Bears not listening to critics

After staggering to a 7-9 record with their Super Bowl hangover last season, the Bears certainly have a lot to prove this year.

And what better team to make a statement against than the Indianapolis Colts, who have won more regular-season games over the past five years (63) than anyone this side of Foxborough, Mass.

The Bears have gotten no respect from national publications, including Sports Illustrated, which picked them to finish 4-12 and last in the NFC North. Optimists have them finishing ahead of only the perennially pathetic Detroit Lions.

Bears players have heard the criticisms, and they're trying to ignore the slights while focusing on proving the "experts" wrong, starting with today's 7:15 p.m. season opener. It will be in the first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.

One of the biggest knocks on the Bears is that their offense lacks firepower.

"I don't care what anyone says, period," wide receiver Rashied Davis said. "They're not the coaches. Everyone is a critic, everyone has something to say. You can't really take offense to that; you just go out and do your job."

Davis is looking for a breakout season after being an occasional contributor the past two seasons. He had his best training camp and preseason this year, but it might be difficult for any of the Bears' wide receivers to put up big numbers since four or five of them might see a similar number of snaps.

Tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen were bright spots in last season's disappointing offense, and they figure to play a major role again this season. But they still get little respect from outsiders.

"We're not really concerned with the experts," Olsen said. "We know what we're capable of doing. We're going to go out and just try to execute and play our game, and we feel we have a pretty good team."

In order for the receivers to do any damage, the Bears will have to run the ball much better than last season, when their 3.1-yard average per carry was the worst in the NFL.

The running game will rely heavily on rookie Matt Forte, who showed sparks in the preseason, although he didn't have a carry of longer than 11 yards. But he already has earned the respect of teammates.

"I think he's a great player," Olsen said. "We're all expecting him to come in (tonight) and do a great job. We've seen it in practice. In his limited time in the preseason, he's done well. We all have high expectations for him."

Forte, in turn, is dependent upon an offensive line that remains a huge question with three positions featuring new starters.

Left tackle John St. Clair has been mostly a right tackle, and he ended last season at left guard and has not been a full-time starter since 2004. Left guard Josh Beekman played in just one game last season as a rookie, and John Tait has moved back to right tackle after starting the past three seasons at left tackle.

If the offensive line can't create running room for Forte, it won't be able to hold off the pass rush that will come after Kyle Orton in waves.

The Colts' premier pass rushers, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, will provide an early indication of how well the line can protect Orton. The Bears' quarterback insists he isn't worried.

"I think the guys up front will definitely hold up," Orton said. "You look at some of the run-game stats in the preseason (when the Bears averaged a very respectable 4.5 yards per carry), and it's tough running the ball in the NFL in the first quarter.

"We're committed to the run, and some of those runs in the first quarter are going to be better runs in the fourth quarter.

"I think the offensive line is going to play well. I have no worries about them. They've got to do the same thing that all of us have to do - be able to handle the crowd noise and execute the offense."

The Bears' defense may have more to prove tonight than anyone. It was supposed to be the strength of the team but got embarrassed in the preseason, leading to whispers that maybe the unit was overrated and past its prime.

"It doesn't really matter who's saying what outside our locker room," defensive tackle Anthony Adams said. "Our goal is to make the playoffs, and we motivate ourselves."

But Adams knows how important it is for the Bears to establish themselves against the Colts, a perennial Super Bowl contender and the league's highest-scoring team last season.

"Every minute, every second of the game is important to always be on your p's and q's," Adams said. "From the start of the game until there are zeros on the clock, we just have to bring it."