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CHICAGO -- It would be easy for the Chicago Bears to talk during their bye week about building momentum while expressing grandiose thoughts of climbing back into the NFC playoff hunt. After all, the week off came following their most complete performance, Monday's 20-10 win over the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings.
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Veteran defensive end Akiem Hicks refused to get caught up in talk about momentum now favoring a young team.
"It's a way better feeling, but way too early to talk about momentum," Hicks said. "I know two wins in a row is better than one win in a row."
The Bears might be able to talk about momentum if they beat Tampa Bay on Nov. 13, but until then, the realism of a 2-6 first half to the season prevails. It's a first half dominated by injuries.
"I think we've faced a lot of adversity," Bears coach John Fox said. "I think you have struggles -- most successes aren't reached without struggles. We are at the halfway point.
"I think it was important to kind of have a game like we had (Monday) to build confidence against a very worthy opponent. It's really the first time I can remember all season that we've put 60 minutes of three-level good performance. I think that gives you confidence. Something good's got to happen to have confidence and hopefully we can build on that coming off our bye."
The Bears have been stretched to a razor thin level talent-wise due to injuries, especially in the defensive secondary. Yet they emerged ranked 11th against the pass and ninth overall on defense.
They had cornerback Tracy Porter playing with a knee injury, concussions to both starting safeties, missed starting cornerback Kyle Fuller all season after knee surgery and had backup cornerback Bryce Callahan missing time while trying to play through a pulled hamstring.
This all occurred after the defensive front endured a torn ACL by linebacker Lamarr Houston, several nagging injuries to rookie linebacker Leonard Floyd, a high ankle sprain to nose tackle Eddie Goldman and a thumb injury that sidelined inside linebacker Danny Trevathan for two games.
According to NFL statistics, the Bears have a percentage of plays featuring their most common lineup of 2.68, the next to lowest in the league. Last year, when they were sorting through players and finding out who could play, it was a league-low 1.53.
Defensively, they've had 223 unique lineups on the field -- only five teams had more.
"These guys have been a pleasure to work with," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "They've played hard. I don't think anybody can fault our effort, our intensity, our intentions up to this point, in spite of the record.
"That hadn't been a problem, yet."
What was a problem was coordinating play on the field between various aspects of the offense and defense with so many players running in and out of the lineup.
"Anytime you have change in maybe the ultimate of team games, with 11 guys trying to be right on point every single play, really, in all three phases -- whether it's offense, defense or the kicking game -- just change can be challenging whether it's due to injury or performance ... regardless," Fox said. "And we've had our share of change, I think our guys' attitude and mindset is you can't get down about it or otherwise that affects your performance.
"Obviously we'd like to have more wins, and ultimately that is the goal, but I think their attitude has been pretty remarkable for some of the things that have happened to us."
Fox pointed out the team was so injury-plagued that he had to have temporary captains for the first seven games because the regular captains weren't healthy.
The injuries carried over to offense, where quarterback Jay Cutler's thumb sprain and backup Brian Hoyer's broken arm proved too much to overcome.
The offensive line dealt with missed time from guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, and rookie Cody Whitehair played an entire half season center after a season-ending injury to Hroniss Grasu.
The bye came at an ideal point for the Bears from the injury standpoint.
After almost two weeks away, and with only one game in a 23-day period, the Bears could become healthier for the second half than they've been since last year.
Slot receiver Eddie Royal (toe), Long (tricep), Sitton (ankle) and Goldman could be back soon. Long range, it's possible Fuller or wide receiver Marquess Wilson (foot) return.
"I think it's going to benefit our whole football team," Fox said about some R and R. "We've had a few guys that have been out -- Eddie Royal, Kyle (Long), Eddie Goldman has been out for some (time).
"Jeremy Langford is kind of making his way back, Josh Sitton. It's a long list. Not to even mention the quarterbacks."
The idea for a rebuilding team was to be competitive by leaning heavily on the running game and defense. Injuries made it almost impossible.
It could change in the second half.
"I think you always have positive visions, unfortunately we've had our setbacks along the way, whether it was injury-wise, execution wise, how that affects your roster and your performance usually is pretty tell-tale," Fox said. "Hopefully we can get more whole as we go."
