Bumbling Bears hard on selves

By ANDREW SELIGMAN  AP Sports Writer

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LAKE FOREST – The way the Bears are struggling, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs can understand why fans around Chicago would have their doubts.

He just doesn’t think the team’s coaches are to blame.

Briggs pinned it on the players, saying they’re at fault for a stretch that has seen the Bears (4-5) drop four of five and struggle to stay in playoff contention. Considering they have to win six of their last seven to finish with 10 victories and a likely postseason berth, losing to Philadelphia on Sunday night would be a devastating blow.

The Bears didn’t make it at 9-7 last season, and this year, they’ve been plagued by inconsistent play on offense and defense. General manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith have come under fire, as has offensive coordinator Ron Turner, and while thoughts of an unemployed big-name coach such as Mike Shanahan parachuting into Halas Hall dance through some fans’ heads, Briggs said the criticism is misdirected.

“People can talk about the scheme or the way we’re being coached or some of the play calls,” Briggs said Thursday. “But ultimately it comes back on the players.”

Briggs said Smith hasn’t lost the team. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer agreed, pointing out the Bears’ past success, and insisted they still believe in the system.

“It’s been proven it works,” Hillenmeyer said.

He was referring to playoff runs behind a dominant defense in 2005 and 2006. It just hasn’t worked consistently this year.

“Most professionals know that there’s a lot of football left to go,” Smith said. “We’re definitely committed to everything we’re doing. There’s going to be a turnaround.”

It would help if the defense and offense played well together, something they’ve rarely done. The guys doing the tackling did enough against San Francisco last week, but Chicago lost 10-6 on a night when Cutler didn’t protect the ball. He threw five interceptions, giving him a league-leading 17, and the heat on Turner rose a degree or two.

It would help if the offensive line held its ground, but it’s letting opponents go by like cars at a toll booth after Angelo retooled that unit in the offseason.

Left tackle Orlando Pace hasn’t shown his old Pro Bowl form, and the other acquisition, Frank Omiyale, was replaced as the starting left guard by Josh Beekman last month. Last year’s first-round pick Chris Williams, a natural left tackle, is struggling on the right side.

As for the defense, while the 49ers game was promising, it has surrendered 41 points or more twice during this skid and has been inconsistent overall.

In some games, Briggs has thought: “I just can’t believe that a team is this successful against us.”

In others, the Bears finished strong after a poor start, like when they held Detroit to three second-half points in a 48-24 win in September.

Against San Francisco, Briggs said, “We played pretty well throughout the game,” but Cutler struggled.

“You’re going to have to point fingers somewhere and fingers always go to the head coach and the quarterback,” he said. “But this is a team sport, and it falls on us all. ... As far as I’m concerned, everyone is to blame.”