As much as I wanted to give this award to Rex Grossman for showing a lot of guts by coming out and playing very well after all the crap he's taken this week. I just couldn't do it. I mean when a guy who is no faster then some Linebakcers becomes only the sixth player EVER to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game, AND sets the NFL record for most returns for a touchdown in a season, all in one game. One must give props where props are due.
In the word's of MJD this week in the MNF Live Blog and Jerry McGuire. Devin Hester, you complete me!
Rex Grossman did just about everything he could last night against the Rams to silence the criticism he has recieved the past few weeks. Using a balanced running attack with an effective short game, the Rams were the perfect remedy for Grossman's woes. I remember during the pre-game warm-ups that Rex looked very nervous having all the camera's on him and wasn't sure how he would play. I said earlier in the week that all we needed from Rex was an eighty five or better passer rating. Well, Grossman delivered with a solid 114 QB rating but most importantly, he did not turn the ball over once. Even when things didn't go as planned, you couldn't fault Grossman.
This is what I like to see from our offense and starting QB. Rex showed a lot of courage and poise after taking brutal criticism all week by not over thinking and trusting his players to make plays. Ron Turner and his offensive play calling did just about everything right in taming his young QB and knowing the right time to let him loose. In my opinion, this is the best performance out of Rex all year. He was accurate all over the field and took whatever gthe defense gave him.
Establishing a solid running game that utilized all three of the Bears running backs was key for Grossman's success in the pass game. Thomas Jones, Cedric Benson, and Adrian Peterson combined for 175 yards and two scores. Most impressively on the offense though was Grossman. Rex took his shots down field but more importantly used many checkdown's to his tight end or running back's out of the backfield when nothing else was there. He even turned in the longest run of his career to get back to plus rushing yards which was previously at minus seventeen.
As much as this game could be remember for the night Grossman broke out of his funk. It will more likely be known forever as the day Devin Hester broke the NFL record for most return's for td's in a year. Hester was absolute magic on kick off return's becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to return two kicks for touchdowns. His most impressive coming on a 94 yard return when the "Good Hands" team was on the field expecting an onsides kick. That just blows, my mind. You have the "Hands" team on the field and the guy still takes it to the house. Earlier in the year I mentioned that I thought he looked like he could be the fastest man in the NFL. Someone made a comment saying that title belonged to DeAngelo Hall. I'm not buying it and I want to see them race! Devin, you are the man!
Tonight's Monday night showdown pitting the Bears against the Rams has become much more important then it was before yesterday. Yes, it is important see if Rex can stop his madness. Yes, it is important see how well our defense is going to be without some of it's pro-bowlers. But tonight's game became much more important when the Saint's pummeled the Cowboys and the Seahawks took it in the rear by Leinart and friends. A win tonight coupled with the two losses yesterday would guarantee the Bears a first round bye and bring us within one game of wrapping up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
I think tonight's game is going to be tougher then some may think because of well, lots of things. For one, the game is in a dome on the road. Two, we are going to be playing without Tommie Harris, Mike Brown, and possibly Nathan Vasher. Three, we have no idea what to expect from our QB.
Keys to Victory:
-Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball (St. Louis is 31rst against the run)
-Keep it simple for Rex (This means you Ron!)
-Tackle! We can not have Stephen Jackson running all over us
-Don't' give up big plays to the trio of St. Louis WR's
So, apparently I haven't beaten this subject to death just like the rest of the world over the past three weeks that I am now battling a lead blogger for space on my Bears site. I guess the only way I can manage to keep up is to talk about Rex Grossman, AGAIN! This is all I want from you.
Rex, this is obviously your last chance to prove that you can not screw up an offense. Your last chance to prove to the rest of the world is that you can manage to not do your best to give the game away. You have Brian Griese and his career eighty four something quarterback rating waiting right behind you and taking half of your reps. If that can't light a fire under your ass I don't know what will.
