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2006 Chicago Bears season

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2006 Chicago Bears season
Chicago Bears logo
Head coachLovie Smith
Home fieldSoldier Field
Results
Record13-3
Division place1st NFC North
Playoff finishW NFC Divisional
W NFC Championship
L Super Bowl XLI

The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 13-3 record, improving on their previous year’s record of 11-5. The Bears retained their NFC North divisional title, and won the National Football Conference Championship title against the New Orleans Saints, on January 21, 2007. The Bears played the Indianapolis Colts at Super Bowl XLI, where they lost 29-17. They finished the 2006 NFL season with the league’s second highest scoring offense, and third overall defense.


Offseason

2006 NFL Draft picks

Round Pick Name Position College
2 42 Danieal Manning Safety Abilene Christian
2 57 Devin Hester Cornerback Miami
3 73 Dusty Dvoracek Defensive tackle Oklahoma
4 120 Jamar Williams Linebacker Arizona State
5 159 Mark Anderson Defensive End Alabama
6 195 J.D. Runnels Fullback Oklahoma
6 200 Tyler Reed Guard Penn State

The Chicago Bears’ 2006 NFL Draft picks drew much criticism from various Bears’ fans and local sports critics. After a horrendous list of injuries plagued the Bears’ offensive depth chart, the team finished the 2005 NFL season ranked 31st in passing yardage per game. Many fans assumed that the Bears’ would at least draft a tight end or wide receiver to mend their offensive woes. However, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith stunned the media by trading away the Bears’ first round draft pick, and drafting five defensive players. [1]

Devin Hester was drafted to fill the void left by former cornerback Jerry Azumah and punt return specialist Bobby Wade, while Daniel Manning could provide additional depth to the Bears’ secondary while also being potentially available for punt and kick returns, as his highest prospect grade came in kick returning[2]. Additionally, Anderson and Dvoracek added reinforcement to the Bears’ defensive line.

Summer Camp

The preseason featured a brewing quarterback controversy when Rex Grossman struggled in his exhibition appearances and newly-signed veteran back-up Brian Griese moved the second team offense freely.

The competition for the starting running back position went to Thomas Jones by default after sophomore running back Cedric Benson missed every preseason game with a shoulder injury inflicted in practice by Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown.

Preseason Results

Date Opponent Result Game site Recap
August 11, 2006 San Francisco 49ers L 14-28 Monster Park Recap
August 18, 2006 San Diego Chargers W 24-3 Soldier Field Recap
August 25, 2006 Arizona Cardinals L 16-23 Soldier Field Recap
August 31, 2006 Cleveland Browns W 20-7 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap


2006 roster

(as of 12/12/2006)

DEPTH CHART

Quarterbacks

Offensive backs

Receivers

Tight Ends

Kickers

 

Offensive line

Defensive line

 

Linebackers

Cornerbacks

Safeties

 

Injured reserve

Practice squad

Uniform Combinations

File:CHI 3517.gif File:CHI 3518.gif File:BearsOrange.png File:CHI 3519.gif File:CHI 3520.gif


During the 2006 season, the Bears reintroduced three combinations of jerseys. During their week eight game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Bears wore special orange jerseys in the spirit of Halloween. They also proceeded to wear all-white uniforms during their final two away games. Additionally, the Bears wore all-blue uniforms during their season finale against the Green Bay Packers.

Regular season schedule and standings

Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Record
1 September 10, 2006 Green Bay Packers W 26–0 Lambeau Field FOX 1-0
2 September 17, 2006 Detroit Lions W 34–7 Soldier Field FOX 2-0
3 September 24, 2006 Minnesota Vikings W 19–16 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX 3-0
4 October 1, 2006 Seattle Seahawks W 37–6 Soldier Field NBC 4-0
5 October 8, 2006 Buffalo Bills W 40–7 Soldier Field CBS 5-0
6 October 16, 2006 Arizona Cardinals W 24-23 University of Phoenix Stadium ESPN 6-0
7 Bye
8 October 29, 2006 San Francisco 49ers W 41-10 Soldier Field FOX 7-0
9 November 5, 2006 Miami Dolphins L 13-31 Soldier Field CBS 7-1
10 November 12, 2006 New York Giants W 38-20 Giants Stadium NBC 8-1
11 November 19, 2006 New York Jets W 10-0 Giants Stadium FOX 9-1
12 November 26, 2006 New England Patriots L 13-17 Gillette Stadium FOX 9-2
13 December 3, 2006 Minnesota Vikings W 23-13 Soldier Field FOX 10-2
14 December 11, 2006 St. Louis Rams W 42-27 Edward Jones Dome ESPN 11-2
15 December 17, 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34-31 Soldier Field FOX 12-2
16 December 24, 2006 Detroit Lions W 26-21 Ford Field FOX 13-2
17 December 31, 2006 Green Bay Packers L 7-26 Soldier Field NBC 13-3

NFC North Division Standings

x - clinched playoff berth y - clinched division z - clinched homefield advantage * - clinched first-round bye
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

NFC North
Team W L T PCT PF PA  
*yz-Chicago Bears 13 3 0 .812 427 255 Details
Green Bay Packers 8 8 0 .500 301 366 Details
Minnesota Vikings 6 10 0 .375 282 327 Details
Detroit Lions 3 13 0 .188 305 398 Details


Week-by-Week Results

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 7 9 3 7 26
Packers 0 0 0 0 0

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game summary

The Bears won their season opener on the road with a 26-0 victory over their long-time rival, the Green Bay Packers, ending the Packers' 233-game scoring streak (the fourth-longest streak in NFL history and the second-longest active streak behind the Minnesota Vikings). It was the first shutout of the Packers since a 10-0 loss to the Bears on Oct. 17, 1991 and the first shutout of Packers quarterback Brett Favre's 16-year career.

Although the Bears dominated the game on both sides of the ball, they were unable to finish in the red zone, scoring only one touchdown on offense. Quarterback Rex Grossman went 18/26 for 262 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, for a 98.6 passer rating. In the running game, Thomas Jones ran for 63 yards on 21 carries while Cedric Benson picked up 34 yards on 11 tries.

Scoring consisted of four Robbie Gould field goals and two touchdowns (the first on a 49-yard pass from Grossman to Bernard Berrian on the sixth play of the Bears' 78-yard opening drive and the second on an 84-yard fourth quarter punt return by rookie Devin Hester). [3]

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 12:05 - 49 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q2 - CHI - 13:44 - Robbie Gould 40 yd FG (CHI 10-0)

Q2 - CHI - 6:29 - Robbie Gould 39 yd FG (CHI 13-0)

Q2 - CHI - 4:38 - Robbie Gould 28 yd FG (CHI 16-0)

Q3 - CHI - 1:47 - Robbie Gould 30 yd FG (CHI 19-0)

Q4 - CHI - 14:06 - Devin Hester 84 yd punt return TD (Gould kick) (CHI 26-0)

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 0 0 7 0 7
Bears 10 14 7 3 34

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears continued their productive momentum by defeating the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The game drew much hype after Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions guaranteed a victory against the Bears. After being forced to punt on their first possession, the Bears’ defense struck back by forcing Detroit Lions’ quarter back Jon Kitna to fumble deep within Lions’ territory. Rex Grossman managed to capitalize on the fumble by throwing a three-yard touchdown pass to John Gilmore. After the kickoff, the Bears’ defense came up strong again by forcing running back Kevin Jones to fumble, which allowed Robbie Gould to kick a 32-yard field goal. Following another Lions’ punt, Grossman managed to throw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian in the dying minutes of the first half.

