Make-or-break game? Muhammad says no

Like most of his teammates, wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad declined to call Sunday night's nationally televised showdown at Lambeau Field a make-or-break game.

But there's no denying a loss leaves the Bears' playoff hopes in critical condition.

"Every season you hit pivotal points, and this is definitely one of those," said Muhammad, who had 5 catches last week after securing just 4 in the first three games combined. "Losing this game doesn't necessarily put us out of the race, but it does put us in a really deep hole."

Swept up with Cubs fever, Muhammad attempted a baseball analogy but swung and missed.

"During the season you have a certain amount of strikes that you can give up or lose or whatever, and you don't want to go to the plate in the third or the fourth quarter behind the count," he said. "I'm using baseball because my Cubbies are in the playoffs. But right now we're a little behind the count, and we might have a strike out there right now or maybe a strike-and-a-half, but there's a couple balls out there. We need to put one out of the park this week."

At least he got the last part right.

Not buying it: The offense enjoyed a lot of air success last season as the result of play-action passes. That hasn't worked very well this season, and for good reason.

"First, we've got to get our run game established," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said. "Play-action doesn't work unless you have a run game. We thrived off that last year a lot. You get the run game going, the safeties gotta come up and try to stop the run, and that's how you get behind them."

Inauspicious debut: NIU rookie running back Garrett Wolfe got the first 3 carries of his NFL career last week but wasn't able to do much with them, gaining just 3 yards.

With the offense and featured runner Cedric Benson struggling, Wolfe could get more opportunities as a change-of-pace runner, but he's not taking anything for granted.

"I don't expect anything," he said. "I know I'm a situational guy, and I know the situations are different week to week. If a situation arises for me to be able to get in there and play, I'm all for it."

Wolfe says he's ready to contribute, but coaches haven't committed to a consistent role for him yet.

"Being a competitor and considering myself a pretty good athlete, I feel like I'm 100 percent ready," the third-round pick said. "But that might not be the case. That's something that the coaches are better suited to judge than myself."

Wishful thinking: Offensive left tackle John Tait (ankle) and cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) missed Friday's practice and aren't expected to play Sunday, although the Bears listed them as doubtful. Linebacker Brian Urlacher also sat out Friday as part of his weekly ritual to relieve general soreness and is probable, but he will play.

Linebacker Lance Briggs (hamstring) and cornerback Charles Tillman participated on a limited scale and neither is expected to play, but they were questionable. Running back Adrian Peterson also was limited but should play.

Safety Adam Archuleta (broken hand), guard Ruben Brown (shoulder), offensive tackle Fred Miller (knee), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and safety Brandon McGowan all were probable.