Bears back at practice

The Bears returned to practice Monday trying to forget about their latest loss.

At 4-5, the Bears probably will need to win six of their final seven games to make the playoffs. Few characteristics about the Bears suggest that such a turnaround is possible, but coaches and players had no room for pessimism at Halas Hall on Monday afternoon.

"Some of our players made progress the past game we played, but not enough," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We need to take it up another step. 'Can we still make the playoffs, are you guys out of it?' We have five losses. Five losses don’t keep you out of anything. Our players realize that. Big game coming up."

The Philadelphia Eagles visit Soldier Field on Sunday night for a prime-time game on NBC.

Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said the Bears remained in the playoff hunt. Possible NFC playoff teams such as the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Falcons all lost this weekend.

"If you watch the games yesterday, and just the way the whole season is going, nothing has really run away from us," Ogunleye said. "The Vikings are playing well, they’re 8-1, but besides that, the playoffs and everything is still in our grasp.

"We’ve just got to take it one game at a time," Ogunleye said. "We’ve got a really, really tough team coming in that just lost a tough game, and [both of us] will try to get back on track."

-Tom Musick