The Lions’ started the second half by making a threatening advance into Bears’ territory. After being offset by an offside penalty and a sack from Tommie Harris, Jason Hanson was forced to attempt a 40-yard field goal. Hanson missed, and allowed the Bears to set up shop near the midfield. After several passing attacks, Grossman threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Desmond Clark.

Following the start of the third quarter, the Lions’ managed to enter the Bears’ red zone for the first time in the game. After several failed passing and running attempts, Kitna managed to score the Lions’ lone touchdown through a quarterback sneak. Following an exchange of possession, Grossman fumbled the football. Fortunately for the bears, the Lions’ failed to capitalize on the fumble, which allowed the Bears to set up another Grossman to Gilmore touchdown pass. The Bears capped their scoring spree with 45-yard field goal.

Grossman threw four touchdowns for 289 yards, and left the game with a 148.0 rating. Furthermore, Grossman was named the "FedEx Air Player of the Week". [4][

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 10:11 - 3 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to John Gilmore (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q1 - CHI - 6:19 - Robbie Gould 32 yd FG (CHI 10-0)

Q2 - CHI - 14:16 - 41 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 17-0)

Q2 - CHI - 3:36 - 31 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Gould kick) (CHI 24-0)

Q3 - DET - 10:20 - Jon Kitna 1 yd TD run (Jason Hanson kick) (CHI 24-7)

Q3 - CHI - 0:32 - 5 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to John Gilmore (Gould kick) (CHI 31-7)

Q4 - CHI - 10:03 - Robbie Gould 45 yd FG (CHI 34-7)

Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 3 0 6 10 19
Vikings 3 3 0 10 16

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game summary

The Bears offense was limited by a resurgent Minnesota Vikings defense, but fourth-quarter heroics from both the offense and defense resulted in a 19-16 victory.

Rex Grossman overcame an uneven performance, including an interception returned seven yards for the Vikings' only touchdown, to throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Rashied Davis with 1:53 remaining in the game (the first 4th quarter TD pass of his career). Grossman finished with 23 completions in 41 attempts, for 274 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

The Bears running game was limited to only 54 yards on 18 attempts by Thomas Jones, but the defense proved the difference in allowing only three Vikings field goals. Tommie Harris provided the decisive play, knifing into the Vikings backfield to force a fumble with less than four minutes remaining and the Bears trailing 16-12. Adewale Ogunleye recovered in Vikings territory, and the stage was set for the game-winning drive.

Kicker Robbie Gould went 4-for-4 and remained perfect on the season. Muhsin Muhammad caught 9 passes for 118 yards. Mike Brown forced another Vikings fumble.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - MIN - 10:49 - Ryan Longwell 31 yd FG (MIN 3-0)

Q1 - CHI - 6:20 - Robbie Gould 41 yd FG (3-3)

Q2 - MIN - 1:08 - Ryan Longwell 26 yd FG (MIN 6-3)

Q3 - CHI - 10:53 - Robbie Gould 24 yd FG (6-6)

Q3 - CHI - 3:18 - Robbie Gould 31 yd FG (CHI 9-6)

Q4 - MIN - 14:53 - Antoine Winfield 7 yd interception return TD (Longwell kick) (MIN 13-9)

Q4 - CHI - 10:37 - Robbie Gould 49 yd FG (MIN 13-12)

Q4 - MIN - 7:27 - Ryan Longwell 41 yd FG (MIN 16-12)

Q4 - CHI - 1:53 - 24 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Rashied Davis (Gould kick) (CHI 19-16)

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 3 3 0 0 6
Bears 7 13 14 3 37

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears defeated the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks by a score of 37-6. After holding the Bears' offense to a quick three-and-out, Seattle managed to draw first blood with a field goal on their second drive, but the Bears responded with a touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad on their next possession. Bears' defensive back Ricky Manning, Jr. recorded two first half interceptions, and the Bears offense put the game virtually out of reach by the half, leading by a score of 20-6.

The offense rolled through the Seahawks with Thomas Jones picking up 98 yards on 24 carries and scoring twice, and Bernard Berrian on the receiving end of a perfectly placed 40 yard touchdown pass in the second half. With the Seahawks' running game taken away, the Bears' defensive line pulverized Matt Hasselbeck, recording five sacks (two of these by defensive tackle Tommie Harris, his fourth and fifth on the season). Bears' kicker Robbie Gould remained perfect on the year, racking up 3 more field goals.

Following the game's aftermath, Rex Grossman was awarded the "FedEx Air Player of the week award", while Tommie Harris was named the NFL's defensive player of the week. Furthermore, coach Lovie Smith was named to be the NFL's head coach of the week.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - SEA - 8:58 - Josh Brown 23 yd FG (SEA 3-0)

Q1 - CHI - 2:27 - 9 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-3)

Q2 - CHI - 13:33 - Robbie Gould 36 yd FG (CHI 10-3)

Q2 - CHI - 6:23 - Robbie Gould 20 yd FG (CHI 13-3)

Q2 - CHI - 2:25 - Thomas Jones 3 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 20-3)

Q2 - SEA - 0:27 - Josh Brown 24 yd FG (CHI 20-6)

Q3 - CHI - 10:05 - Thomas Jones 1 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 27-6)

Q3 - CHI - 0:51 - 40 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 34-6)

Q4 - CHI - 7:43 - Robbie Gould 41 yd FG (CHI 37-6)

Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills

1 2 3 4 Total
Bills 0 0 0 7 7
Bears 6 21 3 10 40

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears demolished the Buffalo Bills by a score of 40-7. The victory marked the second straight week that the Bears had defeated their opponent by more than thirty points. Also, the game marked the return of former Bears head coach Dick Jauron.

The game started on an explosive note, as Bears linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo recovered a fumble from Bills punter Brian Moorman. The recovery allowed kicker Robbie Gould to kick a 42-yard field goal. After an unsuccessful Bills drive, a Bears’ drive resulted in a 43-yard Gould kick, tying Kevin Butler's record of 16 consecutive made field goals.

Hoping to rebound from the 6-0 deficit, the Bills' next drive was thwarted as Alex Brown sacked J.P. Losman to force a punt. After receiving the punt, the Bears mixed the run and pass effectively on the ensuing drive, leading to a Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian touchdown.

After Lance Briggs intercepted a Losman pass, the Bears' drive concluded with Cedric Benson's first NFL touchdown. Following a Mark Anderson sack, and resulting Buffalo punt, Grossman threw a 62 yard pass to Berrian, and later a short touchdown pass to Rashied Davis. After the kickoff, Losman threw another interception to Ricky Manning, Jr.

The second half did not look any better for the Bills, as the Bears’ defensive lineman, Alex Brown picked off another Losman pass. The Bears capitalized on the interception with a 32-yard field Gould field goal, which broke Butler’s previous consecutive field goal record. Following several scoreless drives, Gould kicked a 41-yard field goal. With victory assured, Bears’ coach Lovie Smith choose to bench Grossman for veteran backup Brian Griese.

