Brian Urlacher News

With half the season in the books, the NFL's series of Thursday night games begins with two struggling teams trying to stay in the playoff race.The 49ers, who are 3-point favorites over the Bears, have lost four in a row.

After solid victories for both the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears in Week 4, both teams were looking poised for a run at the playoffs.

The Chicago Bears are a bit of a joke. The Bears may still be alive in the NFC with a record of 4-4, but this team was expected to do a lot more than just be "average." My Super Bowl prediction may have been a stretch, but the playoffs were not out of the question.

It was a victory for a division championship that was anything but cause for celebration.

Dennis Green's postgame rant, memorialized in a beer commercial, is what everyone remembers from the Bears' 24-23 comeback victory at Arizona three seasons ago.

After each victory, Minnesota coach Tim Brewster announces a series of team award winners.

Jay Cutler could have been a Brown in the offseason, but I didn't lose any sleep in not acquiring him.

Cutler trying to do too much? [10/29/09] While coach Lovie Smith admitted nothing Wednesday in the way of potential personnel changes for Sunday, general manager Jerry Angelo all but confirmed a shake-up on the team's Web site earlier in the day.

Maybe the communication problems in Cincinnati wouldn't have occurred last Sunday if the six-time Pro Bowler had been there to relay the play calls.

Dan, when you and I talk Bears , we have fun because it's the team we're most passionate about.

I don't know about you, but I was surprised to learn that Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was benched against Cincinnatia '"coach's decision"a 'not because he was playing well but because Lovie Smith & Co.

Chicago has always been a city full of bars where, after a few adult beverages, the inevitable conversation is about which former Chicago athletes should never have left.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Running back Cedric Benson was criticized for many things during three disappointing seasons with the Bears - from his contract holdout as a rookie to failing to live up to expectations.

This, however, was not one of them. "He's really, really good, man," the Cincinnati Bengals ' flashy receiver told Chicago reporters.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Jay Cutler may be the only franchise quarterback that Jerry Angelo has ever acquired in a trade, but the 26-year-old isn't the first key contributor to sign a contract extension with the Bears.

If anything cool happens in this game today, I will be annoyed that I can't re-watch it later tonight or tomorrow.

Key matchups LT Orlando Pace vs. DE John Abraham The Bears' offensive line has been under scrutiny more for its run blocking than its pass protection.

Rod Marinelli has been given ample credit for his work with the Bears defensive line through the first quarter of the season.

While beating Chicago in the final second last year helped define Atlanta's season, quarterback Matt Ryan has little interest in reminiscing.

As bad as the Bears looked for most of Monday night, the stunning manner in which they stole a 24-23 victory from the Arizona Cardinals only enhanced the perception that this might be their year.