Victory is Smith's only goal in final three games

With nothing but pride left to play for, Bears coach Lovie Smith remains steadfast in his approach of playing to win every game, regardless of how unrealistic that may be.

Smith said he will continue to use the players who give the Bears the best chance to win, starting with Sunday's game in Baltimore against the Ravens, who are 10-point favorites.

"These next three weeks are important for our football team," said Smith, whose job status and that of his staff also could be determined by the final three games.

"Starting with the Ravens this week, we're going to do everything we possibly can to win the football game, whatever that entails."

Bottom line, that means young players who haven't had an opportunity to play this season won't be getting their chances down the stretch. That's because almost every young player who can help the team in the present already is playing.

The problem is, they're only playing well enough for the Bears to be 5-8 and hoping to avoid double-digit losses, something that hasn't happened since 2004, Smith's first year at the helm.

Two years later the Bears were in the Super Bowl, but since then Smith's teams are 21-24.

But young players have had opportunities. Every player who has scored an offensive touchdown for the Bears this season is 26 or younger, except for Devin Hester, who turned 27 last month.

"We've looked (at), and we play young players throughout, so there's not a lot more of our young players that we haven't played," Smith said.

"(But) whenever you line up, you owe it to the guys on the football team and just fans in general to put out the best team you possibly can to help you win the football game. That's the approach we've taken every game we've played here, and that won't change."

It took 14 weeks, but Devin Aromashodu finally got an extended look in Sunday's loss to Green Bay, and he responded with 8 catches for 76 yards. He also scored his first NFL TD in just his second NFL start and first with the Bears.

"We've played young players throughout. Two of the stars (Sunday) were young football players," said Smith, including Johnny Knox (83 yards on 5 catches with 1 TD) with Aromashodu.

"So I don't think you can say that we haven't played young players and we don't have confidence in them."

But none of the Bears' first four draft picks have played enough to earn a varsity letter.

Third-round picks Jarron Gilbert and wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and fourth-rounders Henry Melton (on injured reserve) and D.J. Moore have played in a total of three games and have yet to make any impact.

Gilbert, who has been active for three games and played sparingly in two, may get a longer look in the final three games.

"He's probably the one who hasn't had a lot of opportunities to prove (himself)," Smith said. "It's hard with the numbers that we have.

"Everybody that we're looking at on the defensive line has warranted playing time, so sometimes the numbers just don't allow you to take a look at everyone.

"Sometimes you have to wait; you don't get a chance your first year. Earl Bennett didn't get a chance his first year, but his second year he got an opportunity. Jarron Gilbert will be a good football player for us in time."

Bennett made cameo appearances in 10 games last year as a rookie and failed to catch a single pass, but he has 46 catches for 605 yards this season.

Week 14 Starting offense

WR Earl Bennett 22

LT Chris Williams 24

LG Frank Omiyale 27

C Olin Kreutz 32

RG Roberto Garza 30

RT Kevin Shaffer 29

TE Greg Olsen 24

WR Devin Aromashodu 25

QB Jay Cutler 26

RB Matt Forte 23

TE Desmond Clark 32

Other key offensive players

WR Devin Hester 27

WR Johnny Knox 23

G-C Josh Beekman 26

LT Orlando Pace 34

Week 14 starting defense

LE Adewale Ogunleye 32 DT Tommie Harris 26

NT Marcus Harrison 25

RE Alex Brown 30

WLB Lance Briggs 29

MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer 29

SLB Nick Roach 24

LCB Charles Tillman 28

*S Josh Bullocks 26

SS Kevin Payne 26

FS Al Afalava 22

*Bears opened with 3 safeties

Other key defensive players

CB Zach Bowman 25

NT Anthony Adams 29

S Danieal Manning 27

LB Jamar Williams 25

DL Israel Idonije 29

DE Mark Anderson 26

MLB Brian Urlacher 31

SLB Pisa Tinoisamoa 28

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