2005 Chicago Bears season
Encyclopedia

Roster

Chicago Bears 2005 roster
Quarterbacks
  •  8 Rex Grossman
    Rex Grossman
    Rex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...

  • 18 Kyle Orton
    Kyle Orton
    Kyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...

  • 11 Jeff Blake
    Jeff Blake
    Jeff Bertrand Coleman Blake is a retired American football quarterback who played in the National Football League. Although he finished his career with the Chicago Bears, he was formerly a quarterback for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona...



Running Backs
  • 37 Jason McKie
    Jason McKie
    Jason A. McKie is an American football fullback who currently a free agent. He was signed as a undrafted free agent out of Temple University by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002....

     FB
  • 49 Marc Edwards FB
  • 29 Adrian Peterson
  • 47 Bryan Johnson
  • 20 Thomas Jones
    Thomas Jones (football player)
    Thomas Quinn Jones is an American National Football League running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of Virginia. Jones has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago...

     RB
  • 32 Cedric Benson
    Cedric Benson
    Cedric Myron Benson is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft...



Wide Receivers
  • 80 Bernard Berrian
    Bernard Berrian
    Bernard Berrian is a free agent American football wide receiver who last played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...

  • 19 Carl Ford
    Carl Ford
    Carl W. Ford Jr. is an American from Arkansas. As Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, he was head the Bureau of Intelligence and Research in the United States State Department from 2001 until 2003, reporting directly to the Secretary of State, Colin Powell.-Biography:Carl...

  • 16 Mark Bradley
    Mark Bradley
    Mark Anthony Bradley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...

  • 21 Rashied Davis
    Rashied Davis
    Rashied Khalid Davis is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at San José State...

  • 87 Muhsin Muhammad
    Muhsin Muhammad
    Muhsin Muhammad II is a retired American football wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...

  • 12 Justin Gage
    Justin Gage
    Justin Gage is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...

  • 84 Bobby Wade
    Bobby Wade
    Robert Louis Wade, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...

  • 86 Eddie Berlin
    Eddie Berlin
    Edward Walton Berlin , is an American football wide receiver. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of the University of Northern Iowa...



Tight Ends
  • 88 Desmond Clark
    Desmond Clark
    Desmond Darice Clark is an American football Tight End who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest...

  • 85 John Gilmore
    John Gilmore (football player)
    John Henry Gilmore, Jr. is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Saints in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...

  • 82 Gabe Reid
    Gabe Reid
    Gabriel "Gabe" Reid is a former American football tight end for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Brigham Young University. Reid played high school football for Leone High School in American Samoa and followed older brother Spencer...

Offensive Linemen
  • 63 Roberto Garza
    Roberto Garza
    Roberto Garza is an American football center and guard for the Chicago Bears of the NFL.-High School Years:Garza attended Rio Hondo High School in Rio Hondo, Texas and was a Letterman in football and track and field...

     G
  • 57 Olin Kreutz
    Olin Kreutz
    Olin George Kreutz is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football for Washington.Kreutz has also played for the New Orleans Saints....

     C
  • 60 Terrence Metcalf
    Terrence Metcalf
    Terrence Orlando Metcalf is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...

     G
  • 69 Fred Miller T
  • 68 Ruben Brown
    Ruben Brown
    Ruben Parnell Brown is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 14th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh....

     G
  • 78 John St. Clair
    John St. Clair
    John Bradley St. Clair is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.St...

     T
  • 62 Lennie Friedman
    Lennie Friedman
    Leonard Lebrecht Friedman is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League....

     G
  • 75 Marc Colombo
    Marc Colombo
    Marc Edward Colombo is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He played college football for Boston College...

     T
  • 72 Qasim Mitchell
    Qasim Mitchell
    Qasim Mitchell is an American football offensive lineman who is currently playing for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2002...

     G
  • 79 Steve Edwards T
  • 76 John Tait T


  • Defensive Linemen
    • 96 Alex Brown
      Alex Brown (football player)
      Alex James Brown is an American football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League for nine seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. In addition to the Bears, Brown...

       DE
    • 91 Tommie Harris
      Tommie Harris
      Tommie Harris, Jr. is an American football defensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma.Harris has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts...

       DT
    • 71 Israel Idonije
      Israel Idonije
      Israel Idonije is a Nigerian-Canadian defensive end for the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Manitoba...

       DE/DT
    • 93 Adewale Ogunleye
      Adewale Ogunleye
      Adewale Ogunleye is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Indiana.-Early years:...

       DE
    • 67 Jamaal Green
      Jamaal Green
      Jamaal Hakeem Green is an American football defensive end in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and the Washington Redskins. Green played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted in...

       DE
    • 97 Michael Haynes DE
    • 70 Alfonso Boone
      Alfonso Boone
      Alfonso D. Boone is an American football defensive end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mt...

       DT
    • 95 Ian Scott DT
    • 99 Tank Johnson
      Tank Johnson
      Terry "Tank" Johnson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....

