The 2001 Chicago Bears season was their 82nd regular season and 23rd postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted a surprising 13-3 record under head coach Dick Jauron en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC. The Bears, led by Jim Miller, seemed like a team of destiny, with five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, it was not to be as the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles 33-19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
Season narrative [edit]
The Bears surprised most with a breakout campaign in 2001. After they lost their first game of the season to the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens 17-6 on the road, the Bears won their next six games, starting with a 17-10 victory against their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears' home-opener. They carried their momentum through the Week 3 Bye and won on the road against the Atlanta Falcons (31-3). Then, they went back home and won against the Arizona Cardinals 20-13. Afterwards, they went on the road and shut out the Cincinnati Bengals 24-0. After that, they went home for three games. They won against the San Francisco 49ers (37-31) and the Cleveland Browns (27-21). Both were won in overtime and both had the same end result. In both games, Safety Mike Brown capped remarkable comebacks (the Bears trailed 28-9 in the third quarter against San Francisco, and 21-7 with seconds remaining against Cleveland) by returning an interception in overtime for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers (their historic rival) made them bury their win streak at home, with a final score of 20-12. Fortunately, the Bears would win their next three games. First, they won on the road against their former division rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24. Then, they traveled to the Metrodome and swept the Vikings (13-6). Then, when their divisions rival the Detroit Lions came to town, the Bears defended their turf and won 13-10. Unfortunately, the Bears traveled to Lambeau Field and were swept by the Packers 17-7. Fortunately, that would be their last loss of the regular season. The Bears would win their last four games against the Buccaneers at home (27-3), the Washington Redskins (20-15), the Lions on the road (24-0), and then their season-finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars (33-13). The Bears ended the regular season with a 13-3 record. The Bears ended their magical season on a sour note, losing 33-19 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field.
Schedule [edit]
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
TV Time |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 9, 2001 |
at Baltimore Ravens |
L 17-6 |
FOX 12:00pm |
69,365
|
| 2 |
September 23, 2001 |
Minnesota Vikings |
W 17-10 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 3 |
Bye |
| 4 |
October 7, 2001 |
at Atlanta Falcons |
W 31-3 |
FOX 12:00pm |
46,483
|
| 5 |
October 14, 2001 |
Arizona Cardinals |
W 20-13 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 6 |
October 21, 2001 |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
W 24-0 |
FOX 12:00pm |
63,408
|
| 7 |
October 28, 2001 |
San Francisco 49ers |
W 37-31 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 8 |
November 4, 2001 |
Cleveland Browns |
W 27-21 |
CBS 3:15pm |
66,944
|
| 9 |
November 11, 2001 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 20-12 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 10 |
November 18, 2001 |
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
W 27-24 |
FOX 3:15pm |
65,612
|
| 11 |
November 25, 2001 |
at Minnesota Vikings |
W 13-6 |
ESPN 7:30pm |
64,214
|
| 12 |
December 2, 2001 |
Detroit Lions |
W 13-10 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 13 |
December 9, 2001 |
at Green Bay Packers |
L 17-7 |
FOX 12:00pm |
59,869
|
| 14 |
December 16, 2001 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
W 27-3 |
FOX 12:00pm |
66,944
|
| 15 |
December 23, 2001 |
at Washington Redskins |
W 20-15 |
FOX 12:00pm |
78,884
|
| 16 |
December 30, 2001 |
at Detroit Lions |
W 24-0 |
FOX 12:00pm |
76,067
|
| 17 |
January 6, 2002 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
W 33-13 |
CBS 12:00pm |
66,944
|
Standings [edit]
Roster [edit]
| Chicago Bears 2001 roster |
| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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2001 Chicago Bears draft choices [edit]
Roster [edit]
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Defense
[1]
|
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| WLB |
MLB |
SLB |
| Warrick Holdman |
Brian Urlacher |
Rosevelt Colvin |
| ⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
|
|
| CB |
| Walt Harris |
| Jerry Azumah |
|
|
| DE |
DT |
DT |
DE |
| Phillip Daniels |
Keith Traylor |
Ted Washington |
Bryan Robinson |
| ⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
|
|
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Offense
[2] |
|
|
|
| LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
| Blake Brockermeyer |
Rex Tucker |
Olin Kreutz |
Chris Villarrial |
James Williams |
| ⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
|
| TE |
| Fred Baxter |
| John Davis |
|
| WR |
| Dez White |
| David Terrell |
|
|
| QB |
| Jim Miller |
| Shane Matthews |
|
|
|
| RB |
| Anthony Thomas |
| James Allen |
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References [edit]
External links [edit]
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- Formerly the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Staleys
- Founded in 1919
- Based in Chicago, Illinois
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