During the dying minutes of the lopsided match-up, the Bears special teams forced a fumble, which was recovered by Israel Idonije . The recovery gave the Bears excellent field position, and they capitalized with another Benson rushing touchdown. After the Bears halted another Bills drive, Benson fumbled the ball, allowing the Bills to recover and score their lone touchdown. Despite the massive margin of victory, parts of the home crowd were upset with the Bears, and even key members of the defense were upset with themselves for failing to shut out the Bills. The Bills touchdown marked the first time since September of the 2005 regular season that the Bears allowed another team to score a passing touchdown at Soldier Field during the regular season. [5] That TD ended the Bears 11-quarter streak of not allowing their opponents to score a TD.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 9:07 - Robbie Gould 42 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q1 - CHI - 3:43 - Robbie Gould 43 yd FG (CHI 6-0)

Q2 - CHI - 13:01 - 8 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 13-0)

Q2 - CHI - 8:30 - Cedric Benson 1 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 20-0)

Q2 - CHI - 4:22 - 15 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Rashied Davis (Gould kick) (CHI 27-0)

Q3 - CHI - 7:05 - Robbie Gould 32 yd FG (CHI 30-0)

Q4 - CHI - 6:05 - Robbie Gould 41 yd FG (CHI 33-0)

Q4 - CHI - 4:36 - Cedric Benson 1 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 40-0)

Q4 - BUF - 1:06 - 5 yd TD pass from J.P. Losman to Lee Evans (Rian Lindell kick) (CHI 40-7)

Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 0 10 14 24
Cardinals 14 6 3 0 23

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game summary

The Bears traveled to the University of Phoenix Stadium to play the Arizona Cardinals, their former cross-town rivals. The game marked the Bears’ first Monday Night Football appearance since 2003. Although the Bears were expected to defeat the Cardinals by a considerable margin, the Cardinals nearly managed to strip the Bears’ of their sixth win.

After Adrian Peterson returned the opening kick-off, the Bears failed to pick up any offensive momentum and succumbed to a quick three and out. Quarterback Matt Leinart made an early offensive impact by throwing two first quarter touchdowns, to Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin. The situation got even worse for the Bears as Rex Grossman turned the ball over four times in the first half, allowing Pro Bowl Kicker Neil Rackers to extend the Cardinals halftime lead to 20-0.

The Bears gave an impressive defensive performance in the third quarter by limiting the Cardinals to only three points – the only points the Cardinals would score during the second half. At the end of the Bears' only successful drive of the night, Bears’ kicker Robbie Gould kicked a 23-yard field goal, putting the team on the board.

The Bears defense managed to turn the game's momentum during the dying seconds of the third quarter. Bears’ defensive ends Mark Anderson sacked Leinart, resulting in a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Mike Brown. Even though Grossman threw two interceptions during the fourth quarter, the Cardinals failed to capitalize on their possessions. Ultimately, Brian Urlacher stripped the ball from Cardinals’ running back Edgerrin James. Charles "Peanut" Tillman picked up the loose ball and returned it for a 40-yard touchdown.

After failing to move the ball into striking distance yet again, the Cardinals punted to Devin Hester. The "Windy City Flyer" backpedaled upon receiving the punt, but then burned the Cardinals for an 83-yard touchdown, which allowed the Bears to seize the lead with less than three minutes remaining. Rackers had one final opportunity to win the game for the Cardinals, but missed a 40-field goal.

"The Bears are who we thought they were, and that’s why we took the damn field. Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!."
~Dennis Green

The Bears’ come from behind victory marked the first time since 1997 that the Bears managed to win a Monday Night game. Although the Bears won by a score of 24-23, the offense failed to find the end zone. Grossman left the game with only 148 passing yards, six turnovers, and a 10.7 quarterback rating. Also, defensive backs Mike Brown and Ricky Manning left the game with injuries. Brown's would prove to be season-ending. Cardinals’ head coach Dennis Green exploded in the postgame press conference, storming off after the first few questions. Later in the week, Green fired offensive coordinator Keith Rowen. [6] [7]

The game was watched in 10.8 Million homes, making it the third-highest total in cable television history. Considering that the game was also shown on local television in Chicago and Arizona, it is estimated that over 11.98 Million people watched the game. Furthermore, this was the first time that an NFL game on cable drew more viewers than a game during the same week that aired on regular television. [8]

Scoring Summary

Q1 - ARI - 7:06 - 11 yd TD pass from Matt Leinart to Bryant Johnson (Neil Rackers kick) (ARI 7-0)

Q1 - ARI - 0:54 - 26 yd TD pass from Matt Leinart to Anquan Boldin (Rackers kick) (ARI 14-0)

Q2 - ARI - 4:15 - Neil Rackers 41 yd FG (ARI 17-0)

Q2 - ARI - 0:00 - Neil Rackers 28 yd FG (ARI 20-0)

Q3 - CHI - 7:22 - Robbie Gould 23 yd FG (ARI 20-3)

Q3 - ARI - 1:47 - Neil Rackers 29 yd FG (ARI 23-3)

Q3 - CHI - 0:02 - Mike Brown 3 yd fumble return TD (Gould kick) (ARI 23-10)

Q4 - CHI - 5:00 - Charles Tillman 40 yd fumble return TD (Gould kick) (ARI 23-17)

Q4 - CHI - 2:58 - Devin Hester 83 yd punt return TD (Gould kick) (CHI 24-23)

Week 7: Bye

Celebration of the Bears' miraculous win over Arizona was tempered by the news that starting safety Mike Brown was lost for the season with torn ligaments in his foot. The rest of the team was able to work toward renewed good health for the San Francisco game.

Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers

1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 0 0 0 10 10
Bears 24 17 0 0 41

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears returned to Soldier Field to play the San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the game, Lovie Smith announced that the Bears would don their alternative orange jerseys to commemorate the upcoming Halloween holiday, and asked Bear fans to wear orange clothing to create an “orange swarm” [9].

The game itself was a real-life horror flick for the 49ers. After the Bears were forced to settle with a 43-yard Robbie Gould field goal on their opening drive, Maurice Hicks fumbled on the following kick-off return. The excellent field position resulted in a Thomas Jones 7-yard touchdown run. After two unsuccessful drives, Brian Urlacher tipped an Alex Smith pass, and managed to intercept it with one hand before it hit the ground. Once again, excellent field position resulted in a touchdown, with Rex Grossman throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad.

With the game slipping out of the 49ers’ grasp, Alex Smith fumbled while scrambling for a first down. Tommie Harris recovered the fumble, which allowed Cedric Benson to rush for his third career touchdown. After an unsuccessful 49ers drive, Grossman threw a touchdown pass to Desmond Clark, which was later complimented by a 36-yard Robbie Gould field goal. Before the Bears would end the first half, they extended their lead to 41 points after Grossman threw another touchdown pass to Clark.

After a scoreless third quarter, Frank Gore rushed 54 yards to set up a 23-yard Joe Nedney field goal. Alex Smith then threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Bryant. A later Alex Smith fumble sealed the 49ers’ fate, as the Bears went on to win, 41-10. The Bears improved to 7-0 for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 1985. Furthermore, the Bears' 41 point explosion tied the Franchise record for most points scored in one half. The other game being the 1940 NFL Championship, where the Bears defeated the Washington Redskins 73-0. [10]

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 12:10 - Robbie Gould 43 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q1 - CHI - 10:46 - Thomas Jones 7 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 10-0)

Q1 - CHI - 2:01 - 5 yard TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Gould kick) (CHI 17-0)

Q1 - CHI - 1:06 - Cedric Benson 1 yd TD run (Gould Kick) (CHI 24-0)

Q2 - CHI - 10:37 - 1 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Gould kick) (CHI 31-0)

Q2 - CHI - 3:20 - Robbie Gould 39 yd FG (CHI 34-0)

Q2 - CHI - 0:10 - 27 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Gould kick) (CHI 41-0)

Q4 - SF - 11:35 - Joe Nedney 23 yd FG (CHI 41-3)

Q4 - SF - 6:49 - 16 yd TD pass from Alex Smith to Antonio Bryant (Nedney kick) (CHI 41-10)

Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins

1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins 0 14 7 10 31
Bears 3 7 3 0 13

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears cruised into Soldier Field in hopes of finding an easy victory over the Miami Dolphins. However, in a fashion reminiscent of the 1985 NFL season, the Dolphins trampled over the Bears by a score of 31-13.

