O-line crew keys run game
For the first time this season, the Bears have rushed for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games, totaling 130 Sunday against Minnesota after picking up 105 against Buffalo.
They've also allowed fewer than 3 sacks in back-to-back games, permitting just 1 in each of the past two games after giving up 31 in the first seven contests.
Coincidentally, Sunday was the second straight game with the offensive line grouping that coaches have decided gives the team its best chance to win.
“That may have a little bit to do with it,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “This is the crew we want to go with. They should get better, just like our football team. There's so much football left to go. We haven't peaked yet by any means.”
The one constant through the O-line turmoil has been center Olin Kreutz, who started his 127th straight game Sunday despite playing with a sore hamstring.
“We've made some strides,” Kreutz said. “I don't know if they're big. Why things (have) come together halfway through a season? It was a new offense. We're all learning it, so we're all getting more comfortable now.”
Making it count:
Most of tight end Kellen Davis' playing time this season has been on special teams or as an extra blocker in running situations, but Sunday he finally got a chance to touch the football and he made the most of it.
The 6-foot-7, 262-pound Davis' first catch of the season went for a 19-yard touchdown on a third-and-1 midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Bears their final margin in the 27-13 victory.
On a play-action fake, Davis was left alone with his thoughts sprinting down the middle of the field, wide open.
“I was just thinking, ‘Throw it to me, please, fast before somebody comes over here,'” Davis said. “It was a great feeling. It was a big touchdown for us.”
The road beckons:
The Bears (6-3) are tied for first in the NFC North with Green Bay and have defeated each of their division opponents, but all three games were at home.
“Our next goal is to win the division,” Lovie Smith said. “That's what it's all about. This is setting us up. This is November ball, (when) the teams that really are going to compete, step up and play their best ball.”
After Thursday night's game at Miami, the Bears' three remaining road games are against the Lions (Dec. 5), Monday night vs. the Vikings (Dec. 20) and at Green Bay (Jan. 2).
Keeping it clean:
The only glaring area of concern in Sunday's victory was the disparity in penalties. While the losers were flagged just twice for 19 yards, the Bears were penalized 11 times for 116 yards.
“We haven't had a lot of penalties and (Sunday), for some reason we had entirely too many,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We need to clean that up.”
Entering the game, the Bears were No. 2 in the NFL in penalty-yardage differential. They have now committed 55 infractions at a cost of 463 yards, while their opponents have been flagged 62 times for 522 yards.