Mirror images will clash at Soldier Field

A young quarterback struggling to find his stride. A backup running back with a chance to show he can be more than just a role player.

The Bears aren't the only team that fits that description.

Their opponent this week, the New York Giants, limp into Soldier Field on Sunday with quarterback Eli Manning coming off one of his worst performances as a pro and a running game in a state of flux due to injury.

Manning struggled from the get-go last week, tossing 4 interceptions -- including 3 that were returned for touchdowns -- in a 41-17 thumping by the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

"I didn't play well; I kept turning the ball over," Manning said afterward. "They just outperformed us and made good plays."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin is hoping Manning quickly puts that performance in the rearview mirror.

"If you play the game long enough, you have a game like that, and that's not to say that it doesn't come with great pain," Coughlin said. "The fact of the matter is it happens, and what you have to do is you have to put it away, learn from it and move forward.

"I think his focus is in tune. I think he's looking forward to playing (Sunday)."

Not helping Manning's case against the Vikings was the fact that the Giants were playing without running backs Brandon Jacobs (hamstring) and Derrick Ward (groin), relying instead on short-yard specialist Reuben Droughns and rookie Ahamad Bradshaw. The pair combined for 75 yards on 19 attempts.

"We've had him as our short-yardage and goal-line runner all year long and he's done a very good job at that," Coughlin said of Droughns. "He's had to do more than anticipated of late and he's stepped up there and done a good job."

8 is enough: Though Giants coach Tom Coughlin was loathe to offer a comparison between Bears quarterback Rex Grossman and Eli Manning, Giants defensive end Michael Strahan gave this scouting report on No. 8 of the Bears:

"Ever since he's come back in to replace (Brian) Griese, he's been playing great, to be honest with you. That's a scary thing. Maybe in that time when he wasn't a starter it allowed him to see some things on how he can improve his game, because he definitely has become a lot better."

Kick or no kick: That is the dilemma that faces the Giants this week. Coach Tom Coughlin was asked how much the Bears' offense factors into the decision on whether to kick to star returner Devin Hester.

"That's an interesting question, and I think you have to consider all the factors," he said. "Say you give the ball to the guy at the 40 and he makes a first down and then punts it back to you, there's a pretty good chance you might be taking it at the 10-yard line or even inside the 10.

"So you have to consider everything."

Graybeards: A common complaint about the Bears' offensive line is that it seems to have gotten old overnight.

That elicited a little chuckle from Giants defensive end Michael Strahan.

"All of us have gotten old," he said. "They're good players. They're going to challenge you.

"It's not an easy line to have success against. They won't quit. They play through four quarters, and I guess that's a testament to Lovie Smith and their belief that the game is never over."