Grossman chasing away QB ghosts of Bears’ playoff past

By Clayton Wendler  |   Friday, January 19, 2007  |  Comments( 3 )

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Jan. 19, 2002 - Bears quarterbacks Shane Matthews and Jim Miller combine for 89 yards passing and three interceptions in a divisional playoff game. One is returned for a touchdown. Chicago loses at home to the Philadelphia Eagles, blowing the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Jan. 15, 2006 - Rex Grossman completes only 17 of 41 passes in a divisional playoff game. Chicago loses at home to the Carolina Panthers, once again squandering the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Last Sunday - A Bears quarterback (Grossman) leads Chicago to a playoff win. Huh?

You know that thrilling, come-from-behind, 27-24 victory over the Seahawks last week was music to many a Chicagoans ear. After all, this was the team that couldn't find a quarterback for over a decade - Jim McMahon and his 100 career touchdown passes were the Windy City's claim to fame.

Let's see - there was Jim Harbaugh. Steve Walsh. Erik Kramer. Dave Krieg? Matthews? Cade McNown? Jim Miller? Kordell Stewart?

That list reads like a who's who of backup quarterbacks - with our apologies to Kramer. Somehow he mustered up enough courage to throw 29 touchdown passes one year (before resuming his regularly scheduled program of mediocrity).

The point is, something has changed. The Bears' vaunted defense, so good all year, wasn't that great last weekend.

Seattle racked up over 300 yards and 24 points. In previous years, that was a recipe for another one-and-done, featuring Chicago's quarterback of the month hopelessly trying to play way over his head.

But not this time. This time, Grossman, once the most famous caterpillar of Chicago, turned into a beautiful butterfly.

He threw for 282 yards. Only one interception (his receiver's fault). Two clutch drives in the fourth quarter and overtime.

It's enough to make any Bears fan cry. Steady quarterback play? Clutch quarterback play? Someone pinch those guys eating bratwurst and talking about Mike Ditka in the "Saturday Night Live" skit. Heck, Ditka himself must be jealous.

The media has made a big deal of Grossman's inept play this year after a hot start, and rightly so. How could a guy who was being considered league MVP at midseason suddenly go in the tank?

But here's the thing: a lot of people might not realize that before this season, Grossman had thrown only 105 passes. Obviously injuries were a problem, but this is a player with only 23 starts in the NFL.

What were Bears fans expecting?

Whatever it was, it's water under the bridge at this point. Today, Bears fans can be happy with their quarterback - he's the reason they've come this far in the playoffs.

Can Grossman take them further? If you're a Bears fan, you have to like this weekend's matchup with New Orleans. Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian against a Saints defense that allowed 26 touchdown passes in the regular season? Thomas Jones against the 23rd-ranked run defense?

That all looks pretty inviting. Should be easy pickins' for Grossman, right? No problem. This game is already over! Bears fans, you're going to the Super Bowl on the shoulders of Rex Grossman!

Or watching it with him and Harbaugh, Walsh, Kramer, Krieg, Matthews, McNown, Miller and Stewart. Misery loves company.
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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
David		09:29 PM
01/19/2007
did I read this right?an actual article that does not focus only on the bad play of grossman? wow amazing and about time! I can't...
No.2
The Steel Debater		06:50 PM
01/21/2007
Grossmand gets way too much junk thrown in his face. For good reason, but i think it has only backfired. By himself, he might...
No.3
olga		07:39 PM
02/01/2007
i agree with all you, Sexy rex made a few mistakes before, but if he really sucked, then how would the bears get into the...
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