Olin Kreutz News

CHICAGO - Days before the Bears' 24-20 loss to the Eagles, Olin Kreutz challenged his teammates, saying stars need to play like stars in games this big.

The Chicago Bears have had some extra time to prepare for the Philadelphia Eagles and lets hope it pays off in a prime time win.

Taking a stroll around the interwebs this afternoon... The Detroit Lions signed DeAngelo Smith off the Bears practice squad.

Sunday night's Bears - Eagles game will be broadcast by NBC, but the network is upset with the Bears ? refusal to tape on-camera interviews for the broadcast.

Instead of continuing to beat their helmets against eight-man fronts, the Bears are coming to a realization: they don't have to run the ball.

Olin Kreutz hasn't been immune to the criticism targeted at the Bears ' offensive line.

Early returns on Pro Bowl fan balloting don't support the Bears. Not surprisingly, there are Minnesota Vikings leading or among the leaders at many positions.

Vernon Davis' assessment of the Bears' defensive line evidently reached Chicago.

No less a superstar than Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning once was asked to explain a six-interception performance against the San Diego Chargers.

If you should happen upon Jay Cutler on the street and wave to him, don't be surprised if he flinches.

Lovie Smith might have accepted Sunday's 31-14 season-ending rout by the Green Bay Packers more easily if he had reduced the mismatch to a disparity in skill level.

Lovie Smith plugged up the hole that was leaking points, but he didn't have enough fingers to plug the hole that starting leaking interceptions.

NFL Network just showed a clip of Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye approaching tight end Vernon Davis during pre-game warm-ups. The two exchange a few heated words before Bears center Olin Kreutz comes and restrains Ogunleye and brings him back to the Chicago side of the field.

If only the Bears had finished Saturday night's 31-28 exhibition victory over the 49ers with the biggest concerns about Rex Grossman being his ability to handle the quarterback-center exchange.

Bears coach Lovie Smith didn't like last week's victory over disgraceful Cleveland described as an "ugly win." OK, pal, so how will you fix Sunday's "unmitigated disaster"? Or maybe you prefer "unconscionable performance" attached to that 41-21 loss at home.

Thanks, Larry! The official injury report for the Bears and Cardinals. Chicago Sun-Times The Bears are forced to play solitaire.

And the Bears don't view themselves as the NFC champions despite crushing the defending champion Seattle Seahawks 37-6 Sunday night.

The Bears look to tear down the defending NFC Champion Cardinals. The stats will say that last week against the Browns the Bears rushed for over 100 yards.

The Cardinalsa offense with Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin has only one touchdown of 25 yards or longer this season.

The Browns fumbled, threw an interception and committed a roughing-the-passer penalty on an incomplete on third down.