The six Bears turnovers were unquestionably the key to the game. Rex Grossman threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Jason Taylor. The Bears gained momentum during the second quarter, when an Alex Brown interception led to a 30-yard Grossman touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. Then, a botched Dolphins’ field goal galvanized the Bears’ hopes for a second half comeback.

Unfortunately, the Bears struggled to establish a strong offensive presence, putting up only three points from a Robbie Gould field goal during the third. Not even a Nathan Vasher interception could turn the tide of the game, as Grossman the last two of his interceptions. The Bears lost the game by a final score of 31-13, marking their first regular season home loss since week three of the 2005 NFL season. The game also marked the first time since the 2004 NFL season that the Bears defense gave up more than 150 yards rushing.

Also, Bears punt return specialist Devin Hester had a nightmarish game. Hester averaged less than 5.5 yards/return and fumbled on two punt returns, one resulting in a touchdown. Jason McKie, Bernard Berrian, Dante Wesley, and Brian Urlacher were forced to leave the game with injuries. For the second time in history, the Dolphins thwarted the Bears’ hopes for a Perfect Season.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 0:04 - Robbie Gould 38 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q2 - MIA - 10:47 - 5 yd TD pass from Joey Harrington to Marty Booker (Olindo Mare kick) (MIA 7-3)

Q2 - MIA - 10:32 - Jason Taylor 20 yd interception return TD (Mare kick) (MIA 14-3)

Q2 - CHI - 1:57 - 30 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Gould kick) (MIA 14-10)

Q3 - MIA - 13:13 - 6 yd TD pass from Joey Harrington to Wes Welker (Mare kick) (MIA 21-10)

Q3 - CHI - 1:02 - Robbie Gould 38 yd FG (MIA 21-13)

Q4 - MIA - 10:00 - 24 yd TD pass from Joey Harrington to Chris Chambers (Mare kick) (MIA 28-13)

Q4 - MIA - 1:09 - Olindo Mare 20 yd FG (MIA 31-13)

Week 10: at New York Giants

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 3 7 14 14 38
Giants 7 6 7 0 20

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game summary

The Bears traveled to Giants Stadium to face the New York Giants. The game was highly anticipated, as it was the first game in league history to benefit from the NFL’s flexible scheduling. Furthermore, leading up to the game Giants receiver Plaxico Burress provided plenty of fodder for the Chicago media by calling the Bears’ cornerbacks “beatable”. Nevertheless, the Bears went on to beat the Giants by a score of 38-20.

The Bears gave up some big gains on the Giants' opening drive but held the Giants to a 33-yard field goal attempt, which kicker Jay Feely missed. Two plays after the miss, the Giants pressured Rex Grossman into throwing an interception to Mathias Kiwanuka, who returned the ball to the Bears one-yard line. Brandon Jacobs ran the ball in from there for the first touchdown of the game.

After the Bears' offense continued to struggle, cornerback Charles Tillman picked off Eli Manning while covering Burress. The interception led to a 49-yard Robbie Gould field goal. After several unsuccessful drives, the Bears stumbled again when Thomas Jones fumbled the ball over to the Giants. The Giants capitalized with a 46-yard field goal. After the Bears allowed a 39-yard punt return, Feely went on to kick another field goal, giving the Giants a comfortable 10-point lead.

On their next possession, in the final minutes of the first half, several penalties pushed the Bears’ to a 3rd-and-22 situation. On a game-changing play, Thomas Jones exploited the Giants' prevent defense by taking a draw handoff 26 yards, the longest 3rd down conversion on a run since 1999. The drive was topped off by a Grossman touchdown pass to Mark Bradley. At halftime, the Giants led 13-10.

The Bears started the third quarter with a quick drive down the field which culminated in another turnover. Muhsin Muhammad fumbled on the Giants' two-yard line, preventing the Bears from scoring their second touchdown, but giving the Giants horrible field position. The Giants were forced to punt from their own one-yard line. After regaining possession, Grossman engineered another scoring drive, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Muhammad. With momentum going the Bears' way, and after an earlier season-ending injury to the Giants' starting left tackle, Bears defensive end Alex Brown beat backup tackle Bob Whitfield and sacked Eli Manning, forcing a fumble which was recovered by Adewale Ogunleye. The Bears used the turnover to set up a Grossman to Desmond Clark touchdown pass, extending the Bears' lead to 24-13.

The Giants were on the verge of creating a fourth quarter comeback after Barber and Jacobs combined with effective running on a Giants' touchdown drive. However, The Bears defense prevented the Giants from scoring another touchdown. Feely attempted 51-yard field goal, but the kick fell short. Devin Hester caught the ball in the endzone, hesitated as if taking a knee, but instead ran the ball 108 yards for a touchdown. “The Windy City Flyer” tied teammate Nathan Vasher‘s record for the longest play in NFL history (also on a missed field goal return on November 13, 2005).

The Bears sealed their victory after Chris Harris picked off Eli Manning on the Giants' next possession. The interception set up another Thomas Jones touchdown. Grossman threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, making up for the costly early interception. Tiki Barber recorded 141 yards, but injured his thumb during the game and was only sporadically effective. Muhsin Muhammad and Thomas Jones each amassed over 100 yards receiving and rushing, respectively, while the Bears put up a total of 341 offensive yards. The win over the Giants allowed the Bears to temporarily hold their first place ranking in the National Football Conference.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - NYG - 9:55 - Brandon Jacobs 1 yd TD run (Jay Feely kick) (NYG 7-0)

Q1 - CHI - 5:59 - Robbie Gould 49 yd FG (NYG 7-3)

Q2 - NYG - 13:25 - Jay Feely 46 yd FG (NYG 10-3)

Q2 - NYG - 2:21 - Jay Feely 40 yd FG (NYG 13-3)

Q2 - CHI - 0:35 - 29 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Mark Bradley (Gould kick) (NYG 13-10)

Q3 - CHI - 8:20 - 10 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Gould kick) (CHI 17-13)

Q3 - CHI - 5:35 - 2 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Gould kick) (CHI 24-13)

Q3 - NYG - 3:26 - Brandon Jacobs 8 yd TD run (Feely kick) (CHI 24-20)

Q4 - CHI - 11:49 - Devin Hester 108 yd missed FG return TD (Gould kick) (CHI 31-20)

Q4 - CHI - 8:20 - Thomas Jones 2 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 38-20)

Week 11: at New York Jets

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 0 3 7 10
Jets 0 0 0 0 0

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game summary

During week eleven, the Chicago Bears returned to Giants Stadium to play the New York Jets. While the Bears managed to record their second shut-out win of the year, their offense struggled throughout the first half the game, and managed only ten points in the second half.

The first half of the game consisted of unsuccessful drives by both teams. After several running plays by Leon Washington and Cedric Houston gave the Jets a scoring opportunity in the Bears’ red zone, quarterback Chad Pennington threw an interception to Brian Urlacher. The Bears could not capitalize on the turnover, and ended up punting the football away.

The Bears got their biggest break during the second quarter. After two penalties and a sack pushed the Bears to a 3rd and long, Thomas Jones broke a 17-yard run. However, the referees on the field ruled that he had fumbled the ball. Upon further review, it was determined that Jones was downed by contact before fumbling the ball, allowing Chicago to punt the ball on forth down. Neither team managed to put any points on the board before the half ended.

The Jets opened the second half by attempting an onside kick. The move did not fool the Bears, and Chris Harris recovered inside Jets territory. The Bears used the change in momentum to set up a 20-yard Robbie Gould field goal. After returning possession, Bears' cornerback Nathan Vasher intercepted Pennington. But once again, the Bears could not turn the turnover into points.

