Once Bears eliminated, time to address faltering defense
Assuming the Bears don't make the playoffs, and it's almost a lock that they won't, they have a much bigger problem on the horizon than their absence in the postseason.
First things first.
The NFL has confirmed that the Bears can be eliminated from the playoff picture before Monday night's kickoff at Soldier Field in their 177th regular-season meeting with the Packers.
It would take victories by these four:
• The Vikings, who are 3½-point favorites at home Sunday against the Falcons.
• The Cowboys, who are 4-point favorites at home Saturday night against the Ravens.
• The Bucs, who are 4-point favorites at home Sunday against the Chargers.
• The Eagles (8-5-1), who are 3½-point favorites on the road Sunday against the Redskins.
With their 10th victory, the Vikings would clinch the NFC North since they would win a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bears.
The Cowboys and Bucs, who would also move to 10-5, would have two-team tiebreaker advantages over the Bears. And the three-team tiebreakers don't favor the Bears, either.
The situation that must be addressed as soon as this season ends is the state of the Bears' defense, which, despite all the money that's been lavished on it, is getting worse, not better.
The Bears rank 17th in total yards allowed, tied for 15th in points allowed, 28th in passing yards allowed and 25th in sack percentage - not the numbers of a up-and-coming group.
In the same categories last season, the Bears finished 28th, 16th, 27th and sixth.
In 2006, when the Bears went to Super Bowl XLI, they were No. 5 in total yards allowed, No. 3 in points allowed, No. 11 in passing yards allowed, and No. 16 in sacks, with almost all of the same players.
But they're not getting better, just older. Most of the starters on defense have already become wealthier, but they obviously haven't been more productive, and in many cases their performance is sliding.
Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher had 185 tackles in 2006, 158 in 2007 and is on pace for 114 this year. He had 5 interceptions and 5 sacks last season; he's got 2 picks and no sacks this season.
Tommie Harris had 48 sacks in '06, 43 in '07 and is on pace for 30 this season. If he has chronic knee problems at 25, his future doesn't look very bright.
Oh, by the way, Anthony Adams has played in just seven games this season and started only twice, but he has the same number of tackles (26) as Harris, who has started 11 games and played in 12.
Does anyone think cornerbacks Nate Vasher and Charles Tillman are getting better?
Vasher's performance and his health have deteriorated so badly that no one would be surprised if he were cut before next season. Vasher had 8 interceptions in his Pro Bowl year of 2005, when he was known as "The Interceptor." The next season he had 3 picks, and in the past two seasons, he's had a total of 2, as he missed 12 games in '07 with a groin injury and eight games this season with hand injuries. He ended both season on injured reserve.
What was a youthful, promising and improving defense two years ago, has turned into an aging, underachieving and declining group in need of a face lift.
And that's supposed to be the strength of this team.
• Danieal Manning was named NFC special teams player of the week after returning 5 kickoffs for 179 yards (35.8-yard average), including the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown last Thursday vs. the Saints. It is Manning's first player of the week award.