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It's been a relatively quiet Saturday here in the NFC North, which is not unexpected given the Tuesday start to the NFL's player acquisition period. But this gives us a chance to catch up on some divisional odds and ends in quick-hitting fashion, of course.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill will need a special legislative exemption to proceed after missing a Friday deadline to be approved by at least one committee.
Comment: Such exemptions aren't unusual, but for the moment the bill is stalled and is not supported from the most powerful state legislator, House Speaker Kurt Zellers. State leaders hope to adjourn the 2012 session next month.

Item: The Chicago Bears have re-signed safety Craig Steltz to a two-year contract worth $1.64 million.
Comment: You never know what could happen with the Bears' always-changing safety position, but for now we have to assume that Steltz projects as a backup and special-teams player. Coach Lovie Smith's current favorite safeties are Major Wright and Chris Conte.

Item: The Washington Redskins have signed two former NFC North defensive backs, cornerback Cedric Griffin and safety Brandon Meriweather.
Comment: It's fair to say that both players had down years in 2011. Or, as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel put it in this epic tweet: "Hard to find 2 more ineffective, near-worthless players in NFC-N than CB C. Griffin and S B. Meriweather. #Redskins signed them both. Wow."

Item: Former Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells' new contract with the St. Louis Rams is worth $24 million over four years, with $13 million guaranteed, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Comment: That's not a bad haul for a 31-year-old center. We don't know what the Packers were offering, but I don't think Wells gave them a chance to match.

Item: Multiple media outlets report that the Detroit Lions could get visits from free-agent offensive lineman Eric Winston and safety LaRon Landry.
Comment: Winston has been visiting with the Kansas City Chiefs, and he wouldn't go to the Lions unless a deal with the Chiefs doesn't materialize. Landry has had injury problems but might be a classic case of needing a change of scenery.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

INDIANAPOLIS -- The first day of the NFL scouting combine was a whirlwind of interviews, minor news updates and unexpected dustups that only a year-round football fan could appreciate. We covered a ton of ground on the blog but there is plenty more to catch up on in our morning post, starting with the lawsuit filed by the family of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson.

In essence, the lawsuit claims that the NFL didn't do enough to protect Duerson from and educate him about the brain injuries that ultimately led to his suicide last year. Duerson's son, Tregg, said: "If they knowingly failed to inform and implement proper safety concussion procedures, then their indifference was the epitome of injustice."

More than 600 former players are currently suing the league in concussion-related cases, but as Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune points out, Duerson's family has the added evidence of a brain study that demonstrated he had a condition brought on by multiple concussions. The mounting legal cases against the league might be the single biggest challenge it faces going forward.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears coach Lovie Smith seemed to endorse the safety tandem of Major Wright and Chris Conte, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune took note of Smith's enthusiastic endorsement of big receivers.
• Getting Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson signed to a long-term deal isn't going to be easy, according to Lions coach Jim Schwartz via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions' draft will be shaped by what does, or does not, happen in free agency, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Schwartz did not rule out the possibility of signing free-agent cornerback Courtland Finnegan, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin on becoming the Miami Dolphins coach days after burying his son, Michael, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Hopefully, you guys know when you put nine years of heart and soul into something, it's hard to leave. So I'm very grateful about this opportunity. I'm ecstatic about the reception we had as a family and the way the organization has embraced us, but it's tough. I'm not going to lie. It's been tough."
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette thinks it's a "real possibility" that the Packers make quarterback Matt Flynn their franchise player.
• Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com speaks with various team officials about the Flynn possibility.
• The Minnesota Vikings like the nasty demeanor of USC left tackle Matt Kalil, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Kalil is an interesting prospect, writes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
• Vikings officials will meet soon to finalize plans for their pending free agents, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 20
Preseason Power Ranking: 13

Biggest surprise: The Bears installed little-known Henry Melton into the critical "three-technique" position on their defensive line, hoping that the converted running back/defensive end could play the role of interior playmaker last filled by Tommie Harris about five years ago. Melton had his ups and downs, but he finished with seven sacks in 15 games. The only defensive tackle in the NFL with more sacks was Tommy Kelly of the Oakland Raiders, who had 7.5. Melton will have to even out his game to be a long-term starter, but no team is going to turn down seven sacks from an interior defensive lineman.