The Bears eventually managed to score the game's lone touchdown after Rex Grossman, facing a safety blitz, threw a short pass to Mark Bradley which the speedy receiver turned into a 54-yard touchdown. The Bears picked up their ninth victory of the season, and tied the Indianapolis Colts for the NFL's best record following their loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Thomas Jones rushed for 121 yards, while Grossman threw for 119 yards and one touchdown. The victory over the Jets marked the first time in two games that the Bears did not turn over the ball.

Scoring Summary

Q3 - CHI - 10:39 - Robbie Gould 20 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q4 - CHI - 14:50 - 57 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Mark Bradley (Gould kick) (CHI 10-0)

Week 12: at New England Patriots

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 3 0 10 13
Patriots 0 10 0 7 17

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game summary

Following two consecutive wins at Giants Stadium, the Bears were eager to finish their three game road trip at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots. Similar to the week ten confrontation with the Miami Dolphins, turnovers were the main story in the Bears’ 17-13 loss against the Patriots.

The Bears established a firm defensive performance after Charles Tillman intercepted a ball knocked loose from Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson. The Bears’ offense failed to capitalize on the interception, and turned to Robbie Gould to kick a 40-yard field goal. However, a false start prior to the kick pushed the Bears’ back to the 45-yard line. Richard Seymour then blocked the Gould attempt, ending Gould's streak at 26 consecutive field goals. Then, Rex Grossman and Olin Kreutz had a miscue, which resulted in a botched snap within the Patriots’ ten-yard line, resulting in a turnover. The Patriots' next drive resulted in running back Laurence Maroney scoring a touchdown. The Bears could only respond with a 46-yard Gould field goal. Then, after an exchange of punts, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 52-yard field goal at the end of the first half. The Patriots led 10-3 at halftime.

"Brian said, ‘You made me look bad.’ I said, ‘You make my whole team look bad’. "
~Tom Brady [11]


The Bears finally began to gain momentum after Danieal Manning recovered a Patriots’ fumble. Rex Grossman then threw an interception to Samuel, which was followed immediately by a Patriots' turnover as Tillman picked off a tipped Tom Brady pass. The Bears then proceeded to tie the game at 10-10 after Cedric Benson rushed for a two-yard touchdown. The Patriots responded with a long drive ending in a Brady touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson.

After the Bears chose to kick a field goal with 3:31 remaining, the Patriots drove down the field, bleeding the clock with a 17-13 lead. With victory almost in their grasp, safety Daniael Manning forced Patriots running back Corey Dillon to fumble the football deep within the Bears’ territory. On the next play, with 1:52 remaining, Grossman attempted to throw a deep pass to Rashied Davis in single coverage, but Asante Samuel intercepted the pass. Although the Bears lost the game, Bernard Berrian amassed over one hundred receiving yards, while Thomas Jones and Benson combined to rush for over 150 yards. Despite the absence of Ricky Manning Jr., who received a suspension from the NFL, the Bears’ secondary recorded two interceptions, and picked up one fumble. The defense forced five turnovers overall.

Scoring Summary

Q2 - NE - 9:07 - Laurence Maroney 1 yd TD run (Stephen Gostkowski kick) (NE 7-0)

Q2 - CHI - 4:04 - Robbie Gould 46 yd FG (NE 7-3)

Q2 - NE - 0:01 - Stephen Gostkowski 52 yd FG (NE 10-3)

Q4 - CHI - 14:53 - Cedric Benson 2 yd TD run (Gould kick) (Tied 10-10)

Q4 - NE - 8:22 - 2 yd TD pass from Tom Brady to Benjamin Watson (Gostkowski kick) (NE 17-10)

Q4 - CHI - 3:31 - Robbie Gould 32 yd FG (NE 17-13)

Week 13: vs. Minnesota Vikings

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 0 3 3 7 13
Bears 0 7 14 2 23

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

After the loss to New England, the Bears returned to Soldier Field to play the Minnesota Vikings. The weather conditions were brutal throughout the game; the below-freezing temperatures and swirling winds provided almost a clichéd background for a rivalry game in the black and blue division. Despite another poor offensive performance, the Bears managed to defeat the Vikings 23-13 to secure their second consecutive NFC North Championship.

The Bears started the game on a bad note, as Rashied Davis fumbled on the opening kickoff return. The Bears defense prevented the Vikings from scoring and forced a punt. The Bears failed to move the ball, and punted the ball back to the Vikings. Then, Bears defensive back Danieal Manning intercepted Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, but on the ensuing possession, Vikes linebacker Napoleon Harris intercepted Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. Following two more stalled drives, Grossman threw another interception on a deep pass attempt to wide receiver Bernard Berrian.

Fortunately for the Bears, the Vikings failed to capitalize on the ensuing possession and were forced to punt to Devin Hester. The Windy City Flyer picked up the bouncing punt, dodged several tackles, and beat Vikings punter Chris Kluwe for a 45-yard touchdown return. The return tied Hester for the all-time team record for return touchdowns scored in a season. The Vikings could only respond by kicking two field goals, while Grossman and Johnson exchanged interceptions.

The Bears finally began to pick up momentum in the third quarter when Ricky Manning, Jr. picked off Johnson and and returned the ball for a 54-yard touchdown. Then, on the next play from scrimmage, Brian Urlacher intercepted Johnson, which allowed Cedric Benson to rush for a 24-yard touchdown. Vikings head coach Brad Childress benched Johnson in favor of Brooks Bollinger. However, the Vikings began to break apart when running back Ciatrick Fason was drilled in the endzone for a safety. Not even a late touchdown and on side kick recover could fire up the Vikings, as Bollinger was injured during the fourth quarter. Childress choose to play rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who sealed his team's fate when he fumbled on the team's final possession.

With their tenth win of the season, the Bears secured their second consecutive NFC North Title. Additionally, the Bears became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth, and tied themselves for the best record in the NFL. Spoiling any celebrations, however, Grossman's poor performance (a 1.3 QB rating) earned him a hail of taunts and jeers from Bears fans at Soldier Field. Also, Tommie Harris and Nathan Vasher left the game with knee and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Scoring Summary

Q2 - CHI - 12:20 - Devin Hester 45 yd punt return TD (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q2 - MIN - 8:54 - Ryan Longwell 23 yd FG (CHI 7-3)

Q3 - MIN - 10:07 - Ryan Longwell 30 yd FG (CHI 7-6)

Q3 - CHI - 4:33 - Ricky Manning, Jr. 54 yd interception return TD (Gould kick) (CHI 14-6)

Q3 - CHI - 3:04 - Cedric Benson 24 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 21-6)

Q4 - CHI - 13:59 - Safety, Ciatrick Fason tackled in end zone by Tank Johnson (23-6)

Q4 - MIN - 5:40 - Ciatrick Fason 4 yd TD run (Longwell kick) (CHI 23-13)


Week 14: at St. Louis Rams

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 14 14 14 42
Rams 0 13 0 14 27

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game summary

Eight days and three hundred miles later, the Bears traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to play the St. Louis Rams. Prior to the game, a quarterback controversy arose between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese regarding the Bears’ starting quarterback position. Grossman, who finished the preceding game with a quarterback rating of 1.3, was eager to make a statement, and rebound against the same team which injured him during last year's preseason. Grossman rose to the occasion, and spearheaded the Bears to a 42-27 victory over the Rams, while rookie CB Devin Hester had a record-breaking performance. Also, many spectators of the Monday Night Football game may remember Senator Barack Obama's humorous introduction prior to the game's start.

