Bears' November run comes at critical time
The Bears were undefeated in November for the first time since the 2005 team also went 4-0 en route to an 11-5 season.
“I would definitely say our arrow's pointed up, when you win four games in a row the way we have,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We talked early about getting in position in October and making that run in November. That's exactly what the guys are doing.”
The four-game winning streak came at a critical time, on the heels of back-to-back home losses, said Brian Urlacher, who had 10 tackles, including 9 solos.
“We're where we want to be,” Urlacher said. “We kind of stumbled there in the middle of the season with those two home games we lost. But we're leading our division. That's where we've wanted to be all season long.”
The consensus is that there is room for improvement, though.
“Good teams peak at this point in the season,” said tight end Greg Olsen, whose only catch was for a 9-yard TD. “We're trying to get better and take those steps. I think we have. By no means are we a finished product, but if we continue to take steps each week we'll be in every game.”
QB battle:
Michael Vick has received a lot of MVP mention this season, and he came into the game with an NFL-best 108.7 passer rating, so Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was asked if he took his matchup with Vick personally.
“I take every game personally,” Cutler said. “Every game is very important to me. I do everything possible, and the later we get into the season the more important the games are going to be. The stakes are going to be raised and the higher the expectations are going to be, not just for this team but for me, and we're all going to have to rise to it.”
Cutler was clearly the better quarterback Sunday, besting Vick 146.2-94.2 in passer rating, but even though he's been running for significant yardage during the four-game winning streak, he concedes that category to Vick.
“I do it as a last resort, Mike a little bit more,” Cutler said. “We're protecting well, giving me some running lanes, giving me some time to look downfield. If it's not there, I take off and try to make something happen.”
Fun bunch:
After several second-half plays, including the onside kick that Johnny Knox recovered to clinch the game, the Bears and Eagles exchanged shoves and “pleasantries.”
After Devin Hester's end-around in the fourth quarter ended a little too physically for the Bears, center Olin Kreutz and guard Roberto Garza came in to restore order.
Why were things so feisty out there?
“Because they were trying to hit people after the play,” said running back Matt Forte. “We're not going to let anybody stand out there by themselves and be ganged up on by a whole other team.”
Said Garza: “It's part of football, and it's fun. We love doing stuff like that.”
Sore loser:
The Eagles (7-4) have now allowed 24 points or more in six games, but they're still the better team, according to offensive tackle tackles Jason Peters.
“As bad as we played, we lost by 5,” he said. “They (the Bears) know that we're the better team, and they got the victory. We let the game get away. Hopefully we'll see them again and battle from there.”