That clinches it
Only Vikings' own ineptitude averts a disaster showcasing Grossman's woes showcases
Imagine what it would have been like if the Minnesota Vikings hadn't gotten the same incompetent quarterback play.
The Bears probably would have wound up losing Sunday before the frozen masses at Soldier Field, and then all hell would have broken loose.
The Bears probably would have wound up losing Sunday before the frozen masses at Soldier Field, and then all hell would have broken loose.
As it was, they ended up spending the postgame defending themselves after beating up the Vikings 23-13 to capture the NFC North title for the second straight year. Everyone was looking for a big bounceback from Rex Grossman, but he was dreadful (6-for-19 passing for 34 yards with three interceptions).
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
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As it was, they ended up spending the postgame defending themselves after beating up the Vikings 23-13 to capture the NFC North title for the second straight year. Everyone was looking for a big bounceback from Rex Grossman, but he was dreadful (6-for-19 passing for 34 yards with three interceptions).
His microscopic 1.3 passer rating is the lowest by a winning quarterback in 30 seasons. On Nov. 14, 1976, Norm Snead of the New York Giants posted a 0.0 passer rating by going 3-for-14 for 26 yards with two picks in a 12-9 victory over Washington.
The Bears were outgained 348-107 by the Vikings, who rolled up 192 rushing yards with Chester Taylor plowing for 99. The last time the Bears' offense had so few yards, Cade McNown was greasing the skids for his exit. The offense totaled just 104 on Dec. 17, 2000, at San Francisco when McNown couldn't move the team across midfield.
In a story line that's getting all too predictable, the defense and return sensation Devin Hester saved the day. The rookie tied a league record with his fourth runback for a score this season, and the defense KO'd Taylor (ribs) and got to the Vikings' third quarterback as Brad Johnson was benched after a career-high four interceptions and Brooks Bollinger left with a sprained left shoulder.
''Rex is our quarterback,'' said testy coach Lovie Smith, who grew increasingly flummoxed as the quarterback queries continued. ''We won with him. There's a difference between perception and reality. Reality is we're 10-2 and we just won the division with Rex at quarterback. That's what I go on.''
The boobirds replaced the pesky pigeons that have been everywhere in previous home games, chasing Grossman after Napoleon Harris picked him off in the red zone to end the Bears' second possession.
''I feel like I have pretty thick skin,'' Grossman said. ''I know the fans' frustration. It wasn't a surprise to me. It just feels weird. I feel like we lost, and I am wearing a division championship hat.''
Fans came after him again when his deep ball for Bernard Berrian was badly underthrown and picked by Antoine Winfield on the first play of the second quarter. His teammates rescued him. Hester returned Chris Kluwe's bouncing punt 45 yards for a score to end the Vikings' next drive. After two Ryan Longwell field goals pulled Minnesota (5-7) to 7-6, Grossman's pass for Muhsin Muhammad went off defensive tackle Pat Williams and to linebacker Ben Leber.
In Bears territory, Johnson didn't get any help. A perfect pass to tight end Jeff Dugan went off his hands to Lance Briggs. On Minnesota's next drive, Ricky Manning Jr. duped Johnson into thinking he was in man coverage. Manning sat in a short zone, took a pass intended for Marcus Robinson and went 54 yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead.
A Brian Urlacher interception set up Cedric Benson's 24-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-inches, and the Bears gang-tackled Ciatrick Fason for a safety.
''I'm thinking too much, I am trying to analyze things too much,'' said Grossman, who is 32-for-75 for 329 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions in the last three games. ''I'm making it more complicated than it is. That's easily corrected but harder to accomplish.''
The question -- one that won't go away -- is whether backup Brian Griese can provide the fix. Don't think the players aren't wondering.
''All we control is what we do out there,'' Urlacher said of the defense. ''As long as we keep getting takeaways and trying to score on defense, it doesn't matter what the offense does because we're able to score. We've seen that. We've just got to keep doing it. They'll come around.''
| Game | Att-Cmp | Yds | Sacks | TD | Int | Rating |
| WIN vs. Cardinals | 14-37 | 148 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10.7 |
| LOSS vs. Dolphins | 18-42 | 210 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 36.8 |
| WIN at Jets | 22-Nov | 119 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81.4 |
| LOSS at Patriots | 15-34 | 176 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 23.7 |
| WIN vs. Vikings | 19-Jun | 34 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1.3 |