Briggs makes Pro Bowl
Lovie Smith does not buy into the possibility that Monday night's victory saved his job or validated his program.
"It means a lot for our football team," Smith said. "No more than that. I think our program is validated for what we've done here. We've been disappointed in our play this year, but we've been a good football team for a long time. We're doing things the right way, and better days will be ahead for us."
Smith is 51-44 as the Bears' coach but 22-25 since losing in Super Bowl XLI. So he was asked how confident he is that he'll be part of the future at Halas Hall.
"I'm confident that I'll be coaching (against) the Lions this week," Smith said. "And that's about as far as you need to go. You coach and you work that day. You don't look any further than that, and it's been that way for me since I've been here. Nothing has changed. I'm excited about being able to coach the team coming off a big win."
Pressed on the issue and asked about speculation, Smith said: "You speculate. All right? I don't. Let's go over it one more time. We've got Detroit coming up this week. All my focus is on that. Period."
Alone again, naturally: Weakside linebacker Lance Briggs was named a starter on his fifth straight Pro Bowl Tuesday, but he was the only Bear to make it. The seven-year veteran has a team-best 135 tackles, including 8 Monday night against the Vikings, and he has 2 1/2 sacks and an interception.
"We've come to expect it from Lance," coach Lovie Smith said on the team's Web site. "He's one of the best players in the league; for sure one of the best linebackers. He's made play after play. Our season has been disappointing, but Lance has played well throughout."
Briggs was also the Bears' only Pro Bowl representative last season. The last time the Bears had back-to-back seasons with just one Pro Bowler was when Brian Urlacher went by himself in 2001 after kick-returner Glyn Milburn was the only choice in 2000. From 1995-99, the Bears had no one voted to the Pro Bowl.
Rookie Johnny Knox was voted a second alternate to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner. The fifth-round draft pick from Abilene Christian is averaging 29.0 yards on 32 kickoff returns, including a 102-yard touchdown.
On a roll: In his last six games, middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has 21/2 sacks, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
In 86 previous games with the Bears, the Vanderbilt product had produced 41/2 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.
Hillenmeyer had a career-best 17 tackles Monday night, including 12 solos. He also had 2 passes defended and forced the Adrian Peterson fumble that led to the Bears' game-winning TD.
It was the plays Hillenmeyer didn't make, however, that he talked about afterward.
"I dropped 2 picks on the last drive (in regulation, when the Vikings tied the game), and those are plays that we always feel like we should make," he said. "But it does feel great to have a win. It feels great to kind of redeem myself."
Down and out: In addition to fractured ribs, cornerback Charles Tillman also has a lung contusion and will not play in the season finale. Johnny Knox's ankle injury will keep him out.
Israel Idonije (foot) and Danieal Manning (calf) also did not finish Monday night's game and aren't expected to play Sunday.