Bears' mindset doesn't change
Bears coach Lovie Smith said his team's objectives will be the same as always heading into next weekend's game against the Green Bay Packers.
However, the Bears' playoff chances are much different than a few weeks ago.
After Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears (7-7) have lost four games in a row and have fallen two games back in the wild-card race with two games to play. The chances of the Bears reaching the postseason lie somewhere between unlikely and impossible.
Smith tried to keep his gaze fixed straight ahead after a lopsided loss to Seattle.
"We have Green Bay coming up, our rival," Smith said. "There’s enough things to get pumped up about just in that.
"We’re still playing football, haven’t been eliminated from anything right now. Our focus just has to be on improving, putting a better product on the football field next week than we did today."
It remains to be seen whether Caleb Hanie, Josh McCown or Nathan Enderle will start at quarterback when the Bears visit the Packers. Hanie is 0-4 as a starter in place of Jay Cutler and was replaced in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game by McCown, who promptly threw an interception.
Smith is scheduled to speak Monday afternoon at Halas Hall. Check back for updates on the Bears' quarterback situation as well as a status update on wide receiver Johnny Knox, who will require surgery Monday to stabilize a vertebra in his back but is expected to make a full recovery.
-Tom Musick
