TOO HOT
Not much going except Muhammad
This is the type of production the Bears need consistently from Muhsin Muhammad, who set season highs with eight catches and 91 yards. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner called Muhammad’s number early, running a safe route on the first play from scrimmage to get the No. 1 receiver involved and quarterback Kyle Orton’s confidence going. Muhammad also caught a 12-yard pass on the first scoring drive, which netted a field goal. “Sometimes we had certain plays called, and for one reason or another, we didn’t make the play,” Muhammad said. “I made some plays on some balls that came my way. But if you don’t win the game, the team doesn’t really move forward. . . . At some point in time, we’re going to have to have more offense.”
TOO COLD
In a day full of bad, he was worse
The poster child for the Bears’ poor defensive and tackling effort, Mike Green continued a season-long theme of demotions by being replaced by Brandon McGowan. Hines Ward broke a Green tackle on his 14-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Pittsburgh declined a second-quarter holding penalty on Green. And Jerome Bettis about ran over Green on one of his touchdown runs. “He’s a load to get down,” Green said. “He doesn’t have all those touchdowns for no reason.” Green did force a fumble. But befitting his and the Bears’ day, Pittsburgh recovered it. Green started for the injured Mike Brown. “I’ve been playing in the sub packages most of the year,” he said. “We just didn’t execute our techniques for the most part.”
JUST RIGHT
Jones just keeps grinding out yards
Thomas Jones gutted out 72 yards on 14 carries against one of the league’s stingiest rushing defenses. The Bears’ leading rusher is on pace to rush for 1,326 yards, which would be the highest total since Walter Payton gained 1,333 in 1986. “It was tough to run the ball, especially because of the way we run the ball,” Jones said. “We have a lot of linemen moving and pulling, and the [snowy] weather made it tough.” Jones broke a 20-yard run on the Bears’ firstquarter scoring drive, which ended in a field goal. He also converted a fourth down on that drive and caught a 15-yard pass from Kyle Orton. Jones later had a 36-yard run on a drive that fizzled, and he scored the Bears’ lone touchdown. That gives him seven for the season, tying his career high set in 2004 with the Bears.
