Smarter Than Average Bear?

Once the Bears won, owner Michael McCaskey came out of hibernation and proclaimed Coach Dave Wannstedt safe. “I don’t think there will be a need to make a change,” McCaskey said. “I look for good progress, good teaching on the part of the entire coaching staff and our players [to perform] as they have done in the last few games--fighting, scrapping, trying as hard as they possibly can to win a game. Those are the things that matter to me, and I think they matter to Bears’ fans.” . . . In the last 13 years, the Lions have gone 1-12 in the ninth game of the year and they are in Green Bay this weekend. . . . Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, sacked four times in a loss to Detroit earlier this season, injured his toe against New England and did not practice early in the week. He will wear a steel-toed shoe and is expected to start against Detroit. . . . Disaster struck the Vikings this week, and while it has nothing to do with Coach Dennis Green for a change, running back Robert Smith will be out for a week or two because of an injured ankle. And the Vikings have not usually won without Smith.

Midseason prediction: 1. Green Bay (11-5)--Packers have averaged 2.5 losses during the second half of the season the last four years in advancing to the playoffs. 2. Minnesota (10-6). 3. (tie) Detroit (9-7) and Tampa Bay (9-7). 5. Chicago (3-13).

Midseason yuks: The Bears finally won a game, prompting running back Darnell Autry to say, “We’re focusing on running the table and getting some playoff wins.” Remember, he’s a rookie, a theater major and, obviously, a wannabe comedian.

WEST / Things Are Looking Down

How bad are things in Charlotte? Kerry Collins scrambles for a Carolina first down against Atlanta, gets hit, jumps up like a tough guy and now he’s loved again as a team leader. . . . The Saints haven’t scored a point in their last two games, but just in case they ever score a touchdown they have signed kicker Doug Brien through 2001 to a deal worth $3.1 million. . . . San Francisco observers have scoffed at Jerry Rice’s proclamation that he will return Dec. 15, saying he won’t be ready. Instead, they are predicting that Joe Montana, who has not had a very good relationship with the team since leaving for Kansas City, will return that night to have his jersey retired. . . . The St. Louis Post Dispatch got about 3,000 responses to its question: What would you do to fix the team’s offensive attack? Fifty-seven percent suggested benching quarterback Tony Banks in favor of Mark Rypien. For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Rams did not score more than 20 points in September or October.

Midseason prediction: 1. San Francisco (12-4)--The 49ers’ opponents in the first eight games had a record of 14-27; remaining foes are a combined 40-24. 2. Carolina (8-8). 3. St. Louis (5-11). 4. Atlanta (4-12). 5. New Orleans (3-13).

Midseason yuks: The Saints have a bye, but when asked whether he would start Danny Wuerffel, Heath Shuler or Doug Nussmeier at quarterback, Mike Ditka growled, “It doesn’t matter. What’s the difference?”

EAST / No Hope Raising Arizona

The Cardinals keep setting records in Arizona. Their 1-7 start is their worst since moving to the desert 10 years ago, and worst since 1986. . . . The Cowboys have lost to every team in the division, eliminating any hope they might have for tiebreakers at season’s end. “I think we have a team that, if we can progress and get better, hasn’t eliminated itself from being a Super Bowl contender,” said owner Jerry Jones. “But I don’t want to dig such a hole that if we get where we want to be in the last quarter of the season, we can’t get in the hunt. That would bother me.” The Cowboys have won the division title five consecutive years. . . . The Giants lead the East and already have as many victories as they had all last year. They scored four touchdowns rushing last week, as many as all last year. They have 29 sacks this season and had 30 all last year. . . . After Philadelphia’s victory last week over Dallas, the girlfriend of Eagle running back Ricky Watters yelled at Jon Gruden, the team’s offensive coordinator, for not giving the ball to Watters more.

Midseason prediction: 1. Washington (9-7)--On a tiebreaker. 2. Dallas (9-7). 3. New York Giants (8-8). 4. Philadelphia (7-9). 5. Arizona (3-13).

Midseason yuks: After Jake Plummer started for the first time for the Cardinals, completing 21 of 40 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions, he said, “It’s a lot tougher than the college game.”