Bears relish chance to tackle Packers
Most 5-9 teams might not welcome a late-season visit from a 12-2 opponent, but the arrival of the Green Bay Packers could be just what the Bears need, according to linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer.
"I think it's a good week for it, honestly, because we don't have anything else to play for," Hillenmeyer said. "It's a great chance to play against our rival, a game that's always going to be an exciting one to play.
"Obviously we want to get a little momentum going and carry that into the off-season, hopefully, a lot like Green Bay did last year. They won their last four games last year, and look where it got them."
Since a 4-8 start last season, the Packers are 16-2.
Even though Bears coach Lovie Smith didn't put much stock into creating momentum in the final regular-season game of 2005 heading into the playoffs, he said a couple wins at the end of this season can be a building block for the 2008 season, which is eight months away.
"It's a huge deal," he said. "Just to finish on a high note, that in itself is big. But we have the Packers, too. That by itself would be enough for you to want to win. But even if it wasn't the Packers, we've lost three games, and we need to get a win."
Forgive and forget: Backup tackle Antonio Garay suffered a season-ending fractured right ankle when he was blocked low and from behind by Redskins offensive tackle on Dec. 6.
"This was not the way I thought this season would go for me from the beginning," said Garay, who started the season on the practice squad after being cut but wound up playing in six games. "It's just been a roller coaster of a ride. Right now, I'm just all about getting my career back on track. I'm on the road to recovery right now, and I'll be as good as gold in no time."
Samuels called Bears coach Lovie Smith to apologize for the hit on Garay, for which he was fined $12,500.
"He didn't get a hold of me," Garay said. "I have no ill will toward the guy. Speed of the game, sometimes illegal things happen. I was just on the wrong side of it.
"At the time, I knew I got chopped from behind, so I was very (ticked) off about that. But I don't think in any way he did it intentionally or maliciously. I wish him good luck with the rest of his season."
Still waiting: Starting left guard Ruben Brown is on injured reserve and Terrence Metcalf has played himself out of the job that he got when Brown went down, but fourth-round pick Josh Beekman still can't get on the field.
Veteran backup tackle John St. Clair is scheduled to make his second straight start at left guard Sunday, and it looks like Beekman will be a game-day inactive for the 13th time in 14 games.
"Right now, we're playing the guys that we think give us the best opportunity to win," coach Lovie Smith said. "As far as him getting into the rotation, he hasn't been in it right now, and I don't know what's going to happen as far as that's concerned."
By the numbers: In Kyle Orton's last start against Green Bay just over two years ago, he completed 6 of 17 passes for 68 yards, 1 interception and a passer rating of 23.7 while being sacked three times. … As visitors, the Packers have won 12 of the last 13 meetings against the Bears, and most of the games weren't even close. Starting with last season and going backward to 1994, the Packers have victories of 19 points, 17, 15, 13, 8, 22, 16, 3, 1, 31, 3 and 27.
Injury update: Defensive end Mark Anderson (knee), linebacker Lance Briggs (hip) and quarterback Rex Grossman (knee) missed practice for a third straight day Friday. Anderson is doubtful, while the other two are questionable, as are defensive tackles Tommie Harris (knee) and Darwin Walker (elbow) and cornerback Nate Vasher (knee), who returned to practice on a limited basis.