LAKE FOREST, Ill. – It may be difficult to do, but the Bears are determined to ignore the criticism and speculation swirling around their heads and focus all of their attention on Sunday’s home game against the St. Louis Rams.

“Our message for the football team this week is short term,” coach Lovie Smith said Monday. “We have the Rams coming up this week and as much as anything we just want to play better football.”

Lovie Smith and the Bears will look to snap a four-game losing streak versus the Rams.

That seems to be a good place to start after the Bears were dominated across-the-board Sunday in a 36-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Chicago (4-7) has now dropped four straight games and six of its last seven.

“We’re better than that,” Smith said. “We just want to play the type of ball that we should be able to play as far as our talent. Of course, that starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job with our team to get them to play up to the standards that we’ve set.”

With the slumping Bears well on their way to missing the playoffs for the third straight season after a promising 3-1 start, Smith understands the scrutiny aimed at him and his players.

“I realize that we haven’t played as well,” Smith said. “There were high hopes, especially after the way we started, and as far as why [the Bears have struggled], there are a lot of reasons why. But we realize where we are, and we are going to continue to look at what we’re doing, which we do each week.

“We try to evaluate everything we’re doing from scheme to calls we’re making to just the players. We’ll continue to do that and try to get a win. But we realize exactly where we are.”

Even though the Bears have been all but eliminated from playoff contention, they don't plan on giving untested rookies such as defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and cornerback D.J. Moore playing time at the expense of more seasoned pros.

“We will play the guys that we feel give  us the best chance to win this week, period,” Smith said. “It’s short term. It’s no more than that. That’s what we’ve done every football game. We play the guys that give us the best chance to win that week. That’s what we’ll do this weekend.”

Asked a question about his job security, Smith reiterated that he was focusing solely on the Rams.

“I can talk a lot about this weekend,” he said. “I am looking short term too. When you’re in a situation like this, you don’t look any further than that. All of your thoughts are occupied by trying to put a better product on the football field. That’s about all I can talk about.”