Biggest disappointment: Backup quarterback Caleb Hanie spent nearly four years in the organization before the Bears called on him for extensive service. No matter the situation, that's a reasonable timeframe for a quarterback to develop into a useful asset. When Hanie took over a 7-3 team, it was fair to think he could navigate the Bears toward the playoffs. Instead, he was benched after four consecutive losses, punctuated by nine interceptions and 19 sacks, and helped scuttle the Bears' postseason hopes. You can't blame Hanie for everything that went wrong during that stretch, but the quarterback is the most important player on the field and Hanie obviously didn't do enough to win a game. The Bears deserve some blame for failing to develop him, but in the end the responsibility lies with the player.

Biggest need: Amazingly, it's a toss-up between two positions that annually draw offseason discussion around this team: receiver and safety. Quarterback Jay Cutler has obvious chemistry with receiver Earl Bennett, but it's also clear that Devin Hester is best left primarily as a returner and that veteran Roy Williams is on his last legs. The Bears traded away tight end Greg Olsen because he didn't fit into now ex-coordinator Mike Martz's system, and they enter this offseason with a far-too-limited number of reliable pass-catchers. Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that 2011 third-round pick Chris Conte merits a look as a starting safety in 2012, but 2010 third-rounder Major Wright hasn't shown much progress and the Bears desperately need a playmaker in the back end.

Team MVP: Part of me wants to say that tailback Matt Forte deserves the award. Amid a public negotiation about his expiring contract, Forte was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage when he suffered a season-ending sprained knee in Week 13. But the Bears' collapse after Cutler's injury, especially before Forte was sidelined, demonstrated how valuable he really is. The Bears averaged 32 points per game during a five-game winning streak prior to his injury. In a 1-5 finish, they averaged 14.2 points per game. Sometimes, as they say, you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Whither Hester? In Week 10, Hester returned a punt 82 yards against the Detroit Lions for his 18th career touchdown return. That left him one behind Deion Sanders' NFL record. But illness and a sprained ankle dramatically limited Hester's impact thereafter. He caught only four passes in the Bears' final seven games, and over that stretch he managed three returns for more than 30 yards. Hester is the type of player who could have helped overcome the ineffective offense Cutler left behind. His disappearance is a little-mentioned, but highly important, factor in their 8-8 final record.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The 2011 season is over for half of the NFC North, the postseason has begun for the other half and it's full steam ahead here on the blog.

We know the playoff schedule: The Detroit Lions (10-6) will play Saturday night at the New Orleans Saints, while the Green Bay Packers (15-1) will await the NFC's lowest remaining seed and host a Jan. 15 game at Lambeau Field. Kickoff will be 4:30 p.m. ET.

We know the relevant draft order: The Minnesota Vikings (3-13) will pick No. 3 overall, while Chicago Bears (8-8) hold the No. 19 pick.

Before the madness begins, let's take a quick tour around local coverage of Week 17:

• The Packers deactivated quarterback Aaron Rodgers before the game, but Rodgers called most of the first-half no-huddle plays over the headset to starter Matt Flynn. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Matt Flynn turned in one of the greatest single-game performances ever by a Green Bay Packers quarterback. And if all goes as planned, he’ll never start another game for the team."
• The Packers started Frank Zombo at right outside linebacker Sunday in place of Erik Walden and will have to determine a starting lineup heading into the playoffs, notes the Press-Gazette.
• The Packers have a decision to make on veteran left tackle Chad Clifton, who started and took 25 snaps Sunday after a nearly three-month layoff. More from Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz remained upset with the officiating during his postgame news conference, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Schwartz: "The whole thing with replay's to get it right. Well, we didn't get it right."
• Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com: "No amount of offensive records and bad officiating can overshadow what was one of the Detroit Lions' worst defensive performances of the season."
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "Welcome back to the playoffs, Detroit. And don't forget to pack your offense, because by the looks of it -- especially after Sunday's 45-41 loss to a Green Bay team missing a half-dozen starters -- you're going to need to score points aplenty just to keep pace with the NFC's best."
• A shakeup among assistant coaches could occur quickly for the Vikings, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings are heading into the offseason with Christian Ponder as their No. 1 quarterback, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "So with any luck at all, and if there is a God in heaven, there will be changes starting in the front office and extending down through the roster."
• We learned the value of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler this season, writes Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears safety Major Wright didn't realize that linebacker Brian Urlacher was in position to make an interception when he jumped and ultimately landed on Urlacher, spraining his knee. Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times has more.
• Sunday was a day of "sobering reminders" for the Bears, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.

