What a rush: Bears roll up season high

Here's an indication of how pathetic the Bears' running game has been: their 139-yard output Sunday against Green Bay was the most productive of the season, and it required 45 carries.

"We haven't had games like that on the ground," guard Roberto Garza said. "It felt good to establish the run and stick to it."

The Bears averaged just 3.1 yards per carry, but that was more than enough thanks to the contributions of the defense and special teams.

Weather elements dictated that the Bears rely on the ground game, which was just fine with an offensive line that has been maligned all season.

"We started licking our chops," Garza said when the snow began falling and wind picked up. "It was good to get out there in that. You knew we were going to run the ball, and it was up to us to get positive yards. We love to run the football, and anytime we get the opportunity we take advantage of it."

Feeling his pain: Bears punter Brad Maynard, who handled Sunday's adverse weather conditions without a hitch, sympathized with Packers punter Jon Ryan, who had 2 kicks blocked (by Darrell McClover and Charles Tillman) and fumbled another.

"I've been in those situations where the ball's snapped when it's blowing hard," Maynard said. "There's really nothing you can do with it. You've got to concentrate on catching it first. I saw him catch one in his stomach one time. I feel bad for him. I think he did the best he could."

By the numbers: The Bears' opening drive was their longest of the year in plays (18) and time (10:45), but it netted just 3 points on Robbie Gould's 31-yard field goal. … The Bears' 35 points were their most against the Packers since a 61-7 rout on Dec. 7, 1980, and the 28-point margin of victory also was their largest in the series since that game. … The Bears have 8 blocked kicks this season: 3 punts, including 2 by Charles Tillman; 4 field goals, 2 by Israel Idonije; and 1 extra point, also by Idonije. … Kicker Robbie Gould is 12-for-13 (92.3 percent) on field-goal attempts at Soldier Field this season. He was 15 of 16 last season (93.8 percent), tying Paul Edinger's accuracy record.

Injury epidemic: Defensive end Mark Anderson, who missed Sunday's game with a knee injury, was placed on injured reserve Monday.

Anderson had 12 sacks as a rookie in 2006 and 4 in the first four games this season but just 1 in the past 11 games.

Anderson is the fifth defensive linemen to go on I.R. this season, joining tackles Dusty Dvoracek, Anthony Adams and Antonio Garay and rookie end Dan Bazuin.