Bears quarterback Jay Cutler acknowledged the bye week could have come at a better time than after Week 5 -- especially after the Bears had 501 yards of total offense -- said the week off still will allow the offense to improve.

''We're getting there,'' Cutler said after a light practice Tuesday at Halas Hall. ''We're not where we want to be. It's a long season. We've got to take this bye week, take a look at what we're doing and just get better.''

What do the Bears need to work on? Cutler indicated it's little things more than big ones.

''Details. A lot of things,'' Cutler said. ''Offensively we just need to take a look at things and figure out what we're doing well and what we're not doing, correct it and get back ....

The Bears are 5-3 after the bye week under Lovie Smith. But they're 0-3 when the bye comes prior to Week 7.

''Yeah, you [would rather have] it in the middle of the season,'' Cutler said, '' but this is how it worked out and now we've got 11 straight. We've got to take this time to get a little rest, because it's a long grind after this.''

The players will have Thursdsay-Sunday off this season. That's a nice break for them no matter what time of the season.

''You get away for a couple of days,'' Cutler said. ''With this new schedule we're out of here for four days. That's nice. But you're never too far away from it.''