       DT
    • 71 Israel Idonije
      Israel Idonije
      Israel Idonije is a Nigerian-Canadian defensive end for the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Manitoba...

       DT
    Linebackers
  • 94 Brendon Ayanbadejo
    Brendon Ayanbadejo
    Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins....

     OLB
  • 55 Lance Briggs
    Lance Briggs
    Lance Marell Briggs is an American football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona.-Early years:A Sacramento native, Briggs attended Elk Grove High...

     OLB
  • 92 Hunter Hillenmeyer
    Hunter Hillenmeyer
    Hunter Taverner Hillenmeyer is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 31st pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. Hillenmeyer attended high school at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville...

     OLB
  • 58 Jeremy Cain
    Jeremy Cain
    Jeremy Robert Cain is an American football linebacker and long snapper for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2004...

     OLB
  • 53 Leon Joe
    Leon Joe
    Leon Maurice Joe is a professional American and Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...

     LB
  • 59 Joe Odom
    Joe Odom
    Joe Edward Odom is an American football linebacker. He was selected with the 18th pick of the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears out of Purdue University. On August 23, 2006, Odom was claimed off of waivers by the Buffalo Bills. He was released on September 2, 2006....

     LB
  • 54 Brian Urlacher
    Brian Urlacher
    Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...

     ILB


  • Defensive Backs
    • 30 Mike Brown SS
    • 43 Mike Green
      Mike Green (defensive back)
      Michael Wayne Green is an American football safety and cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...

       FS
    • 23 Jerry Azumah
      Jerry Azumah
      Jerry Azumah is a former professional American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears.Azumah was selected as the 147th pick of the 1999 NFL Draft out of the University of New Hampshire where he won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in Division I-AA football. He attended Saint...

      CB
    • 26 Davin HollyCB
    • 36 Brandon McGowan
      Brandon McGowan
      Brandon McGowan is an American football safety of the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...

       SS
    • 46 Chris Harris SS
    • 35 Todd Johnson
      Todd Johnson
      Todd Edward Johnson is a former American college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League for seven seasons during the 2000s. Johnson played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears, St...

       SS
    • 33 Charles Tillman
      Charles Tillman
      Charles "Peanut" Tillman is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was selected with the 35th overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft.-Early years:...

       CB


    Special Teams
    •  9 Robbie Gould
      Robbie Gould
      Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...

       K
    •  10 Doug Brien
      Doug Brien
      Douglas Robert Zachariah Brien is a former American football placekicker. He played twelve seasons for seven teams in the National Football League:...

       K
    • 65 Patrick Mannelly
      Patrick Mannelly
      Patrick Mannelly is an American football long snapper for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was originally selected with the 36th pick of the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Duke University.-High school years:...

       LS
    •  4 Brad Maynard
      Brad Maynard
      Bradley "Brad" Alan Maynard is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft...

       P

    Schedule

    Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Record
    1 September 11, 2005 Washington Redskins
    Washington Redskins
    The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...

     
    L 9–7 FedEx Field  FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    0-1
    2 September 18, 2005 Detroit Lions
    Detroit Lions
    The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

     
    W 38-6 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    1-1
    3 September 25, 2005 Cincinnati Bengals
    Cincinnati Bengals
    The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...

     
    L 24-7 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

    CBS
    NFL on CBS
    The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...

     
    1-2
    4 Bye
    5 October 9, 2005 Cleveland Browns
    Cleveland Browns
    The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    L 20–10 Cleveland Browns Stadium
    Cleveland Browns Stadium
    -See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    1-3
    6 October 16, 2005 Minnesota Vikings
    Minnesota Vikings
    The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

     
    W 28-3 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    2-3
    7 October 23, 2005 Baltimore Ravens
    Baltimore Ravens
    The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

     
    W 10-6 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    CBS
    NFL on CBS
    The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...

     
    3-3
    8 October 30, 2005 Detroit Lions
    Detroit Lions
    The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

     
    W 19-13 Ford Field
    Ford Field
    Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...

    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    4-3
    9 November 6, 2005 New Orleans Saints
    New Orleans Saints
    The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

     
    W 20-17 Tiger Stadium  FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    5-3
    10 November 13, 2005 San Francisco 49ers
    San Francisco 49ers
    The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

     
    W 17-9 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    6-3
    11 November 20, 2005 Carolina Panthers
    Carolina Panthers
    The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...

     
    W 13-3 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    7-3
    12 November 27, 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...

     
    W 13-10 Raymond James Stadium
    Raymond James Stadium
    Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    8-3
    13 December 4, 2005 Green Bay Packers
    Green Bay Packers
    The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

     
    W 19-7 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    9-3
    14 December 11, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
    Pittsburgh Steelers
    The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

     
    L 21-9 Heinz Field
    Heinz Field
    Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    9-4
    15 December 18, 2005 Atlanta Falcons
    Atlanta Falcons
    The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    W 16-3 Soldier Field
    Soldier Field
    Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...

