You get the impression Tommie Harris would look at the Mona Lisa and see an aging woman with wrinkles or consider the Leaning Tower of Pisa an eyesore in need of a wrecking ball.
Awestruck, the Bears rookie defensive tackle is not.
Asked Thursday if an Indianapolis Colts offense averaging 33.1 points per game impressed him, Harris shrugged.
“No,” Harris said.
He paused, for effect, and grinned slyly.
“Look at our defense. Does that impress you when you watch that?” Harris asked. “I feel pretty confident in us, and that our defensive line is the best in the NFL.”
The best defensive line in the NFL?
“Go ahead,” Harris said. “I know you’re going to blow that up and put my name underneath it. No problem, I said it. … There’s no pressure at all. I love the challenge. We’re becoming a good defense and we can ride on that.”
Clearly, the Bears’ young, enthused defensive players rode the wave this week of a three-game winning streak for which they were largely responsible. Even with linebacker Brian Urlacher still recovering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after calf surgery instead of calling signals in the huddle, the Bears’ confidence soared to a season-high level.
The Bears spoke respectfully of quarterback Peyton Manning but scoffed at the suggestion they should fear the Colts’ multi-faceted attack. Linebacker Lance Briggs, given the chance to clarify a victory guarantee he made on radio, passed.
“I didn’t sit up and say I guarantee we’re going to beat them,” Briggs said. “But we’re going to beat them.”
If the Bears do, it will be their biggest regular-season victory since the 2001 season. But the defense will have to back up its big talk with an even bigger effort to make it happen. It is a daunting task.
The Colts have three receivers with more than 40 catches, led by Marvin Harrison’s 47. The Bears’ leader, Thomas Jones, has 26.
Colts running back Edgerrin James could break the 1,000-yard mark with 123 yards against the Bears. James’ total of 877 is 38 more than Jones and Anthony Thomas have together.
The Colts’ tight end duo of Dallas Clark and Marcus Pollard have combined for 10 touchdown receptions–just two fewer than the entire Bears’ offense.
Then there is Manning, making his second career stop at Soldier Field on his way to Canton. Of all the statistics Manning brings into Sunday’s game–2,749 passing yards, a 66.6 completion percentage and only six sacks in 296 pass attempts–the most painful one for Bears fans to absorb involves touchdown passes.
Manning has 31 in nine games.
That is as many as Bears quarterbacks have thrown in the past 37 games dating back to Oct. 7, 2002.
“It’s one of the top offenses I’ve ever faced, but as I watch more film, it’s a little less scary,” defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. “They are good but they’re not invincible. If you get after Peyton, he will get hassled and may throw you a couple balls.”