What I am getting at here Rex, is even though you have the support from Lovie and your teammate's. Is that you don't have their trust. Trust, that you will not give the game away in the playoffs and or the Super Bowl provided we get there. Trust is crucial and if you continue to fail at gaining that trust back you're gone. You are a quarter-to-quarter player now so do yourself a favor. Just try to have a quarterback rating of at least eighty four. Because the rest of the team and world knows that with our defense and special teams, that is all we need, and that is all we care about. We really don't care what the name on the back of the jersey is. You want that name to be Grossman. Then for god's sake, DO IT!
It's that time of the week again where we bring in the enemy blogger as a guest to answer some tough (all in good fun) questions and I do the same for his FanHouse.
This weeks Monday night showdown with the Rams brings us The Watchdog from the Rams FanHouse. This game should be a fun one to watch for several reasons. First and foremost, Lovie Smith will be returning for the first time as an enemy. Lovie of course was the master defensive coordinator (man, how much do they miss him?) that helped the Rams to the Super Bowl twice a few year's back. Secondly, this will be Sexy Rexy's second Monday night start of the season and all of us Bear's fans are hoping he doesn't take a crap in the woods and finds some sort of cure for his atrocious futility.
As usual, in the nature off fair play. There is a reciprocal post on the Rams FanHouse where you can see The Watchdog's question's for me.
Ok, who the hell really knows what's going on. I have heard so many different things about Harris' injury I am surprised he even still has a leg. First it's his knee and it's not too bad and now it's both his knee and his hammy but his hammy may be torn, blah blah blah. Basically, no one is saying anything concrete and Tommie will at minimum be out for the rest of the regular season.
Original Post: Despite what other headline's would have you believe, I am not going to try and trick you with a headline that say's Tommie Harris is out for the season. Tommie will more then likely be out for the rest of the regular season but should be ready to go by the playoffs.
This is fine by me because it could have been worse. The Bears already own the division. Plus the only need to win two games to secure the #1 seed as well as only win one game to secure at least a first round bye.
What does concern me is missing his presence on my fantasy team's Bear Defense that already is without Mike Brown and gives up a ton of rushing yards. Alfonso Boone will take Harris' place in the ever rotating interior line who I think will fill in just nicely, but he's no Tommie Harris.
Already owning one NFL Special Teams Player of the Week awards, Devin Hester now has two and hopes to get a third.
Having already tied the NFL record for returns in a year with four, if Devin Hester is to get another Special Teams Player of the Week award. It will most def finitely be because he broke the NFL record for the most returns in a year.
The rookie phenom from Miami seems to be making a mockery of the rest of the NFL as a punt returner as the next closest guy only has ONE return for a touchdown. Hester has three punt returns for a score and has almost a four yard lead in average per return. Just so everyone knows the number's aren't skewed because of lack of opportunities, Hester also lead the league with 33 returns and has almost 150 yards more then the next best guy.
Keep it up the awesome work Devin!
P.S. Lovie, can we PUHHHHLEASEEE get Devin in on some offensive plays?
I know a lot of you are probably wondering why Devin Hester didn't get this award this week with his record tying fourth return for a touchdown. And I don't fault anyone for thinking that. I too think Hester is well deserving of it. But this weeks Monster of the Midway is Ricky Manning Jr.
Fresh off of his one game suspension RMJ's interception return for a touchdown was the game changing play of the day. Until Manning Jr.'s fifth interception of the year, the score was 7-6 and all but looking like Rex Grossman would win his third "Weekly Bomber of the Midway" award. However, RMJ jumped the quick out pass by Brad Johnson and took it the house opening this game wide open and the Bears never looked back.
So Ricky, this Bud's for you! We missed you dearly last week. Now let's go wrap up a first round bye!
There is an old saying that goes like this: Offense wins games. Defense wins championships! And for this year's Bears it could only be even more accurate if that statement including something about Special Teams.This game had me feeling jittery, anxious, pissed off, and made me so happy at times I could feel my blood going through my body at a high rate! The defense single handedly won this game with turn over after turnover. Several turnovers left us in great position to score and Ricky Manning Jr. jumped an out route and took one to the house. Throw in a a Devin Hester punt return and a safety and this game wasn't even as close. Which is very odd, because the first three quarters had me feeling on edge except for when the D was creating plays. The edgy feeling of course came from the play of Rex Grossman who despite his worst efforts actually managed the game better then Brad Johnson (who eventually got benched).
