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In an article published Wednesday, Chicago Tribune staffer David Haugh noted that quarterback controversies spice up conversations, pump up sports-radio ratings and maybe even help sell a few more newspapers.

But despite head coach Dick Jauron's standard response earlier this week that Kordell Stewart must improve, the reality of a running-game deficiency is probably a bigger problem than the possibility of a quarterback controversy.

In other words, the more Anthony Thomas carries the ball against Minnesota Sunday night, the less they may need to worry about their quarterback carrying the load.

Against San Francisco, Thomas had six carries and Stewart was sacked five times.

"A good running game will slow a lot of things down, a lot of blitzes, everything, when you run the ball well," center Olin Kreutz said. "We have to get it going -- period."

The Bears abandoned the ground game early last Sunday as Stewart didn't hand off until the third offensive series with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter and the Bears already trailing 10-0.

Thomas, alternating with backup Adrian Peterson, didn't carry the football until the 5:55 mark of the second quarter and didn't get it again after that series until the score was 49-7 with just over 12 minutes left in the game. And as Haugh suggested, the engine of the "A-Train," doesn't function at full throttle when used so sporadically.

Peterson's five carries were bunched in the same second-quarter series and neither Bears runner got a chance to develop a rhythm so necessary at the position. It marked the fewest number of carries for Thomas in a game in which he was healthy since his first NFL start the second game of his rookie season in 2001.

When Stewart leads the team in rushing yards (21) and the Bears' offense holds the ball for roughly 22 minutes compared to approximately 38 for the opposition while running 28 fewer plays, you know something is wrong.

"Running the ball efficiently is one of the best ways to build morale on your team," said offensive coordinator John Shoop, who accepted responsibility for getting away from the ground game.

"One thing I said to the offense is an old proverb: If you dwell on the past, you'll lose an eye. But if you forget the past, you'll lose them both. I'm not forgetting what happened."

Nor will Stewart, who has watched the 49ers game film several times alone with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson in hopes he can correct his mistakes. He made poor decisions on straight drop-back passes and threw the ball as erratically as his critics had warned.

A follow-up performance like that against the Vikings and Stewart knows from experience he will be hearing catcalls for his job, whether the running game relieves the pressure on him or not.

The complete absence of a running threat and pass protection gave Stewart a crutch, but to his credit he didn't use it. He accurately called his performance "nasty," and "the worst of my career," and welcomed the chance to go back to the basics if it helps the Bears get closer to the end zone.

"That's being realistic," Stewart said. "We have guys who are inexperienced [on the offensive line], and that's why we have to scale back. We have to be stubborn in our approach, keep on doing it, keep on doing it."

It won't be easy doing it on the ground against a Vikings defensive front line that includes All-Pro Chris Hovan, but that won't stop the Bears from trying.

Or so they say.

But as a Fantasy owner, I'd certainly hate to be counting on them to get the job done for me this weekend.