Backed into a corner by their own doing, the Bears now must accomplish something they've done only three times in the Lovie Smith era -- roll off four consecutive victories. The common belief in the NFL is win 10 and you're in, and that probably holds true in this race. If the Bears (6-6) can close the season with four victories, it's difficult to imagine them not taking the division.

The cold reality is anything less than that, and they might require more than a little help from Minnesota

(7-5) and perhaps Green Bay (5-7) on the heels of their 34-14 loss Sunday night to the Vikings.

''You have to move on, and that's what we've done,'' Smith said. ''Before the game, we controlled what happened to us. Now we're not in that position. All we can do is win out. We've been in a hole before, and we'll come out.''

The problem the Bears face in pursuing the Vikings is they trail in the tiebreakers that likely would be in play if they end up deadlocked: record vs. common opponents and conference record. The Vikings are 6-4 against common opponents with another game against the winless Detroit Lions , while the Bears are 3-5. That effectively puts the Bears two games behind Minnesota.

When it comes to the Packers, the Bears must win the Dec. 22 meeting at Soldier Field or they're swept in the season series, the first tiebreaker used.

But it's not about scoreboard watching for the Bears. It's about trying to figure out what has ailed them for more than a year. Since Super Bowl XLI, they've won consecutive games three times. Both two-game streaks this year -- if you can call two games a streak -- included victories over the Lions on the back end. The Bears fell on their faces in the closing seconds at Atlanta to stop the first mini run and simply ran into a better team when Tennessee came to Soldier Field.

The Bears are capable of rattling off a string of victories when it's unexpected, and there's nothing imposing about a three-game homestand with Jacksonville, New Orleans and Green Bay before a season-ending trip to Houston. The Bears went on an eight-game tear in 2005, won the first seven in '06 and had a four-game streak at the end of that season.

''Well, it's plain and simple: You win or you go home,'' defensive tackle Tommie Harris said. ''Nothing else has to be said. Our backs are up against the wall now, and there is no room for error.''

Missed tackles were driven home in meetings Monday at Halas Hall, lessons that will be worthwhile only if they're applied to the Jaguars' Maurice Jones-Drew on Sunday. As poor as the defense was on three plays -- Bernard Berrian's 99-yard touchdown, Adrian Peterson's 59-yard run and Chester Taylor's 21-yard touchdown run -- the offense was bad more consistently.

Running back Matt Forte had a solid game with 96 yards on 22 rushes, but none of it transferred to the play-action passing game. The key to discovering any momentum before it's too late is getting a complete team effort. It's not going to happen just because the Bears agree collectively that it's time to get serious about winning.

''These four games are going to be so important, and I'm willing to give my body and soul for these because my whole career I haven't even sniffed the playoffs,'' said defensive tackle Anthony Adams, who assumes a bigger role with Dusty Dvoracek out with a ruptured right biceps. ''And this is Year 6 for me, so time is ticking.''

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HOME STRETCH

Here's a look at how the NFC North race shapes up entering the final four games: W-L Div. Remaining games

Vikings 7-5 3-2 at Detroit, at Arizona, Atlanta, N.Y. Giants

Bears 6-6 3-2 Jacksonville, New Orleans, Green Bay, at Houston

Packers 5-7 3-1 Houston, at Jacksonville, at Bears, Detroitt