Despite this joyous day there is plenty to be concerned about. Primarily the play of Rex Grossman. Yes it was cold and windy but this is Chicago. If you can't play well and manage a game here in the cold then you shouldn't be the QB. Yes, the Minnesota defense made a couple of plays that skewed the INT numbers but if you look at the rest of Rex's passes. They looked downright terrible. It looks as if his hand is too small and he can't grip the ball well enough when the ball is a frozen rock.
I feel good today because wrapped up the division and are that much closer to home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I am concerned about our run defense, though. We have given up too many big runs over the last five games and with Tommie Harris' status in question you have to wonder how we can tighten it up.
Final Score:
Vikings 13
Bears 23
Other game notes
- The refs still suck
- Benson looked really good again running the ball
- Vasher left with a hammy boo boo
- I was knocking Lance Briggs' tackling last week but it happens. The Bears need to give him a better offer and hope he takes it. 5 Mil should do it.
After a week full of bulletin board material, Rex Grossman and the Bears host the Vikings today at 1pm. I don't know what it is, but I have this feeling that Grossman is going to do very well in this game. We're at home, coming off of a tough loss and Rex has something to prove.
The Vikings boast a stiff run defense but may be without big man Pat Williams. I would look for the Bears to go to the air with max protect packages because of the succees the Vikings had last game getting to Grossman. Coming after Grossman is going to leave our recievers in man coverage and I'm sorry Darren Sharper, you just don't have what it takes to cover Moose or Berrian!
Just like the last game, the Bears must stop Chester Taylor. I don't think Brad Johnson and Co. can beat the Bears through the air without having success on the ground.
The weather in Chicago today with the wind chill factor is -4 degrees. This game is going to be a hard fought divisional battle but expect the Bears to wrap up the division today with a convincing victory.
As much as I wanted to give this award to Rex Grossman for showing a lot of guts by coming out and playing very well after all the crap he's taken this week. I just couldn't do it. I mean when a guy who is no faster then some Linebakcers becomes only the sixth player EVER to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game, AND sets the NFL record for most returns for a touchdown in a season, all in one game. One must give props where props are due. 
Tonight's Monday night showdown pitting the Bears against the Rams has become much more important then it was before yesterday. Yes, it is important see if Rex can stop his madness. Yes, it is important see how well our defense is going to be without some of it's pro-bowlers. But tonight's game became much more important when the Saint's pummeled the Cowboys and the Seahawks took it in the rear by Leinart and friends. A win tonight coupled with the two losses yesterday would guarantee the Bears a first round bye and bring us within one game of wrapping up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 
So, apparently I haven't beaten this subject to death just like the rest of the world over the past three weeks that I am now battling a lead blogger for space on my Bears site. I guess the only way I can manage to keep up is to talk about Rex Grossman, AGAIN! This is all I want from you.
It's that time of the week again where we bring in the enemy blogger as a guest to answer some tough (all in good fun) questions and I do the same for his FanHouse.
Already owning one NFL Special Teams Player of the Week awards, Devin Hester now has two and hopes to get a third. 
I know a lot of you are probably wondering why Devin Hester didn't get this award this week with his record tying fourth return for a touchdown. And I don't fault anyone for thinking that. I too think Hester is well deserving of it. But this weeks Monster of the Midway is Ricky Manning Jr. 
There is an old saying that goes like this: Offense wins games. Defense wins championships! And for this year's Bears it could only be even more accurate if that statement including something about Special Teams.This game had me feeling jittery, anxious, pissed off, and made me so happy at times I could feel my blood going through my body at a high rate! The defense single handedly won this game with turn over after turnover. Several turnovers left us in great position to score and Ricky Manning Jr. jumped an out route and took one to the house. Throw in a a Devin Hester punt return and a safety and this game wasn't even as close. Which is very odd, because the first three quarters had me feeling on edge except for when the D was creating plays. The edgy feeling of course came from the play of Rex Grossman who despite his worst efforts actually managed the game better then Brad Johnson (who eventually got benched). 
After a week full of 
