Nov. 25--The Bears' second straight home victory kept their season alive Sunday. As it turns out, though, that medicine doesn't have a pleasant aftertaste.
Back-to-back wins over the Vikings and Buccaneers improved their record to 5-6 but did not alleviate concerns about the offense, which scored only 21 points in each game. Familiar problems -- penalties, dropped passes and failed execution -- stand between two straight comeback wins and restored confidence
But those victories at least give meaning to the Bears' Thanksgiving Day road game against the Lions (7-4). So as they regrouped Monday to plan for a higher-caliber opponent than their last two, they did so knowing they must either fix their mistakes pronto or be engulfed by the bleakness they've managed to fend off.
"What we've seen the past two weeks is a team that was down in both games but has been able to come together ... and find ways to win a game," coach Marc Trestman said Monday. "I certainly think that's a positive and usable as we move forward. But, more importantly, we've got to continue to play better and play mistake-free football."
That's where the focus has been even before lopsided losses against the Patriots and Packers dropped the Bears to 3-6. It hasn't carried over into games, though.
"We had some penalties; we had some drops; missed some throws," quarterback Jay Cutler said Sunday. "Put all those things together, you aren't going to perform very well."
The Bears committed three false starts (two on offense) against the Bucs on Sunday, increasing their season total to 18. Only three teams have committed more. In contrast, the Bears had only nine false starts all of last season.
"The penalties, the things that we can control are the things that we've got to continue to work on," Trestman said. "And we will in various ways. Those are the things that take away from your opportunity to move the football, stay in sequence, do the things that you want to do with your entire offense."
Trestman explained how penalties and other miscues forced the Bears away from their offensive game plan. They didn't attack using deep passes as they intended to, nor did they move Cutler's passing point with any frequency.
The Bears failed to score in the first quarter for the sixth straight game. And they scored two of their three touchdowns on drives that began at or inside the Bucs' 15-yard line.
"Overall, I thought our whole offense was just very, very poor early because of the mistakes that we made," Trestman said. "Everybody was taking turns. It wasn't what we wanted it to be. We got out of sync, but we hung in there."
That resilience earned them a meaningful game on the national stage Thursday. Beating the Lions likely will require a sharper performance offensively, one that would legitimize a three-game winning streak and potential turnaround.
The Lions' defense ranks third in the NFL in total yards, fourth in yards per play and first in yards per carry.
They swept the season series from the Bears last year, largely because they controlled the line of scrimmage in both games. The Bears understand offensive success Thursday begins up front.
"Versus a team like that that gets off (the ball) with powerful guys inside and quick guys outside, it's doing our job and just being assignment-correct and technique-correct on every snap," offensive line coach Pat Meyer said.
Defensively, the Bears might be without linebacker Lance Briggs and rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller. Briggs injured his groin and Fuller had his right knee rolled up in the first half Sunday, and each missed the second half.
Trestman gave no indication Monday that either injury is season-ending. Evaluations were ongoing, but the short rest time before Thursday's game puts their availability for it in doubt.
The Lions have struggled to score points, similarly to the Bears. Star receiver Calvin Johnson has been hampered by a sprained ankle that sidelined him for three games, and running back Reggie Bush has sat out four of the last six.
The Lions haven't surpassed 24 points since Week 1, but their defense has been more reliable than the Bears'.
"That will be a challenge for us coming into Thanksgiving for our defense, knowing where their offense is right now, knowing that they're close to wanting to break things wide open, as well," Trestman said. "We've got to do the same thing offensively. We've got to find a way to move the football against a very good defense."
rcampbell@tribpub.com
Twitter @Rich_Campbell
