After loss, Bears ready to move on, achieve their goals

Never underestimate the benefits of a swift kick in the rear end.

When the New England Patriots were inexplicably booted by the Browns 34-14 in Cleveland the first weekend in November, it served as a wake-up call. They haven't lost since, winning five straight.

That would included Sunday's 36-7 pummeling of the Bears, who hope to use lessons learned in that loss as the impetus that propels them into the playoffs.

Coach Lovie Smith believes it will be easier for his 9-4 team to focus knowing that it still controls its own destiny and still leads the second-place Green Bay Packers (8-5) in the NFC North.

“We're undefeated in our division, and that's hard to do,” Smith said. “Not many teams (only the Atlanta Falcons and the Bears) can say that in the National Football League right now.

“We're in perfect position, with a little luck, to possibly accomplish another one of our goals this week.”

That would be the NFC North title, which will belong to the Bears if they defeat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night and if the Packers lose on the road to the Patriots a day earlier.

That would give the Bears a 2-game lead on Green Bay. Even if the Packers defeat them in the season finale, the Bears would get the nod based on the second tiebreaker after head-to-head results, which is record within the division.

“That was the message right after the game,” Smith said. “We acknowledge what happened, but it's a quick turnaround.

“We wanted to get this behind us as soon as we possibly could and just know that every once in awhile, it does happen, but let the guys know we're a good football team and we have to play up to our standards each week.”

The Bears also can take solace in that since 2008 they have a 4-1 record in games immediately following a loss by 20 points or more.

As difficult as it may have been for players to relive Sunday's calamity in the film room Monday, Smith isn't one to ignore a poor performance.

“I don't believe in not watching tape,” he said. “It has to be a learning experience whether it's good or bad.

“But believe me, that wasn't part of our master plan for that to happen Sunday. Just watching the video, we know more things about our football team than we did (a day earlier).”

Veteran center Olin Kreutz learned this much: “They kicked our (butt),” he said. We knew that (Sunday). They outexecuted us. They did everything better than us and deserved to win the game by that much.”

Tight end Greg Olsen's assessment was a little more subtle.

“We did a few things well, but not even close to enough to be competitive, let alone win,” Olsen said. “So as bad as things looked, we're fortunate that we're still in a position to achieve everything we wanted.”

Regardless of the buildup the Patriots game received nationally, the Vikings game is much more important to the Bears' playoff hopes.

“We're still first in our division, and that's all that matters right now,” said running back Chester Taylor, a Viking in the previous three seasons. “So we'll just focus on Minnesota right now.”

As yet, neither the Bears nor the Vikings can focus on a game location because that hasn't been decided, although Metrodome officials are hopeful that the hole in the dome's inflatable rooftop caused by last week's heavy snowfall can be repaired by Monday night.

Possible alternate sites include Detroit's Ford Field and the University of Minnesota's outdoor TCF Bank Stadium.

The Bears say it doesn't matter.

“Wherever we play them,” Kreutz said, “that's where we'll show up.”

“It doesn't matter,” Taylor said. “We know what we've got to do.”

•Follow Bob LeGere's Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com.