Bears defense, offense different from last Lions meeting

The Bears desperately want to believe they're a different team, and a better team, from the one that lost to the Detroit Lions 37-27 four weeks ago.

In addition to having won two of their last three games, they can make some pretty good arguments in their favor.

For openers, two of their best defenders, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman will be back in the lineup after missing the first meeting with injuries.

That alone should ensure that the Lions don't score 34 points in the fourth quarter.

Briggs leads the Bears in solo tackles (43-42 over Brian Urlacher), even though he missed 1½ games with a hamstring injury.

Tillman is the Bears' biggest cover corner (6-feet-1, 196 pounds) and therefore the best option to contain the Lions' leading receiver, 6-3, 211-pound Roy Williams. Strong safety Adam Archuleta also missed the first game with a broken hand.

"We had a few players out the last time we played, especially on the defensive side of the ball," coach Lovie Smith said. "We have more guys available this time."

Nate Vasher, the other starting corner, also was missing Sept. 30, but he isn't expected back until the first game after next week's bye, against the Raiders in Oakland on Nov. 11.

The 3-4 Bears also expect to field a more dangerous and diverse offense in Sunday's rematch with the 4-2 Lions, who have a 1½-game lead over them for second place in the NFC North behind the 5-1 Packers.

Rookie tight end Greg Olsen and second-year wide receiver Devin Hester have both become major players in the offense after having minimal impact in the first four games.

Through the first Lions game, Hester had 1 catch for 3 yards and Olsen had 2 for 28. In the three games since, Hester has 4 catches for 122 yards, Olsen 13 for 168.

"Each week it gets better and better," Olsen said. "You feel more a part of what's going on. Everything gets that much easier. As each week goes by, I feel I progress and I'm getting better."

Olsen and Hester each has a touchdown catch in the past three weeks, and Hester had 2 catches for 30 yards in the game-winning drive at Philadelphia.

"That was one of the best games I've been around," Hester said. "Just being a part of this offense is exciting, getting opportunities to go out and make plays."

The trend of Hester playing and contributing more is expected to continue.

"The first time (against the Lions), he barely played," Smith said. "He got over 20 plays his last game."

That also was quarterback Brian Griese's first start in two years, and he was clearly rusty throwing 3 interceptions and getting sacked six times. In the three games since, Griese has thrown 6 TD passes and 3 interceptions and has been sacked just four times while throwing for 917 yards.

"I feel like I've progressed in the past two weeks just getting more comfortable being back out there and being in this system," Griese said. "I know from my standpoint I feel better. I think offensively we feel more confident, and hopefully that'll carry over."

Griese also said the Bears are in a better mood coming off the comeback victory on the road against the Eagles than they were last time on the heels of a 34-10 butt-kicking administered by the Dallas Cowboys.

"Just the spirit in the building when you win is so different," Griese said. "That's why last week's game was really big for us. The week before (that) we felt terrible (after the loss to the Minnesota Vikings).

"We felt like we should have won that game and didn't win it. But to be able to win something and build on that and build some confidence and just enjoy the week, it's a night-and-day difference."

Sunday's outcome will tell how much the Bears have changed in four weeks.