Don't discount the Bears' chances of winning a seventh consecutive game when they play at Oakland on Sunday. Caleb Hanie is making his NFL starting debut, but he proved in January that he can move an offense in trying times. He led Chicago to two fourth-quarter TDs in a 21-14 loss to the Packers in the NFC title game. Jay Cutler was hurt and Todd Collins woefully inept when Hanie provided the Bears' only spark that day.

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Ndamukong Suh's Turkey Day ejection for stomping Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith's arm is another example of Suh's inability to control his emotions. One wonders if that will ever be possible when his head coach, Jim Schwartz, often displays that same inability. The Lions are turning things around under Schwartz, but they have also committed more personal fouls than any other team since Schwartz arrived in 2009.

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Did gaining another game on the 49ers in the race for the NFC's No. 1 seed hurt the Packers' chances of an undefeated season? Possibly. Green Bay has a two-game lead on San Francisco with five to play. Of course, even if the Packers rest starters near the end of the season, their backups usually come through anyway. The Packers won at Detroit on Thursday with backups finishing the game at guard and both inside linebacker positions.