That's why you don't play musical quarterbacks

Rex all the way.

Well,Rex still haven't had 2 bad games in a row.Just don't say he's due to have a bad game next week,OK.I'm gonna miss some of you guys this week who don't post when Rex doesn't look like total crap.GO BEARS!!

Well, maybe not the 2nd, but if he didn't come out strong on the first drive of 3rd, I was ready for a change. He's trying to do too much too often. Just watch Orton last year Rex, don't try to be Farve, with our defense be more like Big Ben in Pit, and you will have even better ring next year.

Roman, I'm sure you've read my post and you should know by now that I've been a Grossman supporter. I know talent, and this kid is talented and can take the Bears places. He just needs time. And he has proven to have heart. Everytime he has a bad game, he comes back and have a good one. I wasn't worried at all about his 1st half performance either. You should have known the Giants would come out fired up. But all it took a a few big plays to shut them up. T Jones 26yard run opened things up, and after the first TD before halftime, you could just feel the momentum shift. We dominated after that. Rex is a special QB, and this Team is special, Im telling you.

I have to hand it to the whole team. They looked terrible and flat in the first half until Jones broke that 26 yd. run and put some life back into the team. They came out on fire in the second half and totaly dominated the G-men. Rex proved why he is the starting QB by playing flawlessly in the second half after a bad start. HE bounced back and I think that is the most important point. Just like Madden said we will have to live and die with Grossman. Now he has proven that he can handle the pressure. Great running by Jones and Bradley looked good, which will give Rex more weapons once B.B. comes back. Hester was great and blew the lid off the game, what a block by Hillemeyer. The D played great at times but they shut down the Giants offense for the most part. This was a defining win for the Bears and I'm sure every media outlet that dropped them after the Dolphins loss will be right back on the wagon. Also how great was it to see Hester and Jones mock the Giants with that stupid jump-shot celebration proving that the Bears were the only ballers last night.

Abso-freakin'-lutely correct, Roman. And what about Thomas Jones? He still did some dancing, but that 26-yard run in the second quarter was the stuff people expect from him in the first place--hit the hole, take off, don't get stopped.

Rex still needs to get on track quicker if the Bears expect to take it to the next level (for the second straight week, an INT by a defensive lineman!!!), but this game still goes into the W category.

Props to Mark Bradley for quietly putting up 79 receiving yards. This game was one missed tackle on Tiki Barber and one Muhsin Muhammad fumble away from being a blowout.

Let me see--my guess is that the fairweathers will tell you Lovie lucked out against a banged-up defense and that the team still couldn't stop the run. So what? The Giants have been playing good ball even with their injuries, and the Bears took it to 'em (and stopped a few pretty big drives).

I'll put it to y'all like this--if the Bears are the worst-coached 8-1 team in the league, I'll take it. I spent too many years getting frustrated at Dave Wannstedt for me not to enjoy this. One more win guarantees Lovie Smith a second straight winning season--everything else I can take one step at a time.

Is Benson hurting or what?Every time he was tackled he got up like he was in pain or something.Or was he trying to PSYCH the Giant's D?

The Bears lose two starters to injuries...plug 2 players into the slots where those 2 players played and run "their" system...hmmmmmmmm...sounds familiar huh...Kinda New England-like huh...Good win boys, now, go get those Jets!!...Ps...Hey Plaxico!!??...Who's yer Daddy?!?!

Am I missing something?
First Grossman is almost a rookie, under that standard he is doing great.
Second, and this is what I don't get,
his most damaging turnovers almost always come the same way.\
In the flat, usually right side, about three to four yards off the sideline.
This is where if it is picked it is picked by a corner or safety with an almost clear line.
When he throws in the middle, he is picked less and when he is picked it is deep or by a linebacker in midfield with little chance for advancement.
On top of that they make the flat call inside their own thirty. If they dumped that call except across midfield it would be huge.
Go Bears.
I was there in 86 I'll be there in '07.

It really amazes me that there are Bear "fans" who want to bench Grossman in favor of Griese. Grossman has an 8-1 record in his first full season at QB. 8-1! I, for one, enjoy watching Grossman air the long-ball vs. the hair-pullin' dink-n-dunk approach taken with Orton.

