over a whole lot," Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said of Rivers. "He doesn't throw that many picks. He doesn't make stupid decisions when he has the ball in his hands, doesn't get sacked a lot, moves pretty well. It helps to have No. 21 (LaDainian Tomlinson) back there, but he does a good job for them. He runs the offense pretty well."

Sibling rivalry: Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner would just as soon confine talk about Sunday's opener to Chicago vs. San Diego, even though his older brother Norv will be directing his first game as the Chargers' head coach.

"It's a special week because it's the first game of the season," the Bears' Turner said. "It's two really good football teams going at it. Obviously, on a side note, it's a little bit special because it's him, and it's his first game as a head coach there and all that stuff. But really, it comes down to the Bears vs. the Chargers, and it's a very important game for both of us. They're going to do all they can to win, and we're going to do all we can to win, and after that I hope they win the rest of them."

Get over it: Even when the opposing running back is the league MVP, shutting him down is still Job One for the Bears. The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson presents a unique combination of speed, power and elusiveness, but the defense won't change its approach.

"He's a little different than most guys because he can do so many things," Brian Urlacher said. "(But) you try to tackle everyone the same. There's really not much you can do about it if he makes you miss, which he will do. He is going to make plays. He makes plays in every game that he plays in. When he does make them, we've got to go back to the huddle, regroup and go on to the next play."

Already up: Bears coach Lovie Smith doesn't expect to do much motivational speaking before Sunday's game against the Chargers, whose 14-2 record was the best in the NFL last season.

"The players don't need a lot of George Halas speeches this week to get pumped up," Smith said. "We know what's at stake. We've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Of course, they have too."

Injury report: Rookie tight end Greg Olsen (sprained left knee) was again a limited participant in practice Friday and is not expected to dress Sunday.

Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad (general soreness) and linebacker Lance Briggs (personal reasons) did not practice but will play Sunday.