The first quarter went scoreless, as it was beginning to look like a defensive struggle throughout the game. That tide quickly turned early in the second quarter, as the Rams jumped out in front on a short touchdown pass from quarterback Marc Bulger to wide receiver Torry Holt. The Rams botched the snap on the extra point attempt, and led 6-0. Hester then returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for the Bears first score. The Rams marched back downfield on the Bears defense and scored again, this time on a 2-yard plunge by running back Steven Jackson. Bears quarterback Rex Grossman silenced his critics, and bounced back from two poor performances. He threw his first touchdown pass to wideout Bernard Berrian shortly before halftime. The Rams had a chance to take the halftime lead, but kicker Jeff Wilkins missed a field goal, and the Bears led 14-13 at the break.

The Bears went on to score 21 points to open the second half, with rushing touchdowns by running back Thomas Jones and running back Adrian Peterson, and another Grossman touchdown to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. The Rams finally got back on the board midway through the fourth quarter, when Bulger and Holt connected on another short touchdown pass. But history repeated itself, as Hester responded on the ensuing kickoff again with a 96-yard touchdown return. The Rams completed the scoring with Bulger throwing his third touchdown to Jackson, but it was too late.

The Bears' finally secured their victory after corner back Charles Tillman intercepted Bulger. Hester broke the NFL record for combined return touchdowns in a single season with six returns. He also became the sixth player in NFL history to return two kicks in a single game. For his performance, he earned the NFC special teams player of the week award. On a low note, kicker Robbie Gould uncharacteristically missed two field goal attempts, and the Bears announced that defensive tackle Tommie Harris would miss the remainder of the season with a severe hamstring injury.

Scoring Summary

Q2 - STL - 12:45 - 1 yd TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt (bad snap on PAT attempt) (STL 6-0)

Q2 - CHI - 12:32 - Devin Hester 94 yd kickoff return TD (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-6)

Q2 - STL - 7:43 - Steven Jackson 2 yd TD run (Jeff Wilkins kick) (STL 13-7)

Q2 - CHI - 3:30 - 34 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 14-13)

Q3 - CHI - 8:40 - Thomas Jones 30 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 21-13)

Q3 - CHI - 3:31 - 14 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Gould kick) (CHI 28-13)

Q4 - CHI - 13:04 - Adrian Peterson 1 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 35-13)

Q4 - STL - 7:35 - 6 yd TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt (Wilkins kick) (CHI 35-20)

Q4 - CHI - 7:22 - Devin Hester 96 yd kickoff return TD (Gould kick) (CHI 42-20)

Q4 - STL - 4:41 - 6 yd TD pass from Marc Bulger to Steven Jackson (Wilkins kick) (CHI 42-27)

Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 2 3 4OT Total
Buccaneers 0 3 7 210 31
Bears 7 14 3 73 34

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game Summary

The Bears improved to 12-2 and secured home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a thrilling overtime victory over their former division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears entered the game without probowlers Mike Brown, Nathan Vasher and Tommie Harris. Additionally, Lovie Smith deactivated defensive tackle Tank Johnson due to Tank's legal problems.

The Bears took the lead midway through the first quarter when Rex Grossman connected with Desmond Clark on a 24 yard touchdown pass. The Bucs responded on a 45 yard Matt Bryant field goal in the second quarter. The Bears scored two more touchdowns before the half ended by Thomas Jones and Clark again. They went into halftime with a 21-3 lead.

The Bears opened the second half scoring with a 38 yard field goal by Robbie Gould. Bucs quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was ineffective and benched in favor of Tim Rattay. Rattay lead the Bucs to their first touchdown since Thanksgiving, a 14 yard run by Mike Alstott with seconds left in the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bears' dangerous return man Devin Hester fumbled the kickoff, and set the Bucs up nicely deep in Bears' territory. Rattay capitalized with a touchdown pass to tight end Alex Smith. That reduced the deficit to seven points. The Bears seemingly put the game away when scoring on a four yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson. However, Rattay and the Bucs were not finished, as he threw two long touchdown passes to Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard to tie the game before the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

The Bucs won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive, but Smith fumbled on the Bucs opening drive of overtime, and the Bears recovered. The Bears marched downfield, and Gould attempted to win the game on a 37 yard field goal attempt. He missed it wide left, and the score remained tied. The teams each had two more possessions, and on the Bears' final drive, Grossman hit Rashied Davis on a key 28 yard pass to set up the game winning field goal by Gould. Grossman finished the game with a career-high 339 yards passing.

The Bears win, coupled with a loss earlier in the day by the New Orleans Saints, gave them homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Also, Grossman threw a career high two touchdowns for 339 yards, while Desmond Clark caught two touchdowns for 125 yards. Grossman became the first Bear to throw for over 300 since Jim Miller in 2002. For his performance, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - CHI - 7:42 - 24 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q2 - TB - 8:19 - Matt Bryant 45 yd FG (CHI 7-3)

Q2 - CHI - 3:58 - Thomas Jones 5 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 14-3)

Q2 - CHI - 0:23 - 12 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Desmond Clark (Gould kick) (CHI 21-3)

Q3 - CHI - 5:22 - Robbie Gould 38 yd FG (CHI 24-3)

Q3 - TB - 0:23 - Mike Alstott 14 yd TD run (Bryant kick) (CHI 24-10)

Q4 - TB - 14:13 - 9 yd TD pass from Tim Rattay to Alex Smith (Bryant kick) (CHI 24-17)

Q4 - CHI - 9:23 - Cedric Benson 4 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 31-17)

Q4 - TB - 6:13 - 64 yd TD pass from Tim Rattay to Joey Galloway (Bryant kick) (CHI 31-24)

Q4 - TB - 3:44 - 44 yd TD pass from Tim Rattay to Ike Hilliard (Bryant kick) (31-31)

OT - CHI - 3:37 - Robbie Gould 25 yd FG (CHI 34-31)

Week 16: at Detroit Lions

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 3 14 0 9 26
Lions 7 0 14 0 21

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • TV announcers (FOX): Sam Rosen (play-by-play), Tim Ryan (color commentator), and Jay Glazer (field reporter)
  • Game attendance: 60,665
  • Referee: Terry McAulay

Game summary

The Bears traveled to Detroit, Michigan in hopes of another victory over the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve. However, the game was seemingly meaningless, as the Bears’ had already clinched the NFC’s top playoff seed in the previous week. Therefore, the Bears’ experimented with different defensive and offensive plans en route to a thrilling victory over the Lions.

The Bears started the game by initiating a balanced attack, which was capped off by a Robbie Gould field goal. Two drives later, the Lions responded by a John Kitna to Dan Campbell touchdown pass. However, the Bears struck back through a 13-yard Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian touchdown pass. Later, Adrian Peterson ended the half by rushing for two-yard touchdown.

The Lions opened the second half quite strongly; John Kitna threw two touchdowns to Mike Furrey and Roy Williams, allowing the Lions to establish a 21-17 lead over the Bears. The Bears chipped away at the lead by recording a 36-yard field goal. With the game still within the Bears’ reach, Lovie Smith opted to substitute Brian Griese in place of Grossman. Griese managed to move the ball with relative ease, allowing the Bears to set up a 39-yard field goal. Later, Bears’ defensive end Mark Anderson drilled Kitna at Detroit’s 37 yard line, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by Adewale Ogunleye. The fumble allowed Gould to kick a 44-yard field goal.

Kitna and Lions attempted to engineer a last second touchdown drive, but their hopes were grounded after Mike Williams failed to catch a pass in the end zone during the game’s dying seconds. The Bears’ last minute heroics allowed them sweep the Lions for the second consecutive year, and earn a 13-2 record.

