Chicago – Initially, Rex Grossman couldn’t get into a passing rhythm.
Then the Chicago Bears’ quarterback missed wide-open teammate Desmond Clark in the end zone, and Grossman and his play-callers lost confidence.
Next, a national audience witnessed what Bears fans had been grumbling about for much of this season.
Bad Rex was playing gross, man.
More than halfway through the third quarter of the Bears’ 39-14 victory Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Grossman had completed just 4-of-18 passes.
Late in the first half, the Bears had built a 16-0 lead in spite of Grossman’s horrific passing.
“I was just a tad hesitant,” Grossman said. “It doesn’t matter because we won, but that’s what caused me to throw some balls not as accurate as I wanted to.”
When the Saints closed within 16-14, however, Grossman helped turn the game from nervously close to a comfortable rout.
In a drive that sandwiched the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, Grossman completed all four of his passes for 78 yards, including a 33-yard jump ball to receiver Bernard Berrian who caught it, tumbled, and quickly got up to prance into the end zone.
“It’s not about the early part of the game; it’s about the late part of the game,” Saints safety Jay Bellamy said. “He did well in the latter part of the game, and that’s what helped them win.”
Move over, Trent Dilfer. In Grossman, the Bears are the latest to prove a team does not need an elite quarterback to reach the Super Bowl.
“Redemption and all that, that’s for you guys to write about,” Grossman said. “I’m excited about this team. We’ve got one more win before we can call ourselves world champions.”
EYE ON … The Chicago Bears
For the record: 13-3 in the regular season to win the NFC North Division and the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, then 2-0 in the playoffs to become NFC champs.
Streaking: The Bears are 6-1 as a No. 1 playoff seed, advancing to the NFC championship game all three years they had it, winning that game twice (1985 and 2006) and losing in 1988.
Who’s hot: After scoring just six touchdowns during the regular season, RB Thomas Jones has four in his two playoff games. WR Bernard Berrian has 10 catches for 190 yards and two TDs in two playoff games.
Who’s not: Muhsin Muhammad was the Bears’ leading receiver during the regular season, but he has just four catches for 58 yards and no touchdowns in two postseason games.
Key stat: Although he started 4-for-18 in the NFC championship game, QB Rex Grossman did not take a sack, did not fumble and did not throw an interception – only his second triple-zero game of the season.
FYI: The Bears have not played the Indianapolis Colts since Nov. 21, 2004. They got drilled as the Colts built a 41-3 lead and won 41-10. The Bears were led by WR David Terrell (three catches, 76 yards) and QB Craig Krenzel (two interceptions).
Injury update: No. 4 WR Mark Bradley didn’t play against the Saints because of a sprained ankle.
Line: Colts by 7.
Coachspeak: “Going into this game we heard a lot. We went into the game with the best record in the National (Football Conference) and we really didn’t get a lot of respect. Not many people gave us a chance to win the football game, but our guys didn’t buy into that.” – Bears coach Lovie Smith, on whether the victory against the Saints finally earned his team the respect it deserves