The Bears have one of the best all-around teams in the league. And if Grossman has a bad game, there's the sudden cry for change. Why? Especially with the season half completed. I say keep the continuity of Grossman and receivers, lineman, backs, etc. and we'll see what the finally season record is. Maybe 13-3? 12-4? Wow. There are worst things in this world. Namely, changing quarterbacks.

Whew!! Dodged another bullet. I don't know about you but that first half had me going crazy for a couple of reasons. First of all I don't want the "beloved" to be embarassed on National TV especially when they are playing any of the teams out East..New York in particular. Secondly,I'm a bit tired of being dissapointed as a Cubs,Hawks,Bulls,Bears fan of more than 50 years especially the way this year is shaping up so far. Oh,and just a random thought. If only WBBM could get their satelite in sync with the TV play by play more often! I turn down the TV sound and listen anyway just to avoid
the TV goofs who always find a way to favor any opponent Da Bears are playing..just like ESPN does with their "hi-lights" that never give much credence to any team from Chicago. Congrats Bears. Miami seems just a little bit closer! Now,back to my Bears un-spiked KOOLAIDE.
Streamwood Frank.

I don't like the comments about Rex being a game manager, or playing not to turn the ball over. Why does he have to be like someone else? (Rothlisberger) I want him to be better than Ben Roth. I'm ready for an all pro quarterback, and Rex seems to be on track. It's better to take chances rather than being scared sometimes.

If Griese had played the Bears would have won 38-6 and the game would have never been in doubt. When Rex plays teams in the playoffs without half the team missing or key players missing (i.e. Seahawks or Giants) he will be blitzed again and will wilt under the pressure like he always does.

The only reason the Bears won last night was because the Giants for some unknown reason STOPPED blitzing. This stupid coaching will not repeat in the playoffs, I guarantee you. And everyone will say, "Well it was a great year after all, even though Rex threw four picks and we lost in the first round again".

Until Rex proves to me that he can survive consistent blitzing the ENTIRE game without losing his composure, I want Griese in there. The three times he has faced consistent blitzing he has stunk up the field and the Bears lost one game (Miami) and won two games due to late-game collapses by the other team (Cardinals & Vikings).

did anyone really watch the game????? from where i sat rex wasnt totaly to blame for the pick. if 2 (two) defenders hadnt exploded into the back field untouched rex wouldnt have had to unload the ball. what would you have done, truethfully what would you have done? but he did come back. jones couldnt get through the line, but he got through eventually. the first 28 min was a total team disaster. when the front 5 finally settled down and played bear football things started to come together. in the games i have seen rex plays well when he is protected. sooner or later he will have to learn when to unload and when to take the sack. that ladies and gentlemen comes with experience. farve, marino, elway, montana didnt come out of the gate and play like hall of famers right away. dont give up on the man unless he just cant get the job done. coach smith does the right thing by sticking with rex. he has confidence in rex. the entire coaching staff has confidence in rex. the offence has confidence in rex, the ENTIRE team has confidence in rex. as a true chicago bear, bleed navy blue and orange, fan we all should have confidence in the coach and in rexy. our biggest tests are comming up the next couple of weeks. and do not forget the three remaining division games comming up. the season is not over yet, not by a long shot. things are just getting started. as dennis rodman once said "this (was) is a wild ride". OH YES IT IS.

If i would have known you meant full size rex and not mini rex i would have said da bears dynasty!!!

Okay lovie bashers,it was the "dumb" coach who realized that his qb was getting pounded and went to (O MY GOD) the shotgun.Thats why the giants stopped blitzing.The play calling was extremely better then you guys give him credit for.(poor poor webster,hehe). Yea, he made some bad challenges but he had to especially on the tillman fumble(which i still say his knee was down). He made the halftime adjustments needed and the team responded.Isn't that what GOOD coaches do? Look ,he is no DIKTA OR maybe not even BUDDY RYAN, but he is our coach and his team is winning. So have some loyalty to your team until they blow it and enjoy it while it last. p.s Did you really say you have been disappointed for 50 years frank with all those bulls championships .

