Campbell gives Bears viable backup plan

SAN FRANCISCO - When Jay Cutler got hurt last November, the Chicago Bears' promising season fell apart fast, with no capable backup behind him.

The Bears went from 7-3 and looking toward the playoffs to losing five of their final six to finish 8-8 and with no postseason berth.

Chicago acquired an insurance policy during the offseason, and now the Bears (7-2) will see if that move pays off. Jason Campbell is set to make his first NFL start in more than a year in place of the concussed Cutler in a key NFC showdown with the San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) tonight at Candlestick Park.

It's not like Campbell hasn't been in big games before. He has 70 career starts to his name in eight NFL seasons.

"It's a tough opponent we have Monday night. No one said it was going to be easy," Campbell said. "So, we've got to go there, we've got to fight and play together as a unit."

That was something Chicago couldn't do when Cutler broke his right thumb last fall, and Caleb Hanie took his place.

The Bears can't afford a repeat of their late-season demise, and that's why they brought in Campbell.

"We didn't handle last year well," coach Lovie Smith said. "Of course, it's documented we didn't. That's why we went out and we felt like we've upgraded the position. I know the guys have a lot of confidence in Jason. He's played a lot of football, started a lot of games, so yeah, we're hopeful."

Campbell went 10-5 over his last 15 starts with the Oakland Raiders, completing 60.3 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions and an 89.6 passer rating. He missed the final 10 games with a broken collarbone, then became a free agent and joined the Bears.

San Francisco is fully aware of his resume, and the Niners defense doesn't expect many new looks with Campbell under center.

"We're going to take it as he's the starter, and we're going to go out there and do what we're supposed to do," 49ers safety Donte Whitner said. "He's a veteran guy with a big, strong arm. I never felt he got his fair shake in Washington, the guys he had around him, and Oakland, also. ... We understand that he can make plays, and we can't go into this game thinking we have it made and the backup quarterback is in there."

For San Francisco, all signs point to quarterback Alex Smith starting after he also sustained a concussion last week in a 24-24 tie with St. Louis. He was still listed as questionable in Saturday's formal practice report and spent the week practicing in a noncontact black jersey. The decision on Smith's status might not be made until within hours of kickoff.

And Lovie Smith insists all Chicago can do is prepare for the position, not one quarterback or another. Colin Kaepernick is Smith's backup.

For Campbell, getting off to a fast start would be ideal against one of the NFL's top defenses. Everybody knows it could be a low-scoring night, with two teams allowing fewer than 15 points per game.

"It's all about coming out in the first quarter and trying to set a tempo," Campbell said. "As a quarterback, you got to not try to dictate the game, but do everything you possibly can to get your own rhythm, by not forcing things and everything like that.

"But, at the same time, just have fun. You got to let it hang out in a game like this."