Okay, quick version of my intro because I just wasted the last four hours of my life watching the Cubs blow a chance to sweep their smug neighbors to the south.

The White Sox, well, probably best not to speak of them. Yikes.

What to watch for:

• Since Rex did fairly well in his first preseason game, he probably has a little leeway in this second game. His job certainly isn't in jeopardy, but it remains to see if that makes him more relaxed or more lackadaisical.

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• The defense looked good, holding the Texans without a third-down conversion in the first half. But that was against the Texans. This is the Colts. Third-down percentage was a strength of the Bears' defense last season, so keeping that up would not be a bad idea.
• Punt and kickoff coverage gave up a few long returns against the Texans, uncharacteristic of last year's unit. Shoring that up now would certainly let Bears fans breathe easier.
• Cedric Benson from Hall-of-Famer Earl Campbell. Of the three pieces of advice, "stay lower" is the only one that appears to be an issue for Benson at this point.
• Adrian Peterson is still the man. If you don't like me talking about him, sorry, that's the way it is.
• The Chicago Bears: 87 years without a dogfighting guilty plea and counting.

That's about all I got. If you have anything to add, hit me up on the comment board on the right or email me at rstrohl@tribune.com. Also, auto-refresh available as you wish (aaaaaaaaaas youuuuuuuuu wiiiiiiiiiiiiish—Oh my dear sweet Westley, what have I done?).

Okay, just got back from grabbing a quick dinner, and let me just say this: Wood-plank walkways in construction areas plus three days of continual rain equals Rahula almost face-planting in the plaza of the Wrigley Building. The key word there is "almost," so for those of you praying for injury, sorry. I'm unscathed.

FIRST QUARTER

Of course Mike Tirico mentions Devin Hester's Super Bowl return, but neither Hester nor Adam Vinatieri is involved in this kickoff, as the Colts' backup kicker sends it to Rashied Davis at the goal line, and Davis returns it to the 27. From there, Benson goes up the middle for three. Grossman hits Bernard Berrian on a comeback route a couple yards shy of the sticks and he gets one more, gain of six. Benson up the middle (staying low) and he gets a couple for the first. Play fake to Benson, then they set up a delayed screen to Benson. He has a couple of blockers, but Colts DB Matt Giordano (no relation to the pizza, I asked him at the Super Bowl) outruns Ruben Brown to drop Benson a couple yards shy of the sticks. No biggie, as Benson gets the first down up the middle. Hester in the game, they run a quick-out to him and DB Marlin Jackson doesn't fall for it, dropping Hester for a loss of two. Rex is flushed and rolls out left on 2nd and 12, and he finds Berrian up the left sideline for a gain of quite a bit, about 28 to the Colts' 25.. Second down, Grossman flushed again and he throws it away. Benson up the middle for a half a yard, 3rd and 9. Colts defensive end Robert Mathis beats the heck out of Fred Miller, strips the ball from Grossman and Colts defensive tackle Ed Johnson recovers at about the 30 or so, and let the piling on Rex begin.

Okay, check that, let the support of Rex begin. Cherry, Jason and Unbearleavable, I'm proud of you. Manning gets a first down into Bears' territory, and I missed the play 'cause I was checking the board, then a two-yard run sets up 2nd and 8, from where Adewale Ogunleye sacks Manning back into Colts' territory. It's 3rd and 15 from the Colts' 47, from where Reggie Wayne finds a pocket in the Bears' coverage for a first down, but Peyton Manning throws behind him and Wayne can't make the adjustment. Hester catches the punt fairly at the Bears' 13.

Swing pass to Benson on the right side for three, then Benson gets a couple into the line, 3rd and 5 from the 18. Five-step drop and he throws it it right between the 2 and the 8 in Marlin Jackson's jersey, returned back to the 17. Jeez, Rex, this ain't gonna make your job any easier. Manning hits Marvin Harrison on a quick seam for a first down to the 6, then Joseph Addai gets a yard or so. Addai sidesteps a tackle at the line and shoots forward to the 1. Addai gets stood up by Ogunleye and Dusty Dvoracek on the 1, that's 0-for-2 on 3rd down for the Colts, but they're going for it. Manning fakes a fade to Harrison in the right corner of the end zone, tosses it over the middle to Addai just on the scoring side of the goal line, but Hunter Hillenmeyer will have none of it. Bears take over on their 1.

I gotta say, as much as ESPN is screwing up these days, they're doing a pretty good job on Monday Night Football. I especially like the "Is it Monday yet?" ad campaign. Benson gets three. Rex fumbles the snap and is dropped for a loss of one. Holy Jordan, what is going on here? Benson right of center for three and the Bears will punt on 4th and 5 from their 6. Punt to the Colts' 47, returned to the Bears' 46. That's more like it, 48-yard punt, 41-yard net.

JP, I can only assume you were out of the country for the 2004 season, and didn't "get" to watch Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel or Chad Hutchinson. Yes, Grossman is leaving plenty to be desired, but worst in the history? He's not even the worst Bears QB in the past four years. Weak-side screen to Joseph Addai and Lance Briggs blows it up for a gain of only two. Addai around left end for five to the 39. Quick slant to Marvin Harrison gets the first down and I'm not really sure there's any way to defend those guys when they're on. That's the first third-down conversion the Bears' first-string defense has allowed. Reggie Wayne has some room down the left sideline and steps out of bounds at the 12 as the clock rolls under a minute. Peyton goes up the right sideline to Harrison, but Charles Tillman is step-for-step with him and the ball sails out of bounds, anyway. Addai goes left, runs through a tackle attempt by I believe Hillenmeyer and gets eight as the quarter is over.

Scoreless

SECOND QUARTER

Addai shoots up the middle for a touchdown. Some Rex hating going on over on the board, and at this point, even I, the Tribune's resident Rex apologist, can hardly argue. PAT is good, Vinatieri is taking the night off. I guess the Colts are trying to let the next Robbie Gould get his shot at auditioning for a job.