Pressure, Losses Are Building in Chicago

With their once-promising season turning to dust, the Chicago Bears are beginning to get testy.

Their fifth consecutive loss came Sunday in a 25-7 defeat by the Minnesota Vikings.

“Everybody is yelling at each other to come on and fight and that’s the problem,” defensive end Phillip Daniels said. “We have too many people yelling that want to talk and be leaders right now and I say just shut up and play. That’s my whole thing. Let your actions speak louder. Until we figure that out, it’s going to be the same old thing.”

Said defensive tackle Keith Traylor: “I don’t think it’s effort. Being honest, me sitting back and looking at it, I just think we’re outmanned in a lot of areas and you can’t win when you can’t compete at that high level.”

The schedule suggests the situation might only get worse. The Bears face Philadelphia and New England in the next two weeks. Games against St. Louis, Miami and Green Bay also await.

“I just hope our people don’t lose heart,” Daniels said. “If you go out there and think you’re defeated before the game starts, you’re going to be defeated the whole game.”

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Pittsburgh Steeler receiver Plaxico Burress has become one of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest enemies.

Before being ejected after an incident involving Raven cornerback James Trapp in the second quarter, Burress caught five passes for 55 yards in the Steelers’ 31-18 victory Sunday. That included touchdown receptions of nine yards and 20 yards as he enjoyed a third consecutive win as a starter against Baltimore and a second consecutive win in Baltimore.

“I never lost in this stadium and I don’t want to lose here. It’s one of those rivalries where I don’t like them and they don’t like us,” Burress said. “I’ve loved playing against Baltimore. It gets my fire going.”

And that usually means inciting the Ravens. Told after the game that Raven cornerback Gary Baxter called him, “just another receiver” and “not among the elite,” Burress asked, “Who is Gary Baxter?” adding later, “He’s terrible.”

Trapp “stepped on my face,” according to Burress, who later was ejected for removing his helmet. At different times, Burress could be seen exchanging words with the Ravens’ Chris McAlister.

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Sunday’s key injuries:

* The Seattle Seahawks lost quarterback Trent Dilfer for the season when he tore his right Achilles’ tendon in the second quarter of a victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

* Michael Vick left the Atlanta Falcons’ win over the New Orleans Saints late in the fourth quarter because of a swollen left thumb and pain in his left shoulder. He said the injuries were not serious.

* Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive end Anthony McFarland broke his right wrist in a victory over the Carolina Panthers.

* San Francisco 49er running back Garrison Hearst (hamstring) and linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (hyperextended knee) sat out most of the second half of a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

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Bests of the Day

*--* PASSING Att Cmp Yds TD RICH GANNON, Raiders 55 35 334 1 TIM COUCH, Browns 49 33 307 2 DREW BLEDSOE, Bills 36 21 302 1 JEFF BLAKE, Ravens 50 29 298 1 JAKE PLUMMER, Cardinals 36 24 286 0 JEFF GARCIA, 49ers 28 18 252 4

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*--* RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD WARRICK DUNN, Falcons 23 142 6.2 1 COREY DILLON, Bengals 30 138 4.6 1 DEUCE McALLISTER, Saints 17 115 6.8 2 CLINTON PORTIS, Broncos 26 111 4.3 2 EMMITT SMITH, Cowboys 24 109 4.5 1 EDDIE GEORGE, Titans 21 106 5.0 0

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*--* RECEIVING No Yards Avg TD TIM BROWN, Raiders 13 144 11.0 0 TERRELL OWENS, 49ers 8 132 16.5 2 ERIC MOULDS, Bills 9 123 13.7 0 RANDY MOSS, Vikings 9 119 13.2 1 ED McCAFFREY, Broncos 8 116 14.5 0 PEERLESS PRICE, Bills 4 101 25.3 1

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*--* DEFENSE Breakdown RONNIE HEARD, 49ers 3 interceptions ARTELL HAWKINS, Bengals 10 unassisted tackles, 1 sack SAM COWART, Jets 10 unassisted tackles

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