Why the Bears Lost

I've had this discussion with many people, and although people agree with all my points, they just prefer to point a finger at one person: Rex Grossman.

Rex Grossman hurt the Bears in the superbowl, but he did not single handedly lose the game for them. They failed as an entire team, coaching staff and many players.

The defensive scheme they went with was extremely passive. Normally the bears are in your face, gang tackling and crushing anyone who comes close. They played an extremely conservative game, that let Manning pass all over them with short passes, and allowed the colts to run at will.

Special teams, minus Hesters opening kickoff return and Gould's field goal, were crap. Maynard averaged about 35 yards a punt. We had no coverage on our kickoffs and punts. We kept them in good field position.

Offensive playcalling was bullshit. Who passes with an average quarterback on second and one, in a close game, when your rush offense has been picking up 7 yards a carry?

Yes, Grossman made SEVERAL mistakes. He fumbled twice. A couple of passes he shouldn't have thrown. that wasn't the whole game though. If the actual 2006 Bears defense would have shown up... If special teams would have played remotely normal... If the offense would have had one more effective drive...

It would have been the Bears winning.

As far as Grossman is concerned...
Everyone wants to lynch the guy. I keep hearing comparisons made that "Peyton Manning/Brett Favre/Joe Montana/Dan Marino/John Elway wouldn't have done that." Damn right they wouldn't have. Then again, you are talking about a group of some of the greatest quarterbacks of ALL TIME. Put one of them in their first full season as a QB in the super bowl... and see how they do.

I don't see Grossman ever being at that calibur, but I don't see the Bears ever having a QB like that. The bears are a run offense, super defense team. Teams with that style and set up don't have potential hall of fame QB's. Yeah, I'd love to have a guy the calibur of a Favre line up under center. Not gonna happen.

So, bring Rex back next year. Pick up a quality... 5-6 year vet as a back-up. If Rex plays the same as this year, or worse... move on to a new QB. You can't cut a 4th year player, who has one full season under their belt, at a position that doesn't peak until they are around their 8th or 9th season.

Especially after you made it to the Super Bowl with that guy as your QB.