I'm looking back on all of your "How our columnists see tonight's big game
November 12, 2006" section and just think it's so funny how all of you were wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only way Rex is going to stop making those mistakes is playing through them like he did today. That will not be accomplished by starting Brian Griese. He will stop trying to force throws under pressure eventually, those throws usually resulting in picks. To all the people who keep saying that Grossman makes mistakes when he faces a strong pass rush - that's every QB who has ever played. Even Peyton Manning looks ordinary when he doesn't have time to throw. Grossman just tries to be a hero when he faces a blitz, which doesn't work. These tendencies are something that can be coached out of him. His accuracy, decisiveness, and touch on long passes, however, are not something you can coach into any QB.

As for Roman's comment... I couldn't have said it better. If, say, Tom Brady has two bad games in a row, throwing for no TDs and 7 INTs, will New England's coaching staff and fans even CONSIDER starting Matt Cassell (Pats backup)? No... because we in Chicago have seen so many losers come and go at QB the past 10 years we have started to think it's normal to bench a QB when he struggles. It's not. Until he proves otherwise, Rex is the guy... I'm glad Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo think so too.

Lovie doesn't call the plays and I doubt he decided when to employ the shotgun. If he was so brilliant it would have been in place from week 1. As far as adjusting goes, this was probably the first game all season where any actual adjustments were made. Could have used some last week. Nothing to brag about. But I guess if you're a Lovie lover you'll grab at anything to promote him.

For everyone that thinks that Rex wasn't pressured in the second half because NY stopped blitzing, a post-game quote from Olin Kruetz:

"They were still blitzing [in the second half], but we kind of knew where it was coming from," center Olin Kreutz said. "And when you're picking it up, it's hard to see the blitzes."

I'm going to take his word for it as opposed to all of you football experts...

The kid is the real deal. Go Rex! Go BEARS!

I they picked up the blitz then he wasn't pressured by it was he.

Lovie doesn't call the plays but he get called out when they don't work.He gets blamed for every thing because he's the head guy.Whenever people can't find a reason,just blame the coach.That rationale always sucked and it has gotten people more credit and more blame than some deserve.Whatever,you want to say about Lovie is your business.But It's also my choice to defend him.Nothing against Wannestadt or Jauron or Ditka,but what they did is in the past and I'm giving the coach we have now my support like I did those guys.I'm not looking to bring whatever short-comings anyone has up or what my perceptions are of them.No matter my opinion the games will go on.We'll win or lose and hope for the best as long as we're fans.No one will pay good money to hear,see or read anyone's opinion when we don't answer to them.

If anyone was watching when the Giants greeted our RBs in the back-field they would see that our TE on most of the plays phoned in his blocking.Watch the game on tape and you'll see some crappy blocking that stopped our backs cold.No wonder we can't establish any consistency.I'm spending time now watching the games over and seeing what I missed to get an idea about what's going on.

Again... I never blame the head coach for an isolated incident. But over time if the problem persists then that is the HCs fault. So, crappy play calling from 2003 thru this season so far is Lovie's fault. He let the entire season go in the toilet before dealing with the issue in 2003. All of last year it was awful and so far this year. Then one game it was a little better and people come out of the woodwork to praise him. That's when I spoke up. He does not get blamed for everything. The media and the cheerleaders constantly give him credit for everything positive and place blame elsewhere for anything negative.

Roman responds: Lovie Smith wasn't hired until Jan., 2004. And he hasn't had a No. 1 quarterback until this season. Play calling? With Chad Hutchinson?

Yes, I meant 2004. And yes again, you have to adjust to your talent.

Roman responds: I agree with adjusting, but again, he didn't have a legitimate NFL quarterback because Jerry Angelo didn't get him one. And the thing is, he went 11-5. I'm not sure what coach in the history of the NFL would have won more games with Chad Hutchinson or Kyle Orton at quarterback. What plays are you going to call for a QB who can't throw?

BBB-You just sound like a hater man. Get your facts straight.

John F- You have absolutely zero idea of whats going on. Get a clue. Rex will be the best quarter back the Bears ever had, which in reality is not saying much considering the run of QB's we've had. But he is the best and I'll take a gunslinger anyday. You should go hook up with Skip Bayless.