After the Chicago Bears' 35-21 loss against the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Chicago Bears take their turn in the examination room after losing to Green Bay.
1. The Bears usually do a decent job of limiting quarterback Aaron Rodgers' big plays against them, but he threw a career-high five touchdown passes and had three completions go for longer than 30 yards. I can't blame any one portion of the Bears' defense for that. It was a total team defeat. Their front line got almost no pass rush, accounting for one sack (of backup quarterback Matt Flynn) and a total of two quarterback hits. Safety Craig Steltz can hit but has a hard time in coverage, which is one more thing than fellow safety Major Wright has demonstrated. The decision to give cornerback Zack Bowman a new chance in place of Tim Jennings yielded no better results, and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was conspicuously quiet with three tackles. When the offseason begins, the Bears will look at their defense and see four locked in starters -- Urlacher, cornerback Charles Tillman, linebacker Lance Briggs and defensive end Julius Peppers. Otherwise, all positions should be in play, don't you think? And don't forget that Briggs asked for a trade last summer because the Bears haven't upgraded his contact.
2. I'm not sure what to make of quarterback Josh McCown's better-than-expected performance. He looked and played like someone who received an early Christmas present and had nothing to lose. The plan was obvious: Use running backs Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen as often as possible and limit the pressure situations McCown encountered. I noticed a few NFL players mocked McCown for dunking the ball over the goal post after a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter pulled the Bears within 17 points, but to me it just reflected probably the only Bears player who had fun Sunday night. I don't know that McCown extended his career Sunday night, but he gave the Bears a credible performance when expectations couldn't have been any lower.
3. Bell ran hard and made the best of his opportunity Sunday night, gaining 121 yards on the ground and another 38 on four receptions. I would expect more of the same Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, who released him in training camp in 2009. The Bears obviously have a limited opinion of Bell's worth, having buried him on their bench for most of the past three seasons. But in 12 career games in which he's gotten at least one carry, Bell has 503 yards. That's some significant production, something the Bears might want to consider when they are mapping out playing time for 2012.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

The Bears have missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. How much turnover will that cause? Early indications, at least, suggest there won't be a major shakeup among the front office or coaching staff. The biggest question mark is whether the Bears will renew the contract of offensive coordinator Mike Martz. I'm against the idea of starting over with a new coordinator and scheme, but the offense's collapse over this five-game losing streak might have sealed Martz's fate.

Taking a look at Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Defensive lineman Henry Melton (shin) didn't practice. Safety Major Wright (shoulder) was limited. Meanwhile, quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb) told ESPN 1000 that there is an "outside" chance he will be ready to play in the Bears' Week 16 game at the Green Bay Packers. But Cutler admitted he didn't think it was a "good or definite or a real possibility."

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Chris Houston participated in a portion of practice Wednesday for the first time since spraining his knee Nov. 24. The Lions are hopeful of getting him back in the lineup in time for Sunday's game at the Oakland Raiders. But safety Louis Delmas (knee) remained sidelined, as did running back Kevin Smith (ankle) and linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring). Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) did not practice. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot) was a limited participant.

Green Bay Packers: Guard Josh Sitton (knee) returned to practice and linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) was a full participant. But left tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring) did not practice and has already been declared out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf), running back James Starks (ankle), defensive end Ryan Pickett (concussion) and running back Brandon Saine (concussion) all sat out practice. Meanwhile, new Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said that quarterback Kyle Orton will start Sunday if healthy. Orton has already started once against the Packers this season, a 49-23 loss while playing for the Denver Broncos in Week 4. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he would be the first quarterback to start two games against the same opponent for two different teams in 13 years. Kerry Collins started against the Atlanta Falcons as a member of the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in 1998.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) was a full participant in practice and is expected to start Sunday against the Saints. Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) practiced on a limited basis and could be on track to return after a three-game absence. Receiver Greg Camarillo (concussion) was the only player who missed practice Wednesday.

Getting inside the Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Safety Major Wright (shoulder) was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Craig Steltz is expected to start in his place. Other than quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb) and running back Matt Forte (knee), all other players will be available.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) are doubtful and not expected to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring), who did not practice Thursday or Friday, is questionable. So is defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), who did not practice all week. The Lions signed free agent defensive tackle Jovan Haye and waived cornerback Brandon McDonald, presumably for more depth along the defensive line.