Scoring summary

Q1 - CHI - 8:38 - Robbie Gould 36 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q1 - DET - 2:32 - 23 yd TD pass from Jon Kitna to Dan Campbell (Jason Hanson kick) (DET 7-3)

Q2 - CHI - 14:05 - 13 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 10-7)

Q2 - CHI - 0:26 - Adrian Peterson 2 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 17-7)

Q3 - DET - 10:53 - 20 yd TD pass from Jon Kitna to Mike Furrey (Hanson kick) (CHI 17-14)

Q3 - DET - 4:27 - 2 yd TD pass from Jon Kitna to Roy Williams (Hanson kick) (DET 21-17)

Q4 - CHI - 12:21 - Robbie Gould 36 yd FG (DET 21-20)

Q4 - CHI - 5:13 - Robbie Gould 39 yd FG (CHI 23-21)

Q4 - CHI - 2:50 - Robbie Gould 44 yd FG (CHI 26-21)

Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers

1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 13 10 0 3 26
Bears 0 0 7 0 7

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

After their road victory against the Detroit Lions, the Bears returned home to finish their season against their archenemy, the Green Bay Packers. On December 24, the NFL announced that they would move to game to a primetime slot, making it the final game of the 2006 regular season.

The Bears struggled to contain Packers' quarterback Brett Favre during the game’s opening quarter, allowing him to throw for a touchdown and over 100 yards. The Packers’ lead was extended when two of Rex Grossman’s passes were intercepted and returned for touchdowns. Even with the miscues and the crowd enthusiastically booing, Grossman, as planned, was not pulled in the first half. As expected, Lovie Smith started Brian Griese in the 2nd half, and he took the helm of the Bears offense for the remainder of the game.

Despite struggling to gain any momentum whatsoever, punter Brad Maynard threw a 37-yard pass to Adrian Peterson off a fake punt. The attempt was in vain, however, as Griese threw an interception only plays later. Griese’s only highlight came in towards the end of the third quarter, when he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradley. Favre, in contrast, threw two touchdowns and one interception for 285 yards. Cedric Benson proved to be the Bears' only offensive threat, by rushing for 109 yards on 13 attempts.

The Bears lost their second consecutive season finale. Favre appeared at the end of the game, and gave a tearful interview with a NBC Sports correspondent, where he admitted his future as professional was still questionable. Additionally, Grossman’s four turnovers, zero passer rating, and press conference comments (where he admitted to being underprepared) drew criticism both from fans and the media as the Bears' regular season came to an end.

Scoring Summary

Q1 - GB - 9:31 - 9 yd TD pass from Brett Favre to Donald Driver (Dave Rayner kick) (GB 7-0)

Q1 - GB - 0:50 - Nick Collins 55 yd interception return TD (kick failed) (GB 13-0)

Q2 - GB - 2:54 - Dave Rayner 25 yd FG (GB 16-0)

Q2 - GB - 0:34 - Patrick Dendy 30 yd interception return TD (Rayner kick) (GB 23-0)

Q3 - CHI - 0:34 - 75 yd TD pass from Brian Griese to Mark Bradley (Robbie Gould kick) (GB 23-7)

Q4 - GB - 10:39 - Dave Rayner 46 yd FG (GB 26-7)

Post Season

Main article: NFL playoffs, 2006-07

The Bears clinched a playoff berth after defeating the Minnesota Vikings during week thirteen. They obtained a first round bye the following week, and later secured the NFC's first playoff seed. This ensured the Bears home field advantage for the NFC's Divisional and Conference games.

Post Season schedule

Round Date Opponent Result Game site TV
NFC Divisional January 14, 2007 Seattle Seahawks W 27–24 Soldier Field FOX
NFC Championship January 21, 2007 New Orleans Saints W 39–14 Soldier Field FOX
Super Bowl XLI February 4, 2007 Indianapolis Colts Dolphins Stadium CBS

NFC Divisional playoff: vs Seattle Seahawks

1 2 3 4OT Total
Seahawks 0 14 10 00 24
Bears 7 14 0 33 27

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game by defeating the Seattle Seahawks on January 14, 2007. In a hard-fought battle, the Bears had to rely on all “four phases” of the game to win 27-24 in overtime.

The Bears took the opening kickoff and started strongly with a 7-minute-plus scoring drive capped by a four-yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones. The Seahawks responded later in the first quarter with a Matt Hasselbeck to Nate Burleson touchdown pass. Facing a tie game, Rex Grossman wasted no time responding; on the first subsequent play from scrimmage, Grossman threw a 68-yard touchdown pass (a career high) to Bernard Berrian.

After trading possessions with the Seahawks, Grossman fumbled late in the second quarter while attempting to break away from pass rushers. The turnover gave the Seahawks a short field, allowing Shaun Alexander to rush for a four-yard touchdown. On the next drive, the Bears scored another touchdown via a Thomas Jones run to end the half. The Seahawks got back into the game when Alexander scored on a 15-yard touchdown run. Josh Brown shortly followed that with a field goal, giving the Seahawks a 24-21 lead.

The Bears nearly retook the lead on a long drive which ended the third quarter, but a botched catch by Muhsin Muhammad led to an interception. On the following play, Hasselbeck threw an interception to Ricky Manning, Jr. allowing the Bears to set up a Robbie Gould field goal. The Bears held the Seahawks from scoring and sent the game to overtime, where a Grossman to Rashied Davis pass set up a game winning 49-yard Robbie Gould field goal.

Grossman rebounded from his previous performance, throwing for 282 yards with one touchdown and interception. Jones and Cedric Benson rushed for a combined total of 111 yards, while Berrian and Davis put up 105 and 80 receiving yards, respectively. Ultimately, Gould’s last minute heroics enabled the Bears to win their first playoff game since 1994, and win their first divisional game since 1989. The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game to play the New Orleans Saints.

Scoring summary

Q1 - CHI - 8:35 - Thomas Jones 9 yd TD run (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q2 - SEA - 14:54 - 16 yd TD pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Nate Burleson (Josh Brown kick) (7-7)

Q2 - CHI - 14:36 - 68 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 14-7)

Q2 - SEA - 2:29 - Shaun Alexander 4 yd TD run (Brown kick) (14-14)

Q2 - CHI - 0:48 - Thomas Jones 7 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 21-14)

Q3 - SEA - 9:56 - Josh Brown 40 yd FG (CHI 21-17)

Q3 - SEA - 4:57 - Shaun Alexander 13 yd TD run (Brown kick) (SEA 24-21)

Q4 - CHI - 4:24 - Robbie Gould 41 yd FG (24-24)

OT - CHI - 10:02 - Robbie Gould 49 yd FG (CHI 27-24)

NFC Championship: vs New Orleans Saints

1 2 3 4 Total
Saints 0 7 7 0 14
Bears 3 13 2 21 39

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game summary

The Chicago Bears returned to Soldier Field to play the second-seeded New Orleans Saints for the right to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLI. On a cold field with unsure footing, and eventually falling snow, the Bears defeated the Saints 39-14 to claim their first NFC Championship since the 1985 Season.

The Bears started the game by forcing three quick turnovers and establishing a fairly quick 9-0 lead, through three Robbie Gould field goals. After initally and repeatedly pounding the Saints' interior line with Cedric Benson, they went back to starter Thomas Jones, who carried the ball on every play of an 8-play, 69-yard drive, including a short touchdown run, to make the score 16-0. After holding the Saints at bay offensively for a majority of the first half, the Bears allowed the Saints to score a late touchdown through a 13-yard pass from Saints Quarterback Drew Brees to Marques Colston after Peanut Tillman initally stumbled on the play. Early in the third quarter, Reggie Bush scored on an 88-yard swing pass from Brees, cutting the lead to two points. Though the Bears were unable to move the ball during most of the third quarter, they were able to regain some momentum after the Saints’ kicker Billy Cundiff failed to convert a long field goal.