My point about the blitzing is that NY was still doing it according to the man in the middle of the Bears O-line and Rex was facing the same types of defensive schemes coming at him in the second half. Bears O-line and running backs played better as a team in the second half picking it up.

No QB in the league performs well under a constant blitz if it isn't picked up. Even a checkdown doesn't work with two defenders immediately in your face a la Rex's int in the 1st qtr and you can only take so many sacks or throw the ball away so many times before Maynard's foot become too inflammed from too much punting or you are defending a short field....again.

When Rex is protected though he makes opposing defenses look like they are not even on the field. It's a team sport.

You act like the world loves Lovie.They just don't wanna look like asses for harping on something when the team is 8-1.They always save it for the end of the season.Man,you hate LOVIE so much he gets blamed for things that happened before he got here.2003 was bad for all BEARS fans but we can't blame the guy who wasn't here for that.Can WE?Might as well.Since he isn't brilliant like you say.Especially when no one ever said it on these blogs on in print or on TV.We actually have a coach that the world isn't laughing at and it's a shame that the team's fans are his worse critic.Seems a little silly that he can't get a"great game,coach",not ever from some people.We love him when we win.So I guess we haven't had too many reasons to dislike him after losses.

The Giants were still blitzing in the second half, the differance was that the O-line was picking it up and the play-calling was much better. Also running the ball helped. The team made adjustments and everything started clicking. I'm tired of all you Rex bashers. There are a few of us who have been behind him fromn the start. He makes throws that only a handful of QBs can make. He throws the deep out better than anyone in the NFL, which most experts say is the toughest pass to make. He is learning on the job and is getting better under pressure. We should look at the second half as being the turning point in Rex's season and career. I for one am happy that he is the starter and glad that Lovie has stuck by him through the bad games. Hopefully the O will play more shotgun and especially have more screens implemented in the game plan because that's how you make a team pay for blitzing. Go Bears! and to all you who have defended Rex over the season, kudos to you all for realizing that he is the real deal and we will be rewarded when he becomes a great QB

I say it like it is. Deal with it. Please don't be so silly and try to insult me because of a typo. I made it clear that was supposed to be 2004. Do you really think I was trying to blame Lovie for a season when he wasn't the coach? How'd we get to 2005 Roman or did you mean 5-11?

Roman responds: You're the one who said all of last season the play calling was awful. I said the Bears were 11-5 last season with Kyle Orton at quarterback for much of the season. And I think 11-5 with him was damn good.

Mark... please forget my earlier post it was accidental. I misread your post. I asked for it to not be posted so you wouldn't have to deal with it. But it was posted, sorry!

Tony... keep your insults to yourself.

BBB... Dawg you need to stop it. I'm beginning to think you're obsessed with Lovie! LOL! You are the only one on this blog bashing Lovie. I thought this was supposed to be about all the cries about benching Rex Grossman anyway. Here is a Stat for you all. Rex has played 16 regular season games. His Record?? 12-4. Say what you want, but this kid can play. He might have some bad games here and there but he is still young.
I'm glad someone pointed out that the giants did not stop Blitzing in the second half like some of the so-called experts were saying on TV and the internet. In fact they blitzed just as much. The Bears just did a much better job picking it up. And I don't blame Rex as much for that INT. The Giants sent a overload blitz, and T Jones whiffed on the block and Rex was blown up just as he released the ball. In the second half T jones and the line did a much better job protecting.

Roman: Fortunately for the sake of the greater good of humanity, Chad Hutchinson was cut before the regular season started and Orton played most of the time, with Jeff Blake actually not looking too bad in limited time. Orton was ineffective, but his play wasn't damaging to the team. He played about as poorly as any QB can play without causing significant damage. That is to say he barely moved the offense at all with his arm, but most of the time he didn't turn it over, either. Just like you said... 11-5 in spite of no offense probably translates to a 13-3 record with a fully competent QB. (Yes, I know that last statement means nothing, it's just perspective.)

For the record I think if he was starting now, he'd be a much better QB... obviously not as good as Grossman or Griese, but much better.