Green Bay Packers: Running back James Starks (ankle) and linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) missed a third day of practice Friday and were declared out for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring) and linebacker Vic So'oto (back) were also declared out. But linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) practiced for the first time since suffering the injury Nov. 24 and is listed as questionable. D.J. Smith is expected to start for Bishop, and Robert Francois would play for Hawk if he isn't able to go Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) and running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) practiced Friday as limited participants. Neither player is close to 100 percent, and Ponder took only a handful of practice repetitions all week. The Vikings listed both players as questionable for Sunday's game. At 2-10, you wonder if the Vikings will risk further injury to either of their marquee offensive players. Joe Webb would start at quarterback if Ponder can not.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Green Bay Packers will play at least four, and potentially six, consecutive games outdoors on grass fields in cold-weather locales. That means it's time to get their running game in order. But just as they hit that stretch, the Packers are trying to figure out the best way to handle a series of injuries to lead runner James Starks.

As Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette points out, Starks has been forced out of three consecutive games because of knee and ankle injuries. He hasn't practiced all week and it might make some sense to hold him out of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders to allow for additional healing time.

The Packers have a strong fallback in veteran Ryan Grant, and rookie Brandon Saine has been seeing repetitions in recent weeks. But we all know how much of an impact Starks made on the Packers' run to the Super Bowl last season. For what it's worth, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said that it might help to hold out Starks "from a freshness standpoint" but not a "football development standpoint" down the stretch.

The Packers have three regular-season games remaining at Lambeau Field and could have two playoff games if they win home-field advantage in the playoffs. Their only road game is in Week 15 at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers have 30 rushing plays this season that have lost yardage, notes the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers punter Tim Masthay has become a big-time weapon, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Detroit Lions are expecting the best shot Sunday from the Minnesota Vikings, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The New Orleans Saints went to extreme measures to defend Lions receiver Calvin Johnson last Sunday, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "The Calvin Rules are in full effect again, and it's up to [offensive coordinator Scott] Linehan and Matthew Stafford and Johnson's pass-catching teammates to take full advantage if the Lions are going to make the playoffs."
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin suffered from migraine-like symptoms late last week, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune examines the "catch radius" of Vikings rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph.
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder needs to learn when to run and when not to, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte is using a hyperbaric chamber to help his injured knee recover, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears don't have anything special planned for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• It appears that the Bears will start Craig Steltz in place of injured safety Major Wright (shoulder) this week, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

Catching up on Thursday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Safety Major Wright (shoulder) missed his second consecutive day of practice.

Detroit Lions: The team confirmed via its Web site that cornerback Chris Houston and safety Louis Delmas both have sprained MCLs. That makes both players unlikely to be available for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. It's a good bet that defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot) will also be out. Running back Kevin Smith didn't practice Thursday but hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game. Linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring) sat out practice after working as a limited participant Thursday.

Green Bay Packers: Cornerback Charles Woodson was cleared of concussion symptoms Thursday and should play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Running back James Starks (ankle) has missed the past two days of practice and will need to participate Friday if he is going to play. Linebackers A.J. Hawk (calf) and Desmond Bishop (calf) also missed practice again. Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will call into ESPN's Audibles show Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET. Finally, the Packers announced they have sold more than 185,000 shares of stock at $250 apiece since Tuesday. The total offering is 250,000 shares.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) missed a second consecutive day of practice, and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave sounded pessimistic about his condition while speaking to local reporters. Ponder will need to practice Friday in order to play against the Lions. Joe Webb has taken the first-team repetitions in practice this week. Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) participated in practice Thursday on a limited basis. He has a chance to play Sunday. For those already focused on next season, USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil said he has not decided whether to declare for the 2012 draft. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf continues to distance himself from any threat of relocation to Los Angeles as the team's lease at the Metrodome nears expiration. Here's what Wilf told the Associated Press this week:

"From the NFL's standpoint and the league's standpoint, they do intend to have one, if not two teams, in that market in the future. But I want to let everyone know that we are entirely focused on getting the job done here and I'm not paying much attention to what happens outside this issue here."

Wilf has said since buying the team in 2005 that he would not move it. Ultimately, he could sell to a buyer who would do that, but there appears to be no momentum for doing so at the moment.

