Grossman leads Bears in upset of Vikings

The Chicago Bears rookie quarterback, Rex Grossman, played error free football in his first NFL start to help the Bears upset the Minnesota Vikings, 13-10.

Grossman threw for 157 yards on 13 completions and no interceptions. He did fumble one snap, but recovered it for a one-yard loss.

The rookie also was sacked just once and managed to get some good protection from what could be considered a patchwork offensive line.

He also benefited from the fact that the Vikings did not blitz him as much until later on in the second half.

The scoring began when the kicker Paul Edinger nailed a 38-yard field goal on the Bears opening drive.

They held the Vikings most of the day by paying extra attention to Randy Moss, allowing him only nine catches for 93 yards and one touchdown. However, while putting extra coverage on him, they allowed rookie running back Onterrio Smith to gain 148 yards.

The Bears made it 10-0 when Anthony Thomas hurdled into the end zone from one-yard out capping off a 75-yard drive, which was highlighted by a 39-yard pass from Grossman to Marty Booker. The catch was challenged by Minnesota, but in the end, it was determined that Booker did come down with both feet in bounds. That pass was Grossman's longest and perhaps best looking pass of the game.

The Vikings finally got on the board towards the end of the first half when kicker Aaron Elling booted a 22-yard yard field goal with just over a minute left to amke it 10-3 at the half in the Bears favor.

Following a muffed punt by Minnesota near the end of the third quarter, Chicago got another field goal, this one from 22 yards, to make it 13-3.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings came down the field on a seven-play, 64-yard drive that was capped by a 16-yard catch and run by Moss. This brought the Vikings to within three points and put the Bears lead in jeopardy.

The game came down to the last Vikings drive, as Minnesota moved down the field and set up shop at the Chicago 10-yard line. Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper, threw a lob to Moss at the right side of the end zone, a play that has worked for them time and time again. However, Moss watched as cornerback Charles Tillman ripped the ball out of his hands to land harmlessly next to him. That play, coming with just one minute and two seconds on the clock, sealed the victory for the Bears.

The Bears had a pretty good game plan against the Vikings, and they didn't make too many mistakes like they had done the previous week against Green Bay. The rookies on the team provided Chicago with solid efforts and some outstanding play and, most important, hope for a good future.