CHICAGO — For a moment, it looks like Brian Urlacher plays for the Houston Texans. Danieal Manning picks off a Jay Cutler pass and the heartbeat of the Chicago Bears defense is one of the first players over . . . to congratulate him.

Urlacher slaps Manning's hand and words of love are exchanged as the Bears offense dejectedly stalks off the field and Urlacher's defense runs out.

Yes, this happened in a Sunday Night Football showcase. It's captured by NBC's cameras for all time. Even Urlacher — one of the most beloved Bears ever — is going to have a hard time living this one down.

But can you blame him? Forget about regretting the fact that Manning is no longer a Bear and teammate. Who wouldn't want to play for Wade Phillips' defense?

Count Urlacher among the many who'd rather be running with the Bulls On Parade. Best defense in football.

Oh yes that's decided in this Windy City rain game. Phillips' Bulls leave no doubt which defense is more dominant, leaving 59,989 stomping, screaming, pounding Bears fans both soaked — and stunned. The Bears manage only eight first downs in 60 minutes, go 2-for-13 on third down, 0-for-2 on fourth down and oh yeah, commit four turnovers in the Texans' 13-6 stifling statement.

That's what this Bears defense hangs its reputation on of course. Lovie Smith's team wreaks more havoc on offenses than any team in football. . .

Oops. Think again.

"We can force some turnovers too," Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph says, not even trying to hide his big grin.

"They made more big plays than we did," Urlacher admits.

The Texans don't just dismantle Chicago's offense — when Jay Cutler is in the game and after he's knocked out. They beat the Bears defense at what it does best too. They sap the spirit from the Bears D too. No wonder why Urlacher looks like he'd rather be a Texan.

Urlacher's old Bears teammate is sure having a hell of a team attacking for Wade. Manning forces a fumble on Chicago's first offensive play, picks off Cutler at the 6-yard line later in the first half. All after delivering a Saturday night talk to the team.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak surprises Manning by turning to him for that talk. But the defensive back comes through — like usual.

Bulls On Parade style.

"He didn't try and get too emotional," Phillips says of Manning's speech in a ballroom at the Texans hotel. "He basically just said go out and do the things we do. Play how we play.

"And that's what we did."

With a little extra attitude. Phillips convinces his guys that they are being completely disrespected, that the Bears defense spent the week getting all the talk, all the praise, all the props. It doesn't really matter how true or not that is. That's what a good coach does. And Wade's guys completely buy in.

That's why Texans defensive player after Texans defensive player talks of playing for "respect." That's why safety Glover Quin — who has quietly emerged as a big-time difference maker in the last month — tweets afterwards, "The Bears are who we thought they were, and we didn’t let them off the hook!!!" Yes, GQ makes a play off the infamous Dennis Green rant.

Hey, Glover is a student of football. All of Wade's Bulls are.

"From watching the film, we knew we could shut them down," Quin says of the Bears' offense. "And we did."

"The defense played the way it's coached to play," linebacker Tim Dobbins, the Brian Cushing replacement, says. "It all starts off with Wade."

One of Phillips' assistants — defensive line coach Bill Kollar — spends the game in the hospital, dealing with a blood clot. The Bulls come up big for Kollar too.

That's what these Texans do.

"People might think we're just saying it when we talk about our defense not caring who gets the credit," Manning says. "But it's more true than any other team I've been on. We are a family out there."

Maybe Urlacher just wants a spot at the dinner table.

"That was pretty funny," Manning says of the Urlacher hand slap post interception. "He showed me a lot of respect."

Arian Foster, honorary Bull

If there's any Texans offensive player who could be a Bull On Parade, it's Arian Foster. Even a great defense needs one touchdown and Foster supplies it by diving full body and going low to snag a Matt Schaub pass before it can hit the messed-up turf of Soldier Field.

Afterwards, there's Foster wearing a striking red bow tie in the locker room, standing out while fitting in.

"That was a tough stretch," he says of extending for the catch.

Foster is the toughest offensive player on the battered field for much of the night. He carries the ball 29 times against one of NFL's most physical defenses, leads the team in receptions too (with five), ends up with 117 yards of total offense on a night when the Texans gain only 215 total yards as a team and scores the game's only touchdown.

"I feel lucky to play with him," center Chris Myers says of Foster.

With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Texans clinging to the slimmest of leads, Foster is asking for more plays. "He said, 'Just give it me,' " Kubiak marvels. "They had nine or ten guys in the box and he said to just keep giving it to him . . .

"He's a special player."

When asked about demanding the burden later, Foster shows little interest in building his own legend. "Something like that," Foster says when told Kubiak's anecdote.

That's how a Bull would respond. There is Phillips on the side of the cramped visitor's locker room at Soldier Field, talking less boldly after this victory than he has perhaps after any other Texans' win. Phillips knows he doesn't have to say much on this night. This performance, this dominance, speaks for itself.

"Anytime you don't give up a touchdown and you control the game," Phillips says. "You dream about a defensive game like that."

Count Brian Urlacher among the dreamers. Pity the man who's on the wrong D.