Meanwhile, negotiations for the stadium site took an interesting turn. A day after Gov. Mark Dayton said the team might need to increase its financial contribution to secure its preferred site in suburban Arden Hills, Minn., Wilf said he would decrease his offer if the state ultimately decides to build in downtown Minneapolis.

Here's what Wilf told the Associated Press: "Any other location besides Arden Hills wouldn't justify near that level of commitment."

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder didn't seem bothered by a practice in 38-degree weather, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. Ponder practiced in shirt sleeves and shorts.
• The Vikings are hoping Ponder can end a recent run of prime-time ineptitude for the franchise, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at the impact of flipping defensive linemen Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji in the Packers' base defense.
• The Packers' offensive line has a big job in keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers upright, notes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• It wouldn't be out of the question for Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps) is going to test out his leg today, according to the Free Press.
• Lions receiver Nate Burleson has had more than 100 yards in receiving called back by penalty, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the death of his mother, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times: "We're still not through it. We still talk about it. I think that's the best thing we can do is talk about it, and let them know it's OK to be upset and cry and miss her, because we all miss her. It's been hard, but they've done really well. My kids are tough."
• Bears safety Brandon Meriweather might get another chance to start this week because of an injury to Major Wright, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com notes that Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin is upset by a crackback block from tight end Kellen Davis in last Monday night's game. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz defended the block.

After the Chicago Bears' 30-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertFollowing their Monday night win against the Eagles, the Bears take a seat in the examination room.
   Last week, we noted that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had dramatically reduced his sack totals amid continuing pressure from opponents. We saw another installment of that trend Monday night. The Eagles were in the pocket often but couldn't sack him; Cutler has now been sacked a modest 10 times in his past six games. Here's the most amazing part: Cutler avoided a sack Monday night even as coordinator Mike Martz called seven-step drops on 18 of his 32 throws. The Bears ran five-step drops on another 11 passes and had only three passes where Cutler took a quick three-step drop. It's worth noting that both of Cutler's touchdown passes came on three-step drops. The Bears gave the Eagles a chance, but Cutler's mix of shovel passes, sidearm tosses and nifty footwork saved them.
2. It's nice to see the Bears reward center Roberto Garza with a two-year contract extension, a deal they wrapped up Monday and announced Tuesday. As we discussed during the Bears' bye week, Garza deserves credit for making a significant transition as quietly as possible. Few players are eager to make a position change in a contract year, considering the potential for failure and thus lowering their value. But Garza replaced Olin Kreutz without complaint, and the smooth changeover is one of the reasons the Bears are in position to make a playoff run.
3. We noted linebacker Brian Urlacher's play earlier Tuesday in our Stock Watch post. So let's also note that linebacker Lance Briggs played an inspired game, totaling five solo tackles and creating the interception that safety Major Wright ultimately caught. All you had to do was watch Briggs sprint some 40 yards to catch Eagles quarterback Michael Vick at the sideline to realize Briggs came to play Monday night. It was a reminder, for a national television audience, that Briggs remains one of the NFL's better 4-3 outside linebackers.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

After watching another solid game from right guard Chris Spencer and right tackle Lance Louis, especially as run blockers, you have to wonder what the Bears will do when rookie Gabe Carimi (knee) is ready to return. Carimi might answer that question himself. Last week, it appeared he needed some additional recovery time, and at some point you wonder about the value of bringing back an offensive linemen who now hasn't played in nearly two months. But both Spencer and Louis seem to be handling themselves more than adequately. Monday night, tailback Matt Forte gained 7.9 yards per carry on runs to the right side and this season, he has an NFL-high 7.3-yard average on runs to that direction.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Chicago Bears overcame a furious Philadelphia Eagles third-quarter onslaught and a couple of their own mistakes on the road to carve out a 30-24 victory Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Bears scored an impressive victory, given the circumstances, to boost their record to 5-3.

Let’s take a deeper look:

What it means: If the regular season came to a conclusion today, the Bears would be the second wild-card team behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC. So this impressive victory over the Eagles raises the stakes for Sunday’s game against the Lions at Soldier Field.

The Lions, who are coming off a bye week, lead the Bears in the NFC North standings by one game. So a Bears victory would tie them with the Lions for second place in the division.

