Bears have to hand it to Forte

Where would the Bears be without Matt Forte?

Probably in about the same place as the Minnesota Vikings without Adrian Peterson, the Atlanta Falcons without Michael Turner, the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning or the New Orleans Saints without Drew Brees.

In other words, they'd be in a much worse place than playing for a possible postseason berth today against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

"If you look at it, he's almost been the whole offense," fullback Jason McKie said, exaggerating, but not by much. "He's out there catching 60 passes (for 452 yards and 4 touchdowns), he's run for over 1,000 yards (1,188), and he's only a rookie.

"He's definitely the offensive MVP in my book."

Without Forte's 28-yard run midway through the fourth quarter Monday night that ignited the Bears' game-tying TD drive, today's game probably wouldn't matter, since a loss would have eliminated them. Forte carried the ball on 7 of the 8 plays in that drive, including the 3-yard scoring run against Green Bay.

"When the game was on the line there late, we got big plays from him," coach Lovie Smith said, "not only running the football but also in the passing game."

In overtime, Forte's 14-yard reception put the ball at the Packers' 20, in position for Robbie Gould's game-winning, 38-yard field goal.

"We started to make some plays later on in the game," quarterback Kyle Orton said. "We finally just kind of dug deep and said, 'We have to make a play,' and he's certainly our workhorse, so we're going to give it to him in crunch situations."

And in almost every other situation.

Forte and the Vikings' Peterson each have 363 touches this year, more than anyone else in the league. Forte's 1,640 yards from scrimmage are second only to Peterson's 1,782.

The Tulane product has accounted for 35.7 percent of the Bears' yards from scrimmage, the highest percentage of any player in the NFL. He has had 25 or more touches in three of the past four games.

So much for the second-round pick (44th overall) hitting the "rookie wall."

"I just don't believe in it," Forte said. "I don't think about it either."

Forte occasionally does think about his rookie classmates, especially the running backs.

The Texans' Steve Slaton has 1,531 yards from scrimmage but 2 more rushing yards than Forte on 55 fewer carries, and 45 catches for 341 yards. The Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson leads all rookies with 1,228 rushing yards and has 1,488 yards from scrimmage.

"I like to see what they do. I like to see what all the rookies do," Forte said. "I compete with everybody, all running backs, because you strive to be the best."

Forte has been doing that since the day he got his playbook in rookie minicamp in May. By the time organized team activities began in June, he knew what he was doing and where he was going.

"He's really mature," McKie said. "He's just handled himself like he's been in the league for many years. He came in right away and grasped the offense. He went out and worked hard every day.

"Just because he was a high draft pick, nothing was given to him. He went out there and earned his spot. He's in the weight room every day, keeps his body in shape, and I think that's why he's a tough guy who hasn't hit that so-called rookie wall that they talk about. It's paying off for him."

But Forte says it's more than physical strength and athletic ability.

"A lot of people have the physical ability to do things," he said. "Everybody has talent, so you have to have mental toughness to put you over the edge. It depends on how hard you work in the weight room (but also) in the class room and in everything you do."