THEWEEK THATWAS

Some weeks are better than others for the Bears: Good week Defensive end Jonathan

Bullard played a careerhigh 47 snaps as the Bears focused on pacing Akiem

Hicks, who missed two practices last week with a knee injury.

Bullard finished with a sack and two quarterback hits and barely missed another sack.

Bullard played only nine snaps last week against the Lions after averaging almost 23 through the Bears’ first nine games.

‘‘ I just wanted to go out and make plays with the opportunities that were given to me,’’ Bullard said. ‘‘ They told me I was going to play a little more, so I was expecting it. I just wanted to go out and put on good tape, so they could feel comfortable putting me in again.’’

Bad week

Lost in the mess Sunday was the fact that punter

Pat O’Donnell struggled. A 34- yard punt in the first quarter gave the Eagles the ball in Bears territory, setting up their first score. His only punt of more than 44 yards, a 58- yarder in the third quarter, was returned 17 yards.

Worse week

Jordan Howard had seven carries for six yards against the Eagles. In Week 2 against the Bucs, he had nine carries for seven yards. In the Bears’ other nine games, he’s averaging 4.6 yards a carry.

Sunday wasn’t all his fault— the game plan, blocking and opponent put him in a bad spot— but two duds in the same season is worth worrying about.