The NFL’s stingiest defense and most prolific offense both faltered on Sunday. However, while the Rams offense couldn’t outscore the Saints, the Bears defense came through for an overtime victory against San Francisco.

Throughout a season, a football team molds its identity.

The Bears entered the season without very many identifying characteristics, or at least not any positives.

In fact, throughout the Dick Jauron era, about the only positive thing one could say about the Bears is that they consistently received high draft picks.

The Rams, on the other hand, have made a name for themselves with an explosive offense. The St. Louis attack was so effective that it led the team to a Super Bowl Victory.

However, if the Ram defense had allowed Kevin Dyson one more yard that January, the Tennessee Titans would have taken home the Lombardi Trophy.

St. Louis’ championship was secured by a mere yard. One broken tackle and a whole season of great offense would have been virtually meaningless.

Case in point – last year’s Rams team. They had the same great offense, but their defense, which was reminiscent of Swiss cheese, was consistently shredded.

Eight new defensive starters later, the Rams decided they were going to perform on both sides of the ball this season and they were doing a pretty good job, as the team’s 6-0 record indicated.

In Chicago, no one really knew what type of performances to expect out of the Bears. Whatever was expected, it wasn’t much.

Well, fans got more than they bargained for from the Monsters of the Midway, as the defense stepped up to lead the Bears to a 4-1 start.

So, going into Sunday’s action, the Rams’ offense was supposed to explode for a victory against the Saints, and the Bear defense was supposed to stave off the Niners’ passing attack.

Unfortunately, for four quarters the Bears’ defense imploded and the Rams offense couldn’t score points as fast as its defense surrendered them.

However, fortunately for Chicago fans, the Bears’ offense was able to pick up the slack, where the Rams’ offense couldn’t.

The Bears’ defense had surrendered 43 points in five games, but Sunday it allowed 31 points in four quarters.

However, the offense came through. With 127 yards rushing and a key fourth-quarter two-point conversion, rookie Anthony Thomas continued to impress.

The other Michigan rookie did all right as well. While he only had three catches to accompany two drops, two of David Terrell’s catches were for touchdowns.

However, the biggest offensive surprise was Shane Matthews. The Bears quarterback stepped up for the injured Jim Miller and led the offense.

This was on the same day that Kurt Warner threw four picks and the Rams’ defense couldn’t hold.

So, in their first loss of the season, the Rams showed that perhaps they’re still over reliant on their offense. The Bears, however, with their fifth straight win showed they can perform on both sides of the ball.

Down early, Chicago could have given up, but didn’t and that should be the Bears’ new identity.

The Bears must continue to be a team that strives to overcome adversity. To do that, their defense will have to rebound next week against Cleveland and their offense will have to pull out win like it did Sunday.

While the Bears defense was porous this week, it came through in the end. Niner’s receiver Terrell Owens heard footsteps as he tried to go over the middle in overtime and Mike Brown capitalized on Owens’ tentativeness.

He returned the pick all the way to the end zone and the Chicago crowd erupted in a sea of joy and perhaps even disbelief.

After all, the Bears are 5-1.