This game is unreal. Three turnovers and a blocked field goal. I guess between two of the top defenses in the league, punting isn't necessary. They'll just take the ball away from you, thank you very much. Cedric Benson in and he gets two or three. Grossman has time yet again and hits Berrian past the sticks and it's a 13-yard gain. Benson gets a hole off left tackle and bulls his way through Hobbs and Artrell Hawkins for the first down, then gets a couple on first around midfield. Buck has twice mentioned injuries in the Patriots secondary when the Bears make plays against them, has not once mentioned Mike Brown. On the last play of the quarter, Grossman has a little time, steps into a deep throw to Berrian, who makes a leaping catch and is down for 1st and goal.
Bears 0, Patriots 0
SECOND QUARTER
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Remember what I was saying about this game being unreal? Yeah. That. Not surprisingly, the calls for Grossman's head come out from the crowd. Meanwhile, Grossman's hand is more of a concern as the trainers look at it on the sideline. Maroney gets seven up the middle and gets dropped for a loss of one by Urlacher on second down. And now Urlacher's on the sideline while Grossman his throwing warm-up tosses and muttering to himself while shaking his right hand. Double-plus-ungood, as an Orwellian might say. Brady has a little time and finds Kevin Faulk at the 20 for the first down. Play action and Brady hits Daniel Graham on a seam route and Graham makes a great diving catch past the coverage of Hunter Hillenmeyer, 1st and 10 at the 46. Brady then hits Watson in the right flat for nine yards. Urlacher's back on the field as Maroney gets a couple for the first down. He didn't have anything up the middle and wriggled around to find a hole, and Brian Griese is warming up on the sideline. Reche Caldwell makes a sliding catch on the left sideline at the Bears' 27. Bears blitz and Maroney gets six on first down. Some more good vision by Maroney and he gets about 9, and Pats lineman Ryan O'Callaghan is shaken up from trying to block Urlacher with about nine minutes left in the half. To the board, Pat B., you think the Pats have figured out the Bears defense? So far, all they've done is get to the red zone. That's hardly a guarantee against this team. From the 13, Brady hits Maroney out of the backfield and he gets down to the one, then Maroney takes it in. I figured as soon as I argued with Pat B., I'd be the one to get bit in the behind. Stephen Gostkowski (who may also be Bruce Gradkowski) hits the PAT.
Patriots 7, Bears 0, 9:07 left in the half
Manny, I don't know that the Pats made any adjustments. They have a good quarterback and a two-headed rushing attack. The Bears didn't make any particular adjustments to march down to the Pats' 5, either, and it was a fluke mistake that ended the drive. Fox shows their stupid alternate low-angle camera shots of the kickoff return and then cuts to commercial immediately, so I have no idea on what yardline the Bears are. That's also the first kickoff return the Bears have had since the Giants game. From the 25, Grossman looks like his hand isn't totally okay as the ball goes into the dirt on a pass. Aikman said it's hard to tell whether it was his hand or if he was just throwing it away since no one was open. Junior Seau is the latest player to stop the clock for an injury as he drops Benson for no gain. Seau leaves the field with his right arm in a cast. Grossman has some time and hits Muhammad crossing the field on the left side short of the sticks and he gets the first down plus a few to about the 40. Benson bulls through the middle of the Pats defense, bowls over a would-be tackler at the sticks and gets five more to the Pats' 45. The Bears run a flea-flicker that the Pats don't buy, and Grossman shows great awareness to roll out right immediately and hit tight end John Gilmore for a gain of two. Then an inside handoff to fullback Jason McKie gets seven, 3rd and 1. Jones gets what appears to be the first down, and they get it by the nose of the football. Grossman has no one, so he hits underneath to Gilmore for about three. Benson then gets three more. The Pats' blitz gets through the Bears' play-action and Grossman has to throw it away. Gould's is right back on the horse with a 46-yard field goal.
Patriots 7, Bears 3, 4:04 left in the half
To Why Not Me? on the board, I think the shocks on the Bears' bandwagon have already gotten a workout in this first half alone. Maroney drops the kickoff, picks it up, and finds some space because the Bears were swarming and ends up getting tackled from behind by Rod Wilson at the 43. Swing to Dillon on the right side gets a couple. Brady barely gets the handoff to to Dillon before Tank Johnson drops him for a loss of three. Brady has time and a wide-open Chad Jackson, who watches the pass go off his fingertips. The punt rolls out of bounds at the 22.
