The problem is it’s only meaningful to the Chicago Bears, still in playoff contention thanks to a big overtime win on Monday.
Even with a win over Houston today, getting to the playoffs will be difficult. To win the NFC North the Bears need Minnesota to lose to or tie the New York Giants, who with a playoff spot secure may rest some starters. Chicago could also get in with a wild-card spot, but needs losses or ties by Dallas and Tampa Bay to qualify that way.
But lose to the Texans and none of that matters.
“It’s hard to think this can be it for us,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. “We put ourselves in this situation, but I have the faith that everything will pan out if we finish 10-6.”
The Texans have long been out of playoff contention and are looking to atone for last week’s embarrassing loss at Oakland that snapped a franchise-best four-game winning streak.
Most players insist that the chance to knock the Bears out of the playoffs isn’t any added motivation, and cornerback Dunta Robinson did the same before admitting the obvious.
“We’re not going to the playoffs, so we don’t want to see anybody else go,” Robinson said. “So, we’re going to go out and play hard. Anytime you end the season on a loss, that’s a long offseason. At least with a win, you have something to look forward to for next season.”
Houston was hoping for bigger things this year than clawing its way to .500 after finishing with its first non-losing record by going 8-8 in 2007. Instead the Texans opened 0-4, all but dashing any playoff dreams just a month into the season.
The Texans are angry after the loss to the lowly Raiders made it impossible to get their first winning record.
“No one likes to lose,” Matt Schaub said. “We hate to lose, but we can’t change what happened on Sunday. All we can do is go out this week and win this game.”
Today’s game will feature star rookie running backs on both sides with Chicago’s Matt Forte and Houston’s Steve Slaton. Both are just shy of 1,200 yards rushing and Forte leads the Bears with 60 receptions.
He has accounted for an NFL-high 35.74 percent of the Bears’ offense this season, the most by a rookie in team history.
Forte’s solid play has helped keep Chicago’s offense going despite Orton’s recent struggles. He has thrown eight interceptions in the last four games after a streak of 205 straight passes without one.
For the Texans, Andre Johnson, who leads the NFL in receiving, is trying to shake off last week’s season-low 19-yard game against the Bears’ 28th-ranked pass defense. The three-time Pro Bowler had just one pass thrown to him in the first three quarters against the Raiders.
“I didn’t get many opportunities last week, but you never know what can happen this week,” he said. “So, I’m just going to prepare myself like I do for any other game and go out and try to end the season on a good note."
