Bears-Packers: Big stage is set for latest version of rivalry
Some of the Bears' biggest names have had some of their biggest games against the Green Bay Packers, and if Lovie Smith's team is to stay undefeated it needs those marquee players to step up Monday night.
Four of Brian Urlacher's 17 career interceptions have come in his 18 games against the Packers, including 1 in each of the 2007 games, the second of which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
In 2005 he had 26 tackles in the two games against Green Bay, and in 2001 he had a sack and an interception in the same game.
Last year in the season opener at Green Bay, Urlacher suffered the dislocated wrist that ended his season by halftime of that game.
But in the first two games this season, the middle linebacker is playing as well as he did in 2006, when he went to his sixth Pro Bowl.
He has 20 tackles (5 for negative yardage) and a fumble recovery. According to STATS LLC, he is tied for No. 1 in the league with 41/2 "stuffs," defined as a tackle of a rusher for negative yards.
Urlacher was asked if he thought he was playing his best football and at first he laughed it off.
"Compared to last year?" he said. "I didn't play (much) last year. Those 15 plays were pretty good, while I was in there.
"I'd say I'm doing OK. There are still some things I can do better. I'm getting to the football. I feel like I'm moving around pretty well.
More than anything, Urlacher's enjoying being back on the field.
"I'm having fun," he said. "There are 11 guys at the football pretty much every play on our defense, which is fun to see."
If anyone on the Bears' defense is playing better than Urlacher, it's fellow linebacker Lance Briggs, who has 24 tackles, including 3 for lost yardage, and has forced and recovered a fumble.
Two of Briggs' 10 career interceptions have been in his 13 games against the Packers, including 1 in 2003 that he returned 45 yards for a touchdown. In the first 2007 game, he had 19 tackles, including 15 solos.
According to Briggs, Monday night's national-TV audience creates an ideal setting for undefeated teams looking to make a statement.
"The stage couldn't be any better," he said. "It's a huge game for both teams. The winner is at the top of the North Division. It couldn't be a better situation against our oldest rival.
"We're both undefeated. We both want to make a statement with this game, (and) I think a statement will be made."
Defensive end Julius Peppers faced the Packers just five times in his eight years with the Carolina Panthers, but he had 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles against them.
Peppers and the rest of the defensive line will have to put more pressure on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers than they did last week when they failed to sack the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo.
"We've just got to rush a little bit better," Peppers said. "It's not really a big deal right now (because) we're winning games.
"We're going to get pressure. We're going to have to do that to win this game. We know that. It's going to be on our shoulders to try to disrupt Aaron a little bit and try to make him uncomfortable.
"We'll do it. We'll get the job done."
• Follow Bob LeGere's Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials at DailyHerald.com.
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