Harris solidifies 'D' in much-needed win
PHILADELPHIA -- Tommie Harris called the Bears a desperate team this week.
They still are.
But the difference between 3-4 and 2-5 is monumentally huge for a team trying to become the first to have a winning record in the last five years after losing in the Super Bowl. Harris played a big role in the Bears' 19-16 win over the Eagles on Sunday.
The Pro Bowl defensive tackle had 2 sacks, giving him a career-best 6 in only seven games this season. Harris had 5 sacks last season before suffering the torn left hamstring against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 3.
"It's great, man, to get this win," said Harris, who was selected by the Bears with the 14th overall pick in the 2004 draft. "We needed this bad. We couldn't afford another loss. We just couldn't have it. The guys hung in there and hung in there. We battled the whole way and got it done. We'll take a win any way, man. Any way."
Harris struggled with his hamstring through training camp and the early part of the preseason, but he looks healthy now. Harris helped solidify the much-maligned Bears defense, which began the game ranked 27th overall.
"We didn't give up anything deep," Harris said. "Even when they scored and took the lead, we felt like we played all right. We're improving and coming together. I think we'll continue to get better. We have to stick together as one and fight for everything."
The Bears' defense gave up an eye-popping 224 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns to Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson last week. The defense allowed 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Not only did the Bears improve in both areas against the Eagles, they got the victory this time around.
"That's the thing -- we won," Harris said. "You can throw all the stats in the world, but the bottom line is winning. We did what we had to in this game. We weren't perfect, but we're getting along better than where we were. We'll take this and go from here. One win at a time."
Still, how about the 2 sacks?
"It's good and all, but wins help," Harris said. "I got good pressure up the middle a couple of times. I feel good. It's a process. It helps when you're healthy. I just want us to keep this going and build with another win and then another win."