Westbrook or not, Bears' defense face big challenge

Once again it seems the Bears will catch a break by facing an opponent in an offensively weakened condition.

It's yet another opportunity for the defense to play up to its own lofty impressions of itself.

In the season opener they faced a rusty Peyton Manning, who had barely practiced before the start of the season and played like it. In Week 2, they got the Panthers without Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith.

Tonight the Philadelphia Eagles will either be without do-everything running back Brian Westbrook, or he will be at far less than full strength, considering he didn't practice all week and left last week's game in the second quarter with an ankle injury that prevented his return.

But the dominant-until-it-matters defense still must contend with Chicago native Donovan McNabb, the quarterback who has never lost to the Bears four games as a visitor. McNabb didn't practice until Friday because of a bruised chest, but he will play tonight.

"We just have to get Superman to the ground - McNabb," said Bears right defensive end Alex Brown. "I've heard a lot of people refer to him as 'Superman.' The guy's unbelievable, and the little brother (Westbrook) isn't too shabby either.

"They're both explosive players. We've got our hands full, and we have to come out ready to play. We have the defense that can - I'm not going to say stop them, but we have to slow them down, see if we can make some plays and capitalize on some mistakes if there are any."

The Bears shouldn't count on McNabb handing them any gifts. He has thrown just 1 interception and is eighth in the NFL with a 102.8 passer rating and fifth in passing yards with 838.

McNabb was a mere mortal last season in the Bears' 19-16 victory at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field because he still was working his way back from knee surgery. By most accounts, he's all the way back now.

"Since we've already played Peyton (Manning), he's probably going to be the best quarterback we're going to see for the rest of the year," said left defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

"He's really playing that well, and it's not like he has a superstar receiver or whatever. You just watch the film and see how comfortable he is out there. He's not running to scramble anymore, he's really just running to get the ball out, and he's getting it out quick."

Eagles coach Andy Reid credits McNabb's improved health for his return to Pro Bowl form.

"He's healthy. That's the important thing," Reid said. "He didn't spend the off-season rehabbing. He came to camp ready to go. He really, I think, mentally and physically, is in a great place."

The Bears have to do a better job of chasing McNabb out of his happy place than they did last week against Tampa Bay's Brian Griese.

The Bears' defense, which has been dominant in long stretches of all three games this season, has nevertheless caught a ton of well-justified flak this week for its inability to rise to the occasion and protect double-digit leads the past two weeks.

Defensive players continue to insist that their outfit is top notch, but until they put a 60-minute effort together their talk just sounds like bluster.

They limited the Bucs to 108 first-half yards but got shredded for 346 yards after the break. They blanked the Carolina Panthers for 14 minutes and 48 seconds but then let them score the final 17 points of the game.

"I turn on the film and I see a defense that completely dominates Tampa and completely dominates Carolina up until the end of the game," Brown said. "But we did blow the lead.

"The offense puts us in position to win the game, then (we have to) go out and win the game. If you tell me with this defense that we're going to have a 2-score lead going into the fourth quarter, I'll take it every game.

"OK, we blew two games, we're 1-2. We just have to keep playing and doing what we're doing. We're not going to change anything because we're playing well, just (not) at the end of the game.

"We can't just throw everything out the window because we blew two leads. And we're not going to panic. We're a veteran defense, and we know what to do and we'll get it done."

So they say. Ogunleye even went so far as to take the full burden on the defense.

"Yeah, why not?" Ogunleye said. "You've got a bunch of guys who get paid good salaries over here, and we've got some great athletes and some Pro Bowlers and some leaders on this side of the ball.

"So whenever we lose a game, I can guarantee you that you should look on this side of the ball."