Brian Urlacher: Chicago Bears QB Jay Culter Must Win One for the Captain

The Chicago Bears (1-0) and New Orleans Saints (0-1) are set to face off in one of the marquee games in Week 2 of the NFL season.

Brian Urlacher, who was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, has returned to team facilities Thursday morning and is likely to play Sunday.

The Windy City's other big-time defensive player is behind his teammate 100 percent in comments made on the team's website:

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"It's a tough situation," fellow linebacker Lance Briggs said quietly. "I'm just glad he's back." 

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Chicago is listed as a 6.5-point road underdog in this matchup despite coming away with a visually-impressive 30-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons as one-point home underdogs. 

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler completed passes to eight different receivers in the opener and moved his record as a home underdog to 8-5 against-the-spread.

The former Vanderbilt Commodores star has not fared well against the oddsmakers when playing on the road in his career, coming in with a 12-20 ATS record.

Of course, the jury is still out on the quarterback due to being knocked out of last year's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers, but Urlacher was quick to defend the offense's leader.

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"Nothing like jealous people who are sitting home watching," the seven-time Pro Bowler stated on ESPN after the loss.  "Players around the league you said, right?  Yeah, love jealous people when they're watching our game on TV while their season is over." 

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Cutler has an opportunity of lifting up the spirits of the franchise's marquee player since he was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.

There's no reason that the Bears can't win a fifth-straight meeting in this series, as Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton were able to deliver under center.

Problem is—the moment is likely too big for Jay Cutler.