Rozner: Distractions aplenty for Chicago Bears in Green Bay

Sunday's loss at home to Denver wasn't quite the end for the Bears, but it might have been the beginning of the end.

There are seven NFC teams sitting at 5-5 or 4-6 and only a good week or two behind Atlanta (6-4) for the final playoff spot, but the Bears (4-6) are in the worst position because their dreadful conference record (1-5) factors into tiebreakers.

The good news is there isn't a game left on their schedule that seems more daunting than Denver, a game they could have won. The bad news is that 9-7 probably won't get it done, and the Bears may need to win all six remaining games to reach the postseason.

Then again, when you start 0-3 and 2-5, you don't have much right to talk about the playoffs.

“It's a one-game season,” said tackle Kyle Long, holding on tight to his perspective. “It's how we have to look at it. Pour our heart and soul into this one and move on to the next one.”

This one is Thursday night in Green Bay, which carries with it enough distractions to be Christmas Eve rather than Thanksgiving night.

“We have to go in there with poise and be ready in four days,” said defensive end Jarvis Jenkins. “We're not afraid of anyone. Everyone is beatable.

“We're not worried about the Packers, Aaron Rodgers, Lambeau Field, national TV, Thanksgiving, Brett Favre jersey retirement. Can't think about any of that. Just do your job and win one football game.”

The Bears are 4-3 since opening the season with a three-game losing streak. Their last 3 defeats are by a combined 8 points, and they're certainly a better team than the one that opened the season losing three games by a combined 59 points.

But a win Sunday and a 5-5 record would have given them a more realistic shot at playing an extra game in January, and that makes the Denver loss even more painful.

“That's a good (Denver) team, but I think we let it get away from us,” said quarterback Jay Cutler. “That's kind of been the story. There have been a few games we've lost in the fourth quarter where we felt like we were right there.

“Some overtime games, some two-minute drives, you can put this game in the same box as those. We're right there. Our margin for error isn't that great.

“We have to play pretty good football for four quarters and we have to play really good football in the fourth quarter. The games that we have won, we have figured out a way to do that, and games we lost, we haven't.”

If the Bears can win Thursday the arrow will be pointing in the right direction again and they will have 10 days off to get ready for a bad Niners team at home.

“Have to flip the switch and move on. That's just kind of part of it,” Cutler said. “Hopefully, we have some guys coming back and give us some energy for this week.”

If Matt Forte can return and Alshon Jeffery can find the field, that would be of considerable help.

“We haven't played the Packers lately, but we know who they have and what they do,” Long said. “Historically, that's not a team that's going to let you walk in there and take a game.

“Aaron Rodgers is one of the best to ever play. They have Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. and I could go on and on. They have guys who do it at a high level every week and know how to win when they need it.

“We're the same team, but we understand a little better what we have to do on a daily basis and that's making us a better team than we were when we played them first.

“We're a dangerous team because we're starting to figure it out.”

But now they are all — essentially — elimination games, though the Bears insist they won't get caught up in the big picture.

“Coach (John) Fox always tells us it's one game at a time,” Jenkins said. “Win or lose, we have a chance to go where we want to go.

“I still believe in this team. We have what it takes. We just have to play smarter. It's not a lack of talent or anything. If we play smart I believe we can get it done.”

The Bears have lost six of their last seven in Green Bay and been outscored by 108 points in the process. Making matters worse, the Packers just played their best game in a month, taking out the Vikings in Minnesota with a strong defensive effort and solid run game.

But the Packers can be had. The Bears know it. And in a “one-game season,” they also know they're facing elimination.

brozner@dailyherald.com

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