As the snow began to fall at Soldier Field, the fans let out a large cheer. It was refreshing to hear them, as they didn't have much to yell about during a Bears' 21-14 loss to the still unbeaten Tennessee Titans.
Rex Grossman played just as we remembered him -- erratic. A drive in the third quarter illustrated Grossman's problems perfectly. First, Devin Hester beat his defender on a long pass that could have changed the game, but Grossman overthrew the ball. Then, after Marty Booker ran a route perfectly, Grossman threw the ball over his head. His strong start, with a drive for a touchdown that included a successful conversion on 4th and one, was erased by the poor play in the rest of the game.
The defense is just as much to blame. Their coverage on the Titans' passing game was anemic, seemingly content to let Tennessee pile up first downs. The Titans only ran for 19 yards because running the ball seemed pointless when the passing game was so successful.
The only aspect of the defense that seemed to work was when the Bears stopped the run. That was until the fourth quarter, when LenDale White powered into the end zone to put Tennessee up by two touchdowns.
There were some bright spots for the Bears today. Devin Hester played with a spark, making a key catch before a touchdown in the first quarter, and getting a 35-plus yard return in the fourth quarter. Matt Forte had another strong game, gaining 72 yards and both touchdowns.
Unfortunately, the low lights dominated the game for the Bears. Booker looked lost throughout the game. Grossman's play doesn't need to be discussed again, but it's safe to say that Orton was Kyle Orton was dearly missed. Even the normally unflappable Robbie Gould had a field goal blocked.