Wright nabs first career pick: Major Wright should send linebacker Lance Briggs a thank you card for helping the second-year safety pick off the first pass of his NFL career.

Briggs tipped a Michael Vick pass into Wright’s hands, which resulted in a Bears field goal after the safety’s 36-yard return.

Despite the big play, Wright wasn’t able to stay in the lineup full time. Veteran Brandon Meriweather replaced Wright in the second quarter, but Wright was back at his strong-safety position to start the second half.

Bennett returns: Wildcat quarterback, chain mover. Yes, Earl Bennett resumed his role as Chicago’s Swiss Army knife of offense Monday night after missing nearly six games with a torso injury, and he didn’t disappoint, racking up five catches for 95 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that gave the team a 27-24 lead.

Bennett caught just two balls in the first half for 40 yards and took one snap as quarterback in the Wildcat formation.

Look for his role to increase as the season continues. Jay Cutler's comfort with the receiver was apparent almost immediately against the Eagles. On Chicago’s first third-down situation, Cutler completed a 14-yard strike to Bennett.

Forte’s first fumble of 2011 a fiasco: Bears running back Matt Forte racked up 79 all-purpose yards in the first half but made a mistake in the second quarter that nearly caused a major momentum swing. After catching a short dump-off from Cutler, the running back looked to make a move on Brian Rolle, who punched the ball loose and scooped up the fumble for a 22-yard touchdown return.

Rolle’s score helped Philadelphia tie the game at 10 with 1:38 left in the first half.

The fumble was Forte’s first of the season, and interestingly the running back hadn’t put the ball on the ground in 347 touches prior to Monday night. Forte’s second fumble led to another Eagles touchdown, but the running back finished the game with a game-high 133 yards rushing.

Gould booms another bomb: Robbie Gould made his second field goal of the season from 50-plus yards when he banged in a 51-yarder in the second quarter to give the Bears a 10-0 lead.

Gould is 7-of-9 from 50-plus yards over the past three years and 7-of-11 from those distances over his career.

What’s next: The Bears take the day off Tuesday before getting back to work Wednesday in preparation for their second meeting with Detroit. The Bears trail the Lions by one game in the NFC North standings and can move into a tie with them for second in the division with a victory.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

SAN DIEGO -- Week 9 is a slow-moving one here in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers played our only game Sunday, with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings on their bye, and the Chicago Bears don't get on the field until Monday night at the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Packers gave us plenty to think about while we await that game. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued his ascendance into the NFL stratosphere while one prominent member of the Packers defense officially registered his concerns about its leaky performance against the pass. Some of you might consider it splitting hairs when a team is 8-0, and maybe it is, but I built my game column around that dichotomy.

At any rate, I'm beginning an extended trek back to NFC North blog headquarters. I have a few posts ready to publish during the morning and we'll eventually turn our attention to Monday night's game. ESPNChicago.com will take the lead in coverage, but I'll probably chime in with a few thoughts. Hopefully you've already seen ESPN's Sunday Conversation with Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, which we posted Sunday afternoon.

Let's take a minute to catch up on local coverage.

• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "In reality, the Packers defense has nothing to apologize for. Not after returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the first quarter, one by Charlie Peprah and the other by [Tramon] Williams. And certainly not after stopping the Chargers' offense twice in the final 4 minutes to seal the victory while clinging to a seven-point lead. In between giving up big plays and gobs of yardage, the Packers defense has made crucial stops and forced key turnovers all season long. Sure, the Packers' perfect record has been spearheaded by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' explosive offense, but don't sell the defense short."
• Peprah confirmed a premonition Sunday with his two-interception performance, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers coach Mike McCarthy, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "We're not going to turn a blind eye to the negatives that went on today. [But] we're 8-0. That's the facts. We're 5-0 on the road. That's huge. We're excited about that. The defense gave up too many big plays. Our offense scored points. … But the things I'm really concerned about are the things that go on inside the team. … We were not as sharp as we need to be as a team, but we won the football game. We're 8-0."
• Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith is "on a roll," writes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears hope their relatively settled offensive line can help mitigate many of the penalties and time-management issues the team has had on the road this season, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Bears like their current safety combination, Major Wright and Chris Conte, because of its speed, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press grades the first half of the Detroit Lions' season.
• Overall, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com, the Lions deserve a B for their first half.
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford should get more publicity than Tony Romo or Tim Tebow, according to Jerry Green of the Detroit News.
• Dan Wieiderer of the Star Tribune picks five moments that led to the Minnesota Vikings' 2-6 start.
• The Vikings get an overall grade of "D" in the first half from Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It's possible the Vikings could release cornerback Chris Cook this week, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com. Zulgad: "Take Cook off the roster and all of a sudden cornerback goes from being an area of big need to an area of huge need."

