Hosts chill at practice

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- With near-freezing temperatures expected for Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Saints, the Bears practiced on a grass field yesterday.

"Seriously, I don't know which [team] it favors," Bears coach Lovie Smith said of the frigid conditions. "Offensively, they know what they are doing. They know the cuts. Receiver-wise, they know where they are going to make their breaks. Looking at it from a defensive point of view, teams that thrive on takeaways and things like that, you think the ball will come out a little bit easier under tough conditions."

Said Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, "I don't think the weather is going to play into the game. We have to play in it also. They may not be used to it, but they will get used to it during warm-ups.

"The thing that is going to be a big difference is the fans, I think. Playing at home, our fans are loud. They are excited right now just like we are, so I think that is going to be the biggest difference in the game. The weather is not going to win the game for either team."

Urlacher said the Bears have created fewer turnovers recently because opponents have adjusted to their tactics.

"We are still going for the football, we're still playing hard. We just haven't got [turnovers]," he said. "I think the offenses know what we are trying to do now. They know that we are coming for the football; we are going to try and strip it and their job is to protect it. I think they are more conscious of it.

"Turnovers are huge. Every game if you get takeaways, you have a good chance to win the game. If we get two or three, we will have a really good chance to win the game."

Bears wide receivers Mark Bradley and Muhsin Muhammad missed practice but are expected to play Sunday. "Muhsin was sick," Smith said. "He should be OK, ready to go. Hopefully, we will see some good signs from Mark Bradley [ankle]." Muhammad was added to the team's injury report as probable, while Bradley remained questionable. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (quadriceps) was taken off the injury report . . . The only change to the Saints' injury report was the upgrading of tight end Mark Campbell (knee) from questionable to probable. Wide receiver Joe Horn (groin) and safety Omar Stoutmire (hip) are still questionable . . . The Saints' big-play capabilities on offense don't concern Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. "Turnovers in this game will be just as important as any game. We just have to go out and get the victory," he said. "There will definitely be opportunities to make plays and there isn't a better time to make plays than this game, except the big one [the Super Bowl]. But I don't think about that, just working on what we have to do in this game."