     
    ESPN
    ESPN Sunday Night Football
    ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....

     
    10-4
    16 December 25, 2005 Green Bay Packers
    Green Bay Packers
    The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

     
    W 24-17 Lambeau Field
    Lambeau Field
    Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    11-4
    17 January 1, 2006 Minnesota Vikings
    Minnesota Vikings
    The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

     
    L 34-10 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...

     
    FOX
    Fox Sports (USA)
    Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...

     
    11-5

    Standings

    W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

    Week 1: at Washington Redskins

    Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

    Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

    Week 5: at Cleveland Browns

    Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings

    Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens

    Week 8: at Detroit Lions

    Week 9: at New Orleans Saints

    Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers

    Week 11: vs. Carolina Panthers

    Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers

    Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers

    Week 15: vs. Atlanta Falcons

    Week 16: at Green Bay Packers

    Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings

    NFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Carolina Panthers

    The Bears would host their first playoff game since the 2001 season against the red hot Panthers, fresh off a victory over Eli Manning
    Eli Manning
    Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...

     and the New York Giants
    New York Giants
    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

    .

    Things were bad from the beginning for the Bears, who allowed a 58 yard Jake Delhomme
    Jake Delhomme
    Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...

     TD pass to Steve Smith just 55 seconds into the game. Cornerback
    Cornerback
    A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...

     Charles Tillman
    Charles Tillman
    Charles "Peanut" Tillman is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was selected with the 35th overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft.-Early years:...

     slipped on the play, and it would only signify things to come the rest of the game for the vaunted Bears defense.

    The Panthers would add 2 field goals to their total before the Bears would get their first points.

    The Bears offense got off to a slow start, having their first 5 possessions end in punts. Their first score came midway through the second quarter, when running back
    Running back
    A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...

     Adrian Peterson scored a touchdown on a 1 yard run. The Bears had opted to go for it on 4th down to get the score, cutting the Carolina lead to 13-7. Before the half expired, the Panthers' John Kasay
    John Kasay
    John David Kasay is an American football kicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...

     kicked a 37 yard field goal with 5 seconds left in the half, extending the lead to 16-7.

    The Bears offense came out at halftime firing on all cylinders, mounting an 8 play, 68 yard drive to close to within 2 points of the Panther lead. It was a balanced drive that led to the score, with the Bears running and passing 5 times each, with Rex Grossman
    Rex Grossman
    Rex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...

     capping the drive with a 1 yard TD pass to Desmond Clark
    Desmond Clark
    Desmond Darice Clark is an American football Tight End who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest...

    .

    The spark provided by the offense would be short lived, as midway through the 3rd quarter, Delhomme went deep to Steve Smith again, this time for a 39 yard touchdown that put the Panthers up 23-14. Chris Thompson
    Chris Thompson (football player)
    Christopher J. Thompson is an Canadian football cornerback for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.-NFL career:...

    , a reserve defensive back for the Bears, fell down on the play to let Smith slip past him.

    The Bears would manage to score one more time on a drive that started with 2:07 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Grossman would complete 3 of 4 passes on the drive, and running back
    Running back
    A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...

     Thomas Jones
    Thomas Jones (football player)
    Thomas Quinn Jones is an American National Football League running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of Virginia. Jones has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago...

     almost scored on a 7 yard run. After a replay challenge by Carolina, however, the officials reversed the call to say that Jones had fumbled into the endzone, which would have resulted in a Carolina touchback. However, a major facemask penalty on Carolina defensive back
    Defensive back
    In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...

     Marlon McCree
    Marlon McCree
    Marlon Tarron McCree is an American football safety who is currently a free agent, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...

     would give Chicago a first down at the Carolina 3. From there, fullback
    Fullback (American football)
    A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...

     Jason McKie
    Jason McKie
    Jason A. McKie is an American football fullback who currently a free agent. He was signed as a undrafted free agent out of Temple University by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002....

     would rumble in for a touchdown, making the score 23-21 in favor of the Panthers.

    The Panthers would extend their lead once more with a 1 yard Delhomme pass to tight end
    Tight end
    The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

     Kris Mangum
    Kris Mangum
    Kris Thomas Mangum is a former American football player who played tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League throughout his entire NFL career. He attended the University of Mississippi. His father, John Mangum, Sr. and his brother, John Mangum, Jr...

    . Kasay would miss the extra point try though, making the Panther lead 29-21.

    When the Bears offense would start moving the ball once more, disaster struck for the Bears, as on a 3rd-and-10 play from the Carolina 37 yard line, Grossman threw an ill advised interception to Ken Lucas
    Ken Lucas (football player)
    Kenyatta Cornelius Lucas is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...

    . It appeared that the play clock had expired before the snap, which would have resulted in a Chicago 5 yard penalty rather than an interception. The officials, however, apparently didn't see that the clock had expired, and the interception would stand, resulting in a gut wrenching loss for the Bears. http://sports-att.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260115003

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