The strong play of safeties Major Wright (above) and Chris Conte has been a big reason for the Bears' improved play on defense. (US Presswire)

The Bears gave up three plays that went for more than 20 yards in last October's 24-13 loss to Detroit at Ford Field, but the big plays stopped shortly thereafter.

Since that game, the lack of big plays by opponents has remained a constant of the Bears defense.

"I don't know what the difference is," LB Brian Urlacher said. "We just started playing better for some reason. We had a bye week right after that might have helped."

The biggest reason is the fact that the team settled its age-old problems at the safety positions. They dumped Chris Harris, and Chris Conte became a starter. He joined Major Wright. The two were effective shutting down big plays, but injuries kept them from playing out the season together.

The two have started 11 games total, and opposing offenses have just eight touchdown passes, but the Bears have made 11 interceptions in those games. Opposing passers have a 63.8 rating when the duo is on the field, and the Bears' overall defensive passer rating is the best in the league this year at 60.

Conte has a long reach at 6-foot-2, and Wright, who is more physical, has become more adept at taking the right tackling angles or knowing his assignments in coverage.

Only three teams have given up fewer TD passes (5) this year, and the Bears are the only team not to allow a completion of 40 yards or longer.

Having effective safeties allows the Bears (4-1) to play their cover-2 zone.

"Teams aren’t patient enough to move the ball in cover-2," Urlacher said. "They get greedy and they want the big play.

Green Bay has been the only team to show patience enough to beat the Bears coverage, but even the Packers struggled and scored only one offensive touchdown.

Hester influence: WR Devin Hester could get more plays in the offense this week due to Alshon Jeffery's broken hand. With just seven catches, Hester hasn't had the impact yet that offensive coordinator Mike Tice talked about when he suggested there was a "Hester package" of plays that would make use of his unique return skills within the offense. “We haven’t really used him in some of the areas that we wanted to use him," Tice said. "But again, we’re only a couple games into this thing. We’ve got a long way to go."

No impact: Urlacher isn't buying that his surgically repaired knee will be much stronger now after two weeks away from games. "The few days off last week were good and bad because you come back and you get tired on Monday when you have to practice and you have three or four days off, but it didn’t affect my knee either way," he said. "The rest is always good, I think, for everybody -- no more me than anyone else."

Injury update: None of the injured players missed practice. WR Earl Bennett was ill and missed the full practice, and Urlacher and DE Julius Peppers were given the veterans day off they usually get once a week. Hester (quad), LB Blake Costanzo (thumb), and CB Sherrick McManis (hip) practiced on a limited basis.

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.