Bears not doing a good job of playing takeaway

Last year at the halfway point, the Bears' defense had forced 24 turnovers en route to a league-best 44 for the season. But this season they have just 13 takeaways after eight games.

"There are a lot of reasons for that," coach Lovie Smith said. "There have been some missed opportunities. Going back to the (lack of) consistency, we've had about 11 other opportunities to make interceptions where we haven't.

"As I told the team, 'Whatever the reasons are right now, this is what it says, (and we) can't change any of that.' We just need to do these things to try to take advantage of those situations as they come the second half."

Safety Mike Brown, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener, remains tied for the team lead with 1 interception. Last season eight players had 2 or more interceptions.

"We're just not taking advantage, not capitalizing is really what it comes down to," said safety Adam Archuleta, who has 1 of the Bears' 5 interceptions (only four teams have fewer). "We've been in position to get the ball."

Mental reps: Knowing they need to go at least 6-2 in the second half to have a chance at the playoffs is a mental challenge as well as physical, and the Bears hope to use the bye weekend to wrap their minds around the task.

"We're definitely disappointed that we're in this situation, but I wouldn't say anybody's (confidence is) down," guard Ruben Brown said. "For me, it's just kind of relax and don't get uptight mentally.

"Know that it's going to be a tough job ahead, but all our goals, we can still accomplish them. So that's the main thing -- just get your mind set right."

The Bears will have the advantage of starting the second half against the 2-5 Oakland Raiders.

"We're only guaranteed our next game," quarterback Brian Griese said. "For each and every guy, this whole week-and-a-half is going to be tough. You have to look at yourself and say, 'What have I done, what can I do better?' and come back with the mind-set and the character to get it fixed. That's the only thing you can do."

Playing-time adjustment: Based on starter Mark Anderson's lack of production the past four games (11 tackles and one-half sack), backup Alex Brown could see more snaps at right end, even if their official depth-chart status doesn't change. Despite not starting, Brown has had 16 tackles and 1½ sacks over the same four games.

"We've always considered Alex as one of our three starters," coach Lovie Smith said. "The three of those guys (including left end Adewale Ogunleye) will continue to play. Nothing has changed.

"Alex has had his moments when he's had good plays and his moments when he hasn't, just like Mark Anderson has done."

Brown played nearly 40 snaps vs. the Detroit Lions, almost twice his usual amount, although the first-quarter sack originally credited to him has been changed to a shared sack between him and Anderson.

Dead zone: No one knows better than quarterback Brian Griese that the offense has struggled to put points on the board early in his five starts, failing to score at all in the first quarter and totaling just 24 points in the first halves.

"Obviously we haven't been good enough in the red zone," Griese said. "It's efficiency on first and second down, getting the ball down there and obviously being able to convert on third downs in the red-zone area, specifically."

The Bears have scored touchdowns on just 41.2 of their trips inside the opponents' 20 (24th in the NFL).