At the halfway point of the 2008 season, the Bears are 5-3 and in first place in the NFC North. They have been arguably the most competitive team in the NFL this season.
Their three losses—all against very good teams from the NFC South (the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Atlanta Falcons)--have come by a combined eight points.
They partially avenged their Super Bowl loss to the Indianapolis Colts. They defeated a Philadelphia team that is poised to make a run at the Super Bowl. They survived a shootout with a divisional opponent in the Minnesota Vikings. And they swept the worst team in the NFL, the Detroit Lions.
They have a slightly overrated running game in rookie Matt Forte. They have seven decent receiving targets, none of whom is even a quality number two wide receiver. Their return man, Devin Hester, has transformed from the greatest return man in the history of the NFL into a below-average kick and punt returner. And their defense, which carried them to the Super Bowl just two years ago, has dropped to eighteenth in the league and can no longer win ball games by itself.
So how are they winning? Two words: Kyle Orton.
The 25-year-old quarterback won the starting job in training camp. Little expectations were in store for Orton in the 2008 season, but the former Purdue standout has shone under the spotlight.
Orton has passed for almost 1800 yards through the air. He has thrown for ten touchdowns. More importantly, he has led his team to five wins and has garnered a reputation as a quarterback who rarely makes mistakes.
Indeed, Orton has thrown just four interceptions this season—none in the past four games. Two came in an overtime loss to Tampa Bay, a game in which Orton still posted a very-respectable passer rating of 83.9. The other two came against an Eagles defense that also allowed Orton to throw for three touchdown passes.
He has shown potential. Not just glimpses of potential, but lots of potential. He has proven that he can be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.
And now, thanks to a high ankle sprain suffered against the Detroit Lions, he will likely be sidelined for a month, giving way to Rex Grossman.
Rex Grossman played for the Bears the year they reached the Super Bowl (2006). He happened to be their starting quarterback. But saying the Bears reached the Super Bowl because of Rex Grossman is like saying that Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three NBA titles because of his foul shooting. The Bears reached the Super Bowl despite Rex Grossman. Grossman had one of the worst seasons by a starting quarterback in recent memory.
He did throw 23 touchdowns, but also threw 20 interceptions, third most in the NFL. Here are some of his statistics from that roller-coaster season:
14 of 37 for 144 yards, 4 interceptions, and 2 lost fumbles. He added -7 yards rushing and posted a passer rating of 10.2.
15 of 34 for 176 yards, 3 interceptions, and 1 lost fumble. Passer rating: 23.6.
6 of 19 for 34 yards and 3 interceptions. -9 yards rushing. Passer rating: 1.3.
2 of 12 for 33 yards, 3 interceptions, and 1 lost fumble in limited action. Passer rating: 0.
2 interceptions, 1 for a touchdown, and 2 fumbles, 1 lost in the Super Bowl.
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