Bears work to finish season strong

Dec 14, 2017 - 1:59 AM LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee refused to downplay the significance of the final three games, even if his 4-9 team is out of the playoff picure and the future is uncertain for the coaching staff and players.

"I can finish," McPhee said. "I can finish strong, really strong."

If the defense can continue finishing like it has the last two weeks, it will at least prevent a repeat of last year's late defensive fade.

And beating the Detroit Lions Saturday at Ford Field definitely can't hurt the coaches when their fate is being pondered by general manager Ryan Pace at season's end.

"We're staying focused on winning and we're staying focused on finishing strong, nothing else," linebacker Lamarr Houston said.

The defense had been ranked in or near the top 10 much of last season before dropping to 15th after a number of injuries and a disappointing conclusion.

"It's hard to even remember the end of last season, but I remember the last game in Minnesota (a 38-10 loss) we didn't play particularly well in my opinion, not just on defense, but as a football team," head coach John Fox said. "That's really kind of my recollection, the (entire) last quarter a year ago."

A top-10 finish this season is still possible and a goal for the defense, which is ranked 11th even after an injury epidemic nearly as bad as last season.

Defensive end Akiem Hicks pointed to the team's 35 sacks and sees the final three games as a chance to pad the number.

"A good defense finishes in the 40s to 50s," Hicks said. "And so that's our goal is to finish off the season strong and rush the passer."

Hicks said the defense only gained confidence after a 33-7 win over Cincinnati last week, and by holding San Francisco without a touchdown in a 15-14 loss the previous week.

"Everything just came together like we've wanted it to," Hicks said. "We've always been one play away, two plays away.

"Just, you know, it starts to wear on you after a while. So I think we've got that off of our backs. We know what we can do. We know we can be dominant. We know we can really shut a team down."

The Bears at times have been without as many as seven starters on defense, but could get back McPhee (shoulder), nose tackle Eddie Goldman (hip) and safety Adrian Amos (hamstring) Saturday, after getting back inside linebacker Danny Trevathan two weeks ago following a calf injury.

Trevathan's return made an obvious impact, according to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

"The last couple weeks, it definitely makes us better," Fangio said. "Danny is a guy that's been there before. I think he understands how the game needs to be played. That rally for the guy next to you (attitude), I think, is pretty big, and he ignites that."

At least the injury situation looks better than when the Bears had to start both Houston and safety Chris Prosinski four days after signing them off the street as free agents. Both have had to start in the last two strong defensive efforts.

The Bears won't get back their best pass rusher, Leonard Floyd. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the last game with Detroit, a 27-24 loss on Nov. 19.

"It was another one of those situations where we played really well the entire game, but one or two plays killed us at the end," Hicks said.

The Bears have six losses decided by a score or less. It's caused frustration, which has been compounded by the injury situation. They expect this won't be enough to diminish the product on the field.

"We've played with good effort, toughness, intensity all year and we want to continue that," Fangio said. "We've talked about it."

SERIES HISTORY: 176th regular-season meeting. Bears lead series, 97-73-5. Detroit has won eight of the last nine, with the only Bears victory since 2012 coming last year at Soldier Field. The Lions beat the Bears 27-24 in the other game between these divisional rivals this season on Nov. 19.

NOTES: S Adrian Amos (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis Tuesday and Wednesday after missing two straight games. Amos had been regarded as week-to-week before, so it wasn't a slight hamstring pull. And practicing is a definite step forward. ... NT Eddie Goldman (hip) practiced Tuesday and Wednesday on a limited basis after missing last week's game and likely will be a game-time decision on Saturday. ... LB Pernell McPhee (shoulder) practiced Tuesday and Wednesday on a limited basis after missing last week's game and will likely be a game-time decision. ... TE Adam Shaheen (chest) practiced Tuesday and Wednesday on a limited basis following an injury suffered against Cincinnati last week. He was able to finish the game so he's expected to play Saturday at Detroit. ... WR Kendall Wright (shoulder) practiced Tuesday and Wednesday on a limited basis after suffering an injury while making a career-high 10 catches against Cincinnati last week. He anticipates playing against Detroit. ... DB DeAndre Houston-Carson (ankle) practiced Tuesday and Wednesday on a limited basis after missing last week's game, and his status is uncertain for Saturday's game.