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.
25 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
T.W. Krems 8 months ago
I hope your not a bears fan saying things like that. Grossman has the talent but in past years his mechanics were not sound. Now he has time to take in the game and we will see what he makes of that opportunity. Yes Kyle Orton has done well, but if you take away the run game and the defense when they have been good, Orton is not going to win games. He can't be a Drew Brees or Kurt Warner, putting up 350 plus yards every game. Forte and the defense are equaly responsible as Orton for the teams succses. Show some support man.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
Show some support? I'm not a Bears fan or a Bears hater. I'm an Eagles fan, not that that is relevant. But I think Orton can and has won games for this team. Give him some credit. I have zero respect for Grossman as a starter until he proves that he is not an enormous Achilles' heel.
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T.W. Krems 8 months ago
I do give Orton credit, Orton was in the same situation before he was named the starter, he proved his worth and now Rex will prove his.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
What from the past would make you think that Rex Grossman will now prove his worth?
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T.W. Krems 8 months ago
First he has the talent, now if he has improved his mechanics thats all that matters. He is a leader in the locker room and his teammates respect and support him. He has had the time to realize that when he gets his chance, he needs to make it count. I think he will make it count in a good way. In short he has had the time to mature. The difference between Grossman and a guy like Aaron Rodgers is that Rodgers had the time to mature behind a great player, Grossman did not.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
I don't think he has improved. That's why I showed his stats vs the Lions on Sunday. Being a great clubhouse leader is awesome but it doesnt win games on the field. Grossman needs to find a way to blend in because he is a turnover machine and can singlehandedly lose games himself.
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T.W. Krems 8 months ago
He has in the past, but coming off the bench Sunday, even though he wasnt 100%, he still played a big role in winning that game, even if it was the Lions.
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Cody Swartz 8 months ago
Man, I'd hate to be a Bears fan and have to rely on Grossman to win my team games...
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waldo 8 months ago
I'm glad i'm a Bears fan relying Rex for the win sunday! I have faith in him.
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Craig Swartz 8 months ago
I'm not sure why you have faith in him other than being a blind loyalist. How many times does he have to suck before you realize he's not the answer? He stunk against Detroit last week. You're aware you play Tennessee this week, right? Their defense will eat him for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Continue to believe in him if you want. I'm glad he's not my qb.
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T.W. Krems 8 months ago
Come on guys, he did not stink against Detroit. He scored two TDs to win the game and you have to realize he hadnt gotten reps in practice with the offense prior to the Ortons injury, so he was like 60-70% off the bench.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
His statistics stunk. He was able to lead the first place Bears to a victory against the worst team in the NFL. That's not worth bragging about.
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Craig Swartz 8 months ago
So 8-18, 58 yds and an int doesn't stink. Hey, he's all yours.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
I would rather start Dan Orlovsky than Rex Grossman. He doesn't turn the ball over; he just runs out the back of the end zone
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T.W. Krems 8 months ago
So you rather have a guy in Orlovsky how gives the other team points than a guy who has had trouble in the past? Let put it this way, If Rex Grossman can 8/18 for 58 yards and 2 TDs and a pick against the Titans and win, but Aaron Rodger can pass for two TDs and over 300 yards in a loss to the Titans. I will take Grossman. The completions and passing yards dont matter. It is about the turnovers and TDs. If a guy can throw for 50 yards but 4 touchdowns, its better than a guy throwing 500 yards and 2 tds. Lets leave it alone for now and on Sunday after the game we will know who is right here.
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Craig Swartz 8 months ago
Whether the Bears win or lose on Sunday is not the determining factor of this article. Rex Grossman is a crappy qb. There are 52 other players on a roster besides the starting qb. If you have enough talent with those other guys you can overcome garbage like Grossman. I'm ambivalent about the Bears, I'm not sure why I got caught up in this discussion. But for the life of me, I don't understand your love affair with him. Like I said before, he's all yours. Please keep him off the Eagles, I'd rather have talent at qb.
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Jared High 8 months ago
REX IS SO BAD!!!!
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Jake Perper 8 months ago
Rex is making more money than any of you guys. I dont think he really cares if people think hes bad or if he really is bad, but he's not. Leave the poor guy alone. Eli Manning had the same stats last year than Grossman in 2006, 23 tds and 20 ints, but Eli had more fumbles and he was the first pick in the draft rather than the 22nd
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
Money is completely irreleveant to this discussion and we all know it.
I think Eli is overrated by the way. I think he is hands down the worst quarterback in the NFC East. However, Eli was fantastic in the playoffs and 2006 will probably be one of the worst seasons of his career.
I don't really know if Rex Grossman will improve on 2006. He might be that bad again.
And I don't care where they were drafted. I don't mention that and it is also irrelevant.
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Jake Perper 8 months ago
Whtvr Bryn there is a nicer way to reply to someone! But my point is Rex was once Good Rex and once Bad Rex i think the good will show up this weekend. The Freakin media bashes this guy but loves Eli i know Eli won them the superbowl but he isnt much better. Keep in mind Rex had no offensive line, running game or receivers last season and then the media forced them to put in Griese. That prick Jay Mariotti started this whole Grossman hate club. If you want to hate a guy who has a good record as a bear than go right ahead.
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
First of all, the media doesn't make a team start a guy. That's the coach's decision. If he lets Jay Mariotti influence his decision, that's his own fault.
Second of all, I know there is good Rex and bad Rex, but why would you expect good Rex to show up this weekend? It was bad Rex against the worst team in the NFL. Why would it be good Rex against the best team in the NFL? Tennessee's defense will more likely than not rip him to shreds. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned the ball over four times.
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Jake Perper 8 months ago
Whtvr ull see just wait for this sunday than Ill say i told u so
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
I guess you won't.
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Doug Dwyer 8 months ago
My God. Who pick that picture? Some kind of sarcasm statement?
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Bryn Swartz 8 months ago
It's a real picture dude.
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