Thee quick notes heading into tonight’s tilt …

+ After giving up 182 yards to the Cardinals’ 31st-ranked run game on Sunday, the Bears’ defense now ranks 21st in the league in run defense. So what should Bears fans be most concerned with heading into tonight’s game in San Fransisco? Frank Gore. He’s good. Real good. If the Bears have trouble containing him, and he runs all over them tonight, my fantasy team will be off to a nice start, but that’s about all I have to look forward to with that.

The Bears have had trouble containing playmakers all season. Will tonight be any different?

+ Ladies and gentlemen, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis:

I think we can destroy their front. The guys up front, I think we can destroy them. I don’t see anything spectacular about their front line. Their linebackers, I think we can handle them pretty well. I like (Adewale) Ogunleye. I like the way he’s playing up front. He’s about the only player I like on their defensive line. I think he’s doing a good job.

The Bears will surely use this as motivation. But the last time someone dumped on them — Chad Ochocinco said he was going to torch the secondary — it came true. So yeah, maybe Davis is right. Or maybe the Bears will rise to the occasion and shut him down. Or maybe we shouldn’t take so much stock in what guys are saying before the game.

+ The Bears have gotten off to rough starts in pretty much every game this year, and are constantly playing from behind. What does that tell me? Their defensive gameplan from the start is flawed. But Lovie Smith does seem to have done a nice job of adjusting, as the Bears have outscored opponents 41-39 in in the second half of their four losses. (Or maybe it’s just the Cardinals and Bengals scaled back after gaining large leads.)

I know that’s not much to hang your hat on, but if the Bears can keep it close in the first half, they stand a decent shot at keeping it close all game.