Chris Harris is 29 years old. Last season, the Associated Press named him a second-team All-Pro. So how could it be that Harris made it through only seven games for the Chicago Bears this season before his surprise release Thursday morning?

A couple of factors are in play here, not the least of which is the Bears' pathological compulsion to swap out players at the safety position. Since taking over as coach in 2004, Lovie Smith has made 29 changes to his lineup at safety. When the Bears return from their bye next week, they'll be looking for a new starter to pair next to the sudden anchor of the position, rookie Chris Conte, who has started two games in his NFL career.

It's fair to say that Harris struggled some in coverage this season, most recently when receiver Dezmon Briscoe beat him for a touchdown in last Sundays' 24-18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But I think even Harris would admit he is best used near the line of scrimmage as a run enforcer. A starting safety must be able to function in pass coverage, but the Bears could have protected Harris more if they had a better option to play alongside him. Wright, Conte and newcomer Brandon Meriweather -- who has been a healthy scratch the past two weeks -- all have similar run-first styles.

Finally, I think it's impossible to ignore the systematic breakup the Bears are engineering of their long-held core of veterans. Since the end of last season, they have bid farewell to defensive tackle Tommie Harris, center Olin Kreutz, tight end Desmond Clark and now Harris. (You wonder if linebacker Lance Briggs, who requested a trade last summer, will be the next to go.)

The Bears had justifiable football reasons for parting ways with each of those veterans. If Smith was ready to bench Harris permanently, there was no sense keeping him as a backup/special-teams player. NFL teams routinely make harsh decisions about key players, but the Bears have made a number of them in short order. So it goes.

After the Chicago Bears' 24-18 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Yes, I know. It's not who starts fast. In the NFL, oftentimes slow and steady wins the race. So it's worth noting that the Bears were three games behind the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions after Week 5. Two weeks later, they're within a game of the Lions (5-2) and are putting themselves into the conversation for postseason discussion. As of Monday afternoon, there are five teams with a better record than the Bears. They are one of three teams that are 4-3, which is the same mark the Bears had last season on the way to an 11-5 finish and the NFC North title. The Packers might not give up the top spot in this division, but the Bears are puttering along at a time when the Lions haven't yet answered questions about their 16-game endurance.
Kevin SeifertThe Chicago Bears take their turn in the examination room after beating Tampa Bay.
2. You'll hear plenty this week about tailback Matt Forte's 145-yard performance. It'll also be noted that Forte already has 672 rushing yards this season (second in the league behind the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson), and that he has already surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season. But we also should take a moment to recognize that he has gotten some nice blocking this season. Take another look at his 32-yard touchdown run Sunday. You'll see textbook blocking, relative to their positions, from offensive lineman Chris Spencer, tight end Matt Spaeth, receiver Roy Williams (yes) and fullback Tyler Clutts. You don't average 96 yards per game on your own. For as much criticism as the Bears' offense has taken this season, it's worth nothing that it's doing some things really well.
3. You wonder if the Bears' safety carousel will continue to turn after their bye week. Major Wright was deactivated for the game, presumably because of a hip injury, even though he had been listed as probable on the injury report. Veteran Chris Harris returned to the starting lineup as a result, but he appeared to get beat for a touchdown by Buccaneers receiver Dezmon Briscoe. Rookie Chris Conte had an interception and two passes defensed Sunday and will probably keep his starting job despite giving up a touchdown to tight end Kellen Winslow. Whether Harris or Wright starts alongside him Nov. 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles is anyone's guess.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

Was Sunday about the law of averages for Williams, or is he growing more comfortable with his situation and gearing up to be a consistent contributor for a team that hopes to be in contention over the final two months of the season? I'm not sure yet. Williams caught his first touchdown of the season among his four catches and totaled a season-high 59 yards. A cynic would say that defenses are so unconcerned about him that they aren't paying much attention and will give him plenty of opportunities to make plays. Time will tell.