Roman responds: You're right about Chad, but Kyle - I believe - threw at least three - maybe four - interceptions last season against Cincinnati. It was the Bears' last home loss before Miami. For the most part, yes he was functional.

Roman, Kyle threw 5 picks in the Cincinnati game last year. This what I don't understand; Why are there so many Grossman Bashers? I don't get it. How many TD passes does he have? Im sure he'll reach 20 TD passes before the year is up. Wasn't Erik Kramer the last Bear QB to throw for more than 20 TD passes? I guess what I'm trying to say is, Rex could be the best QB the bears had in Years. Yes he does tend to get a little wild sometimes. But I like that about him. It's better than playing scared, like a lot of former Bears QBs in the past. I don't know, maybe I should hop on the Rex and lovie bash wagon. That seem like the thing to do even though the team is 8-1.

Jermaine... mind your own business. I don't care what you think I sound like. I know better.

Roman responds: Alright guys, this was the last personal message. Let's stay on topic.

Roman, I think this topic is pretty well settled. Rex has proven he has the ability to get the job done. He has an unbreakable spirit and is a leader on the field and in the locker room. The coaching staff is 100% behind him but more importantly the team is 100% behind him. Anyone that has ever played team sports knows you dont mess with that kind of chemistry. He, and this team will have more ups and downs but they have shown that they can play through adversity with Rex at the helm.

If anyone saw the Jets-Patriots game you had better get ready for a replay of the Miami game. The Jets blitzed the entire game and sacked Brady four times, he fumbled once and threw a pick - sound familiar? Oh, and the Jets ran for 117 yards. Grossman will turn the ball over at least three times next Sunday and the Bears will give up at least 100 yards rushing.

I will say it again, you beat the Bears by running the ball and blitzing Grossman, it's very simple. Since Brown got hurt the Bears cannot stop the run. And when teams consistently blitz the Bears with at least six guys they always win. The Giants, for some unknown reason, blitzed only five in the second half and they couldn't get to the quarterback consistently.

Everyone who thinks Grossman will lead the Bears to the Superbowl is setting themselves up for a BIG disappointment. He has had four years to learn how to read defenses and learn proper mechanics and for whatever reason, just can't do it.

That does sound familiar John. Rex got sacked a few times, threw a pick and fumbled the ball away all while the Bears defense gave up 150 yards on the ground. But he also passed for 246 and 3 touchdowns and led the team to an 18 point victory in a hostile road environment. I guess that means he is better than Tom Brady!

Also, keep in mind this fantastic Jets team that beat the Patriots is the same team that was dominated by the Clevland Browns the week before.

What I find most interesting is that, despite the fact that Lovie "doesn't call the plays," he's still to blame for the playcalling being so poor.

Mark is at least partly right--the QB issue should be settled, but I doubt anyone will let it be as such. Rex is the quarterback; if he's the man of the future, the Bears are going to have to let him sink or swim (like they should have let Kyle do). He's stepped up most of the time, and the rest of the team has come through when he hasn't (except against Miami).

Looking ahead--I don't know what to make of the J-E-T-S. What I do know is that all the rushing yards in the world don't matter squat if the D gets tough in the red zone, which the Bears' D can do. Yes, Brown is gone, but what else is new? The team has so many D-backs that it doesn't matter too much (Manning is solid, and both Harris and Johnson are equally). Based on the Miami game, I'd have picked NY by 3; but now things are even at worst.

The head coach is responsible for the long-term quality of the play calling. He delegates that duty to the OC but is still responsible. He is responsible for the performance of all coaches and players on the team. If they do not perform it is his job to take corrective action. Not to just stand there looking clueless until the season is over. I find it quite comical that so many people don't understand how that works.

B. Griese should be the QB now. Forget Rex, he's a lost cause!

No I think Rex is gonna have a very good game each week from now on.

Rex needs to operate from the shotgun more often. And use a lot of draw plays. Let the opposing linemen have to run a little farther to get to him. Their tongues will be hanging out of their mouths by the second half.

For all those who want Griese to start, remember this, if Brian was SO GOOD, why didn't he stay with Denver/Tampa Bay or Florida.

C'mon THEY KNOW he's not the answer; why don't we.

Go Rex!