The Chicago Bears made it clear that they expect plenty of aggressiveness from the Green Bay Packers' defense, particularly the secondary, in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
"They're aggressive in everything they do with their coverage types," Bears running back Matt Forte said. "They blitz a lot of DBs. They're physical.
"In order for us to win, we have to run the ball effectively."
Quarterback Jay Cutler and coach Lovie Smith said the Bears are particularly aware of cornerback Charles Woodson, whom the Packers move around in coverage and blitz from many locations.
"Woodson, he's going to take away guys in the slot, take away passing angles," Cutler said. "We're going to have to get him off of us.
"I would expect them to be aggressive. They have been the past four, five games.
"Teams have tried to stay away from Charles, and he's responded. They're going to blitz, bring pressure. We know that."
Added Smith: "We'll have to know where he is at all times."
Smith lauded Forte's all-around play this season and said the Bears will need more of that Sunday.
"Matt Forte has been outstanding this season," Smith said. "He will have to pick up a lot of blitzes this week."
Smith's stated goals when he was hired as the Bears' coach in 2005 included beating the Packers and winning a Super Bowl. A victory Sunday at Soldier Field will take care of the former and put the Bears a step closer to the latter.
"It's only fitting it would come down to that," Smith said. "We know what they're going to do, they know what we're going to do.
"To beat the Packers to get to the Super Bowl, that's the way it should be."
Notes: Smith said starting safety Chris Harris has a hip pointer, but otherwise the Bears are healthy. Harris, who tied for the Bears' lead with five interceptions, was injured in Sunday's divisional playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks.