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After being benched against the Bengals, Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris quietly returned and performed well against the Browns. He was credited with four tackles and two quarterback pressures after the coaches reviewed the film Monday.

"He makes us a lot better," end Alex Brown said. "He requires a double team. When he's on, a double team doesn't even work. He's amazing. He's a great athlete. He's a special type of player. When you have that type of player on your team and you have him out on the field healthy, yes, it makes your defense a lot better."

Coach Lovie Smith was asked for his take.

"Pleased with how Tommie played, as I was the entire defensive line," he said. "I know the sack total (one) isn't what you would like for it to be, but thought we had good pressure. They maintained their gaps. Tommie was disruptive with his play, which he can be."

Tough challenge: Although Charles Tillman had a solid showing against the Browns, recording the team's first defensive score of the season with a 21-yard interception return, he has a tall task ahead in Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

"I don't want to take anything away from Peanut (Tillman) or (Nathan) Vasher or any defensive back in the league, but it's a mismatch with Fitzgerald, one-on-one, with anybody," Brown said. "He's pretty good."

Fitzgerald has 47 catches for 509 yards and five TDs.

Building confidence: Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said the defense's confidence was waning after the 45-10 loss in Cincinnati but that it recaptured some of its swagger after holding the Browns to 191 yards and causing five turnovers.

He said one of the keys was the way the team practiced leading into the Browns game.

"Hopefully it doesn't take a performance like Cincinnati to motivate us to practice the way we need to," he said.