Grossman hits Berrian on a comeback route on the right side just past the sticks for a first down. Grossman sends it deep for Berrian just before Colvin gets to him and he overthrows everyone. Troy Brown in to play against the slot receiver, Pats blitz, Bears pick it up, and Brown breaks up a crossing route to Muhammad. I grudgingly say that Brown has been pretty impressive in his ability to play on offense, defense and special teams. Grossman hits Desmond Clark in the right flat, and Clark almost breaks free of Mike Vrabel but can't quite get it, 4th down. All right, I'm already sick of commercials for diamonds and Lexuses (Lexi?). I might not make it to Christmas. The Pats get a piece of the punt and it rolls dead at the Pats' 39.
Pass to Faulk and Briggs and Urlacher bring him down with 1:35 left. Brady to Faulk again for a first down to midfield, then Brady scrambles, slides at the Bears' 48 and the Pats call timeout with 1:03 left. Screen pass to Faulk gets about five, and as Briggs brings him down Buck says, "We talk about Urlacher, but Lance Briggs is great." I think Fox has a mandate for all announcers to say that. Maroney gets a first down on a pass, then Brady hits a diving Caldwell for a first down… or is it? Refs will review and it looks like he didn't catch it. News flash from Troy Aikman: "Special teams is such a huge part of the game." The point is well-made, though, watch the columnist-yelling-at-each-other shows all week and the "experts" on SportsCenter and the such, and no one EVER talks about special teams, unless it's Adam Vinatieri or Mike Vanderjagt. Call is overturned and the Pats have it at the 34 with :16 left. Brady tries to hit Watson just behind the defense and Briggs makes a great leaping play on it to bat it down, :12 left on 3rd and 10. Timeout Bears. Brady lofts it deep for Watson inside the 10, I didn't think it was a catch, the refs said it was, and now they're reviewing this one, too. This one will come back and Gostkowski will try for a 52-yarder on 4th and 10 with :06 left. The Pats tried to hurry-up kick it and couldn't. Gostkowski's career long is 49 yards, and he's 10-for-14 on the season. This whole 52-yard field goal business is now official, and it's dark outside in Chicago at quarter to 5 p.m. I don't like it. The Bears call a timeout just as the Pats snap it, and Gostkowski misses what doesn't count. Devin Hester is deep. But it doesn't matter as Gostkowski straightens it out and Lovie put points on the board for the Pats.
Patriots 10, Bears 3, :01 left in the half
Squb kick recovered by the Bears and we go to halftime.
Patriots 10, Bears 3
Halftime thoughts: Boston BearFan, you are exactly right. Lovie gave Gostkowski an idea of what he did wrong so he could fix it. And Anthony, are players not allowed to smile if they're not winning? Especially if it's a one-score game and they get to start the second half with the ball? Anyway, David Haugh had a huge piece in about halftime adjustments. The Bears are outscoring opponents 63-24 in the third quarter while the Patriots are outscoring opponents 52-38 in the third quarter. Is this where the Bears make their move? As for what has already happened, Grossman's throws look good, his decision making looks good, the only huge mistake he made was dropping the snap. As someone on the board said (I can't remember who), the interception was more of a good play on a timing route by the defender than it was a bad play by Grossman. That said, they better come out with at least a field goal on this opening drive.
THIRD QUARTER
Hester field the kickoff, sprints to the 20, runs around the corner and gets to the 36. And by the way, should the Bears lose this game, it's just a bit of all right by . Jones gets five. Jones again up the middle pushes the pile back for three. Jones again, and it doesn't look like he got it, but the refs will measure anyway. The Bears missed it by a couple of inches, and they'll play conservatively and punt. Not wise to go for it against the best defense in the league against 4th down. Punt is a touchback, though, so only a 35-yard net.
As I see the John Mellencamp Chevy commercial for the 17,304th time, I am reminded of this. Dillon gets nothing. Brady hands off to Dillon on a draw and Chris Harris isn't fooled at all, pounding Dillon at the line of scrimmage. Brady underneath to Faulk, Briggs slows him down and Vasher finishes him. Hester catches the ball fairly at the 44, and it's like the Pats never had the ball.
One of Aikman and Buck said when the Bears punted that with their defense, that's the best option. Turns out to be true, as the defense got off the field and gave the offense the ball right back where they had it. Grossman has a little time on a play action, goes deep for Berrian and Bernard can't come up with the jump ball. Miscommunciation on a timing route and Hobbs tips it incomplete. Jones false starts, wiping away what would have been a big gain screen pass. Pats bring the house and Seymour sacks Grossman back to the 33. Maynard's punt goes to the 30, returned to the 32.
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