Bears need to get a grip -- on Brett Favre

After just four games, the Bears already have 16 sacks, tied with the New York Giants for the most in the league.

And they should have plenty of opportunities to pad that total Sunday night, given the style of offense the Packers seem to prefer this season.

While practically ignoring the run, the Packers have thrown the ball an NFL-high 170 times, which is 10 times more per game than the NFL average.

Favre's offensive line has allowed him to be sacked just eight times. By comparison, Bears quarterbacks have thrown 142 passes and been sacked 15 times.

The Bears' proficiency at getting to the quarterback hasn't translated to overall success, since they're sharing the NFC North cellar with the Vikings at 1-3 and have already allowed 95 points, including 82 after halftime.

"Normally when you're able to get to the quarterback like that, good things are happening, not with just your defense, but with the team," said Bears coach Lovie Smith. "I think in time that will happen. If you continue to get good pressure, you'll force a quarterback to throw some bad passes, which will lead to takeaways, which we need to get. We haven't peaked by any means yet."

The Bears have produced just 7 takeaways this season, far from the pace of last season, when they had a league-best 44. But Bears right end Mark Anderson is tied for sixth in the league with 4 sacks, while tackle Tommie Harris, left end Adewale Ogunleye and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher have 3 each.

But beating the Packers' blockers is just part of the equation, according to Harris.

"I've got my hands on him (Favre) plenty of times," Harris said, "but he gets rid of the ball fast."

And Favre isn't throwing deep as often as he has in years past.

"He's doing a pretty good job this year controlling the ball," Anderson said. "(But) as long as we get the pressure with the linebackers and the front four, I think we can make some things happen."

Anderson was the most pleasant surprise on last year's Super Bowl team when the lightly regarded fifth-round pick contributed a team-best 12 sacks while playing less than half the snaps as a situational pass rusher.

He was promoted to the starting lineup in the off-season because coaches believe he's also a solid run defender, despite being on the light side at just 255 pounds.

Anderson, who was the runner-up in defensive rookie of the year voting last season, believes he's a better all-around player than he was a year ago.

"The off-season I worked out with a couple of veterans," said Anderson, whose first NFL sack came against Favre. "Just trying to learn the system better, coming off the ball quicker, coming off the edge and using my hands. I think I probably developed just a little bit."

Ogunleye is playing as well as he ever has since joining the Bears in 2004. He leads the linemen with 9 solos and 19 total tackles, and his 3 quarterback hurries are second to Anderson's 4. The seven-year veteran said that even though Favre is throwing the ball a lot, he's not always susceptible to sacks.

"They're using the passing game as a running game now, which is a little frustrating because they get the ball out fast," Ogunleye said. "It's helping those guards out a lot because they don't have to block as long. Guys are (still) getting to Favre. (But) for some reason, when Brett gets in trouble, his feet are still helping him get out of trouble."