Condition critical for Bears?

Starting with today's 175th meeting with the division-leading Green Bay Packers, the Bears have two games to convince themselves that the off-season will necessitate only a retooling rather than a major reconstruction.

The Packers finished 8-8 last season and missed the playoffs, forcing them to do some retooling. Thanks to an offensive line that has allowed only 14 sacks this season, Brett Favre has turned in one of his best seasons to lead the Packers to a 12-2 record.

The Bears are 5-9, and 5 of their losses were by 8 points or less. According to head coach Lovie Smith, that represents some cause for optimism.

"I definitely think we're close," Smith said. "You would say that we're not close if we were blown out every game. (But) we had an opportunity. We've blown a lot of opportunities, as we see it.

"We've been close except for maybe one game this year -- the Dallas game (34-10) got out of hand a little bit. But every other game we were in it right up until the end."

That's an arguable point. The Bears lost to the Chargers 14-3 in the season opener and 16-7 to the Lions in Week 8, although the 37-27 loss to the Lions in Week 4 was a 3-point game until the winners scored on the Bears' onside kick in the final minute.

"We're close," Smith said, "but close with a loss doesn't mean a whole lot. I just think we can correct some of those things. We're down now, but we won't be for long."

That will be debated all off-season, and it will be a lot easier to make the argument that the Bears might be closer to a standing 8-count than Smith thinks. It's shocking how quickly they have degenerated from a team that seemed to have hardly any flaws a year ago into one that needs help almost everywhere.

Let's look at the key areas:

Quarterback: None of the three has done much to get anyone pumped about 2008, although Kyle Orton has more chances to come. Brian Griese is a competent backup but not someone you build an offense around. The Bears won't get into a bidding war for unrestricted free agent Rex Grossman, although they'll probably welcome him back if he wants to compete for the job next season at a moderate salary.

The bigger question is this: Does Grossman want to be back under the microscope with a supporting cast that needs major upgrades?

Running back: Cedric Benson was a disappointment even before a season-ending fractured ankle, so no one's expecting a breakout season.

His situation is similar to Grossman's in that he'll get a chance to compete for the featured role, but he can't be counted on as the main man.

Adrian Peterson has proved to be best suited as a third-down option, and rookie Garrett Wolfe isn't an every-down back either.

Wide receiver: If Bernard Berrian bounces in free agency, as expected, that doesn't leave much.

Muhsin Muhammad is 34 and a complementary player at best. Devin Hester remains a project, though one with spectacular potential, and Mark Bradley has regressed. Rashied Davis is a role player who is a No. 3 at best but probably a No. 4.

Offensive line: This is disaster area that needs immediate help, especially at right tackle and left guard. A first-day draft pick who can start from Day One and a quality free agent are both required.

Defensive line: Head coach Lovie Smith will provide details on injured players before the Bears pay ineffective DT Darwin Walker a $5.2 million roster bonus in March. But if Tommie Harris, Anthony Adams and Dusty Dvoracek all come back healthy in 2008, they'll be fine.

On the outside, they'll be stronger if coaches admit their mistake and give Alex Brown his starting job back opposite Adewale Ogunleye, and if Mark Anderson goes back to his role as a pass-rush specialist.

Linebackers: Lance Briggs isn't coming back. Jamar Williams must step up without much of a fall-off because the Bears have too many other needs to start filling gaps here.

If Brian Urlacher's back gets worse, look out below.

Defensive backs: It's all good at corner, but safety is a mess. It wouldn't matter who the other safety was if Mike Brown played 16 games at 100 percent, but he'll have missed 42 of the last 64 games by the end of this season. Danieal Manning has all the tools but can't figure out how to use them, Brandon McGowan is injured almost as much as Brown, and signing Adam Archuleta was a mistake.

Anyone who thinks the Bears' off-season project is closer to tinkering than a teardown is more of a glass-is-half-full type person than even Lovie Smith, the ultimate optimist.

Numbers that count

No. 1: Packers can close in on top NFC seed by beating Bears today, but they'll still need Dallas its last game.

26-7: Score of last season's Packers' victory in the season finale when Brett Favre was in tears and hinted of retirement.

4: Number of MVP honors Favre will have if he wins one again this season.

67.1%: Favre's completion percentage.

14: Times Favre has been sacked. Bears QBs have been sacked 41 times.

5: With 95 yards passing today, Favre will go over 4,000 yards for the fifth time in a season.

26 & 13: Favre's touchdowns and interceptions in 2007. Bears: 14 & 20.

47: Interceptions Favre threw previous two seasons.

3: NFL career records Favre picked up this year as he became the leader in yards passing, touchdown passes and victories by a starting quarterback.

21: Number of different quarterbacks who have started for the Bears since Favre joined Green Bay in 1992.

Source: AP