LAKE FOREST, Ill. – There’s Matty Ice down in Atlanta. And then there’s Tom Brady.

“Have you seen ‘Top Gun?’ ” Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said. “Remember Ice Man? He just doesn’t make mistakes. He’s patient. He waits for you. As soon as you slip up a little bit, bam, he’s got you.”

Two weeks ago, the Bears ended Eagles quarterback Michael Vick’s streak of passes without an interception at 238 in a 31-26 Chicago victory. This Sunday they will face the Patriots and Brady, who has gone 228 straight passes without a pick.

The Bears suspect breaking this streak will be much more difficult.

The Patriots rarely commit turnovers and lead the league in the fewest with only nine. Briggs attributed it largely to the discipline of Brady, who hasn’t thrown an interception since an Oct. 17 overtime victory against Baltimore.

“To combat Tom Brady and the Patriots, we have to be detailed. We have to play fast, we have to play physical,” Briggs said. “We know that he’s going to take what the defense is giving. He’s going to take what he sees, so we have to be ready when that ball does come out to punish ball carriers, be opportunistic when the ball’s in the air.”

The Bears are tied for fourth in the NFL in forcing turnovers with 26, although they failed to get Detroit to give the ball back last week.

“It’s always on our minds and hopefully we’ll get them,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said Thursday.

STEELERS: Linebacker James Harrison believes Baltimore guard Chris Chester deliberately went after him while being called for a false-start penalty during an extra-point attempt Sunday. Chester came off the line and drove at Harrison, an unusual blocking technique because offensive linemen generally try to remain packed to avoid potential blocked kicks.

VIKINGS: Brett Favre was on the field but not throwing because of a sprained throwing shoulder. Receiver Percy Harvin and left guard Steve Hutchinson also weren’t practicing. Harvin has not practiced or played in more than a week because of migraine headaches.

n A spokesman for the former Jets game hostess who allegedly received inappropriate photos and phone messages from Favre said she won’t sue Favre if he’s punished by the NFL.

PACKERS: Coach Mike McCarthy expects left tackle Chad Clifton to play Sunday at Detroit.

GIANTS: A day after sitting with a sore wrist, running back Ahmad Bradshaw practiced.

CARDINALS: Coach Ken Whisenhunt still hasn’t chosen a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against Denver.

 

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