Chief concern: Bears' defense must play better
The plan for the Bears' defense to step up its game to compensate for the loss of quarterback Jay Cutler should work a lot better today at Soldier Field than it did last week in Oakland.
It's not that the defense didn't do its part last week, forcing the Raiders to settle for 6 field goals and permitting just 6 points after Caleb Hanie's 3 interceptions. But a late Raiders touchdown spoiled the effort and was the difference in a 25-20 Bears loss.
“We've just got to play better, that's all there is to it,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “We didn't play very well last week. Twenty-five points, 1 takeaway; that's not good for us. We did well against the run, but we gave up too many yards (268) in the passing game, too many big plays. We have to fix that. It's a home game, and we expect to win every home game.”
It should be a lot easier for the defense to dominate a Chiefs team that scored 1 touchdown in November and averaged 6 points per game over the past four weeks. With quarterback Matt Cassel on injured reserve with a fractured right hand, Tyler Palko started the last two games and threw 6 interceptions without leading the Chiefs into the end zone.
Palko's expected to start against the Bears, but he could be on a short leash with recently acquired veteran and ex-Bear Kyle Orton ready to step in despite a rudimentary knowledge of the offense.
“Tyler is our starter,” said Chiefs coach Todd Haley, the Bears receivers coach from 2001-03. “We've got to get Kyle ready to play, and he might have to
play; he might not.
“We've got to get better anyway we cut it. Offensively, we've done a lot of good things here, but we've done enough things that obviously keep you from winning games and scoring enough points to win games.”
The 4-7 Chiefs haven't won since a four-game streak in October. The offense is 27th in total yards and passing yards, 29th in interceptions allowed and points, and 25th in average gain per pass play. Kansas City runs the ball well and is 10th in rushing yards per game, but the Bears have been excellent defending the run, allowing 80 yards or less in five of the past six games.
If the defense is to continue tightening the screws on opponents, it will need its core of veterans to lead the way, including November's NFC defensive player of the month Julius Peppers.
“He's a pro,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “This guy loves playing professional football. He's a detailed player, and the thing I really appreciate about him is he's an extremely gifted, talented guy who plays like an overachiever. Brian (Urlacher) does the same; 55 (Briggs) does the same and so does 33 (Charles Tillman). When you get your elite players playing like overachievers, it sends a message to your team.”
The message Brigs wants to send is that every member of the defense, including himself, has to be better. After stopping the Raiders on their first 12 third-down plays, the Bears allowed them to convert all 3 third-down opportunities on the late TD drive, including a 47-yard pass play on third-and-4.
“We didn't play good enough to win (last week),” Briggs said. “That deep ball is something we have to prevent against Kansas City and whomever we face in the future.”
That should be al lot easier today.
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