 | Right Where We Left Off2002-09-09
Heading into this game, if you would have told me that our defense would allow 141 rushing yards, and that we would send four starters to the locker room, I would have said that you are on the pipe. Unfortunately it was true. The Bears defense was hit in the mouth, and unlike last season, it was the offense that needed to step up. And step up they did...
Early in the game, Vikings coach Mike Tice made it abundantly clear that their goal was going to be to hit the Bears in the teeth on the ground. Using a combination of Michael Bennett and Moe Williams, the Vikings ground it out, keeping the defense honest to open up their passing game. The Vikings were able to keep the big hosses in the middle gasping for breath by utilizing misdirection runs, isolating Brian Urlacher, and lining fullback Jim Kleinsasser up as more of an H-back outside of the tight end or tackle. The new approach worked, and the Bears defense began to wear down.
The Vikings scored first with a 30-yard field goal from Doug Brien. But the Bears answered back immediately with Jim Miller hitting Marty Booker in the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown. The Bears scoring drive was set up by a 23-yard punt return by Leon Johnson to the Vikings 29-yard line.
But the Vikings answered back, thanks to the poor coverage of linebacker Warrick Holdman. Holdman, who was covering Vikings tight end Byron Chamberlain got beat badly as Chamberlain went down the center of the field and connected with a Daunte Culpepper pass, which he rumbled 61-yards to the Bears one-yard line. Culpepper promptly took it in for a score on the next play. The pass to Chamberlain further emphasizes my opinion that Holdman is a liability against the pass, and that Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache should consider putting Mike Cladwell in on passing downs. Holdman was also responsible for a taunting penalty later in the game that allowed the Vikings to continue their drive after stopping them on third down. The drive eventually led to a Vikings field goal.
The Vikings would go into the locker room at halftime ahead of the Bears 20-10, after Randy Moss caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Daunte Culpepper. Moss, leaped over a short fence that was about 10 feet behind the endzone, and appeared to lightly jab the Bear fans before he tossed the ball to the ref. The play that set up the Vikings score was a fumble by Jim Miller who never had control of the snap, while trying to hand the ball of to Thomas. What made this play even more upsetting was that prior to it, Marty Booker dropped what may have been an easy touchdown on a slant route. The Booker drop was a beautifully thrown pass that Booker just failed to reel in.
The Bears went into the locker room with an injured R.W. McQuarters and Phillip Daniels. McQuarters suffered a sprained knee, and Daniels a sprained ankle. I did see McQuarters on the sidelines on crutches, but hopefully it was only a precaution.
The third quarter saw little action as the only points scored were a 49-yard field goal by Paul Edinger giving the Vikings a 20-13 lead. The Vikings would then extend their lead on their next possession on a nine play drive that ended with another Doug Brien field goal.
With a little over eight minutes left in the game, Jim Miller went to work. Connecting with Marty Booker for a 54-yard pass play, Miller set up a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Thomas, which cut the Vikings lead to three with only 6:13 left. The Bears defense came up with another big play, and like deja`vu all over again, it was Mike Brown who came up with the play of the game.
Driving past midfield, Culpepper dropped back and let a pass go that was intended for D`Wayne Bates, but "Smack" Brown had another idea. Snagging the pass out of the sky, it appeared as if the pass was intended for Brown instead of Bates. Brown returned the interception to the Bears 49-yard line, where Miller went to work. Airing a pass to the endzone, Marty Booker couldn`t reel in the delivery from Miller. It was a great throw with sweet touch. With a little over two minutes to go, the Bears decided to go to the ground where runningbacks Leon Johnson and A-Train blasted through the Viking defense, keeping the drive alive. Bears tight end John Davis made one of the most important catches of the game as he caught his only pass for a first down to the Vikings 9-yard line. Then it was second-year wideout David Terrell who shook off the rust of his mediocre preseason by once again performing in the clutch by hauling in a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving the Bears a 27-23 lead. On the Vikings ensuing drive, Rosevelt Colvin came around right tackle and slapped the ball loose and Bryan Knight fell on it to seal the Bears first victory of 2002.
Areas of Concern: Defensive Line
The defensive line, in my opinion looked horrible against the Vikings. Their play prohibited Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher from being a huge factor in the game. Urlacher was able to get isolated because the defensive line was not getting any rush at all, and Ted Washington looks as if he lost not only a step, but several steps. Keith McKenzie was the only defensive lineman to get pressure on the quarterback and in my opinion deserves more playing time.
Game Balls:
John Shoop, Jim Miller, Marty Booker, David Terrell, John Davis, Dez White, Anthony Thomas, Leon Johnson, Rosevelt Colvin, Reggie Austin, Mike Brown, Jerry Azumah, Brian Urlacher, Mike Green
Article by: Jeffrey Timmes
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