After the Bears were stopped again, punter Brad Maynard pinned the Saints at their own five yard line. The Bears applied tremendous pressure on Brees, forcing an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone for the safety. Two Bears' possessions later, Grossman finally got the passing game going, leading his team down the field on four straight completions. The last was a 33-yard pass to Bernard Berrian, who made a spectacular falling catch for a touchdown. Later, Adewale Ogunleye forced and recovered a fumble after sacking Brees, which lead to a Cedric Benson touchdown. The Bears were not done yet; Jones scored another touchdown, and Nathan Vasher crushed any hopes of Saints comeback by intercepting one of Brees' final passes.

The Saints had more net offensive yards than the Bears, but four Saints turnovers, and none for the Bears, proved the difference. After the game, Bears’ owner Virginia McCaskey was presented the George Halas Trophy, named after her late father, former Bears owner George Halas. With the win, Lovie Smith became the first African American coach to achieve a Super Bowl berth. In Super Bowl XLI, The Bears would match up against the Indianapolis Colts, and Smith would face his mentor, Tony Dungy.

Scoring summary

Q1 - CHI - 0:41 - Robbie Gould 19 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q2 - CHI - 13:40 - Robbie Gould 43 yd FG (CHI 6-0)

Q2 - CHI - 8:52 - Robbie Gould 24 yd FG (CHI 9-0)

Q2 - CHI - 1:56 - Thomas Jones 2 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 16-0)

Q2 - NO - 0:46 - 13 yd TD pass from Drew Brees to Marques Colston (John Carney kick) (CHI 16-7)

Q3 - NO - 12:20 - 88 yd TD pass from Drew Brees to Reggie Bush (Carney kick) (CHI 16-14)

Q3 - CHI - 5:27 - Safety, intentional grounding by Drew Brees in the end zone (CHI 18-14)

Q4 - CHI - 14:23 - 33 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 25-14)

Q4 - CHI - 11:37 - Cedric Benson 12 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 32-14)

Q4 - CHI - 4:19 - Thomas Jones 15 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 39-14)

Super Bowl XLI: vs Indianapolis Colts

1 2 3 4 Total
Colts 6 10 6 7 29
Bears 14 0 3 0 17

at Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game summary

  • First Half

Super Bowl XLI, the first Super Bowl to be played entirely in intemperate weather, would see the Bears take on the Indianapolis Colts at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The Bears struck early, as Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Again, things looked up for the bears when on the ensuing Colts possession, Peyton Manning was intercepted by Chris Harris, however the Bears could only muster a three and out. The Colts then struck on a 53 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Reggie Wayne. However, a botched snap would result in an unconverted point after touchdown.

Deciding not to kick deep to Hester again, the Colts squib kicked, which Bears backup Tight End Gabe Reid handled, and promptly fumbled while being tackled. The Bears convalesced when on the ensuing snap, Manning aborted and fumbled a handoff as Alex Brown disrupted a play in the backfield. With momentum again on their side, the Bears handed off to Thomas Jones for a 52 yard run to the Colts 5, his longest run of the year. Chicago then raised its score to 14 as Rex Grossman passed to Muhsin Muhammad for a 4 yard touchdown. The Bears held Indianapolis to a three and out on the ensuing possession, but Cedric Benson fumbled after a Bob Sanders hit two plays after the Colts punted. The teams then exchanged three and outs, with Benson leaving the game due to a knee injury. Indianapolis scored again on their first possession of the 2nd quarter, with an Adam Vinatieri 29 yard field goal.

After another Bears three and out, Manning and Dominic Rhodes marched the Colts down the field to take the lead 16-14, as Rhodes scored on a one yard touchdown run. Again, the Bears went three and out. With almost 4 minutes left in the first half, the Colts began to march down the field in much the same way as their previous possession, but Peanut Tillman forced and recovered a Bryan Fletcher fumble. Chicago's offense then continued to struggle as Grossman fumbled the ensuing snap, Raheem Brock recovering. With :02 left in the half, Vinatieri uncharacteristically missed a 36 yard field goal.

  • Second Half

The Colts again marched the ball down the field during their first possession of the second half, with a 13 play 56 yard drive that resulted in a 24 yard Vinatieri field goal, increasing the Indianapolis lead to five. The Bears' offensive woes continued as after a few successful plays, Grossman was sacked and then proceeded to fumble his second snap on the next play, recovering the ball himself but resulting in a loss of 10 yards. Dominic Rhodes again hurt the bears with one 36 and two 8 yard runs on the ensuing drive. After a 6 play, 62 yard drive, Vinatieri lined up and converted another field goal, this time from 20 yards.

The Bears would respond on their last drive of the 3rd quarter with a Robbie Gould 44 yard field goal, making the score 22-17 in favor of Indianapolis. The Bears' defense held the Colts to 23 yards and no points in the ensuing possession. After the Colts' punt resulted in a touchback, Thomas Jones opened the Bears' 4th quarter with a run of 12 yards, which was called back due to a holding penalty. Three plays later, Grossman's marginal play continued as he threw an interception returned for a touchdown to Kelvin Hayden. Grossman continued his struggles as the third pass on the ensuing drive intended for Bernard Berrian was under-thrown and picked off by Sanders. With 9:55 left in the 4th quarter, with the scoreboard reading 29-17 in favor of the Colts, the two teams traded possessions until the clock expired. Tony Dungy became the first African American coach to win the Super Bowl, besting his friend Lovie Smith.

Scoring summary

Q1 - CHI - 14:46 - Devin Hester 92 yd kickoff return TD (Robbie Gould kick) (CHI 7-0)

Q1 - IND - 6:50 - 53 yd TD pass from Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne (pat failed) (CHI 7-6)

Q1 - CHI - 4:34 - 4 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad (Gould kick) (CHI 14-6)

Q2 - IND - 11:17 - Adam Vinatieri 29 yd FG (CHI 14-9)

Q2 - IND - 6:09 - Dominic Rhodes 1 yd TD run (Vinatieri kick) (IND 16-14)

Q3 - IND - 7:26 - Adam Vinatieri 24 yd FG (IND 19-14)

Q3 - IND - 3:16 - Adam Vinatieri 20 yd FG (IND 22-14)

Q3 - CHI - 1:14 - Robbie Gould 44 yd FG (IND 22-17)

Q4 - IND - 11:44 - Kelvin Hayden 56 yd interception return TD (Vinatieri kick) (IND 29-17)

2007 Pro Bowl

Main article: 2007 Pro Bowl

Eight members of the Chicago Bears were selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl. Olin Kreutz, Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Robbie Gould, Devin Hester, and Brendon Ayanbadejo were selected by NFL fans through out the nation to represent the Bears. [12] The eight selections are the most from any team in the NFC. The Bears have not sent this many players to Honolulu since the 1986 Pro Bowl, which succeeded the 1985 NFL season, when they sent nine. On January 25, Bears' left guard Ruben Brown was named to his ninth Pro Bowl, taking the spot of injured Shawn Andrews of the Philadelphia Eagles.[13]

Epilogue

After a well-fought season, the Bears returned back to Chicago in hopes of replicating their success in the 2007 NFL season. Though the more 2007 season holds a more challenging schedule the Bears will have to face many issues prior to September. Running back Thomas Jones and linebacker Lance Briggs will become free agents pending a contract agreement with the Bears’ management. Additionally, the Bears may lose Lovie Smith and Ron Rivera on somewhat similar terms.

Nevertheless, the Bears’ 2006 season had many high points. While Rex Grossman struggled at times, he became one of the most productive Bears quarterbacks in Bears’ history in more than a decade. Thomas Jones also became the first Bears’ running back to rush for two consecutive 1000-yard seasons since Neal Anderson in the early 1990s. Rookie Devin Hester rewrote the history books with his record breaking returns and game changing performances.

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