Tribune reporter John Mullin turns in his report card for Sunday’s game.
QUARTERBACK
C-
Rex Grossman broke his three-starts-and-an-injury jinx but threw several poor passes that should have been intercepted and two that were, one for a TD. His passer rating was 64.9, but he did throw the game-winning TD, the first of his career in a fourth quarter.
RUNNING BACKS
C+
Thomas Jones carried just six times for 14 yards in the first half but hit his stride in the third quarter with 36 yards on four carries on a go-ahead drive. His pass blocking against Minnesota’s blitzes was critical and he played all 63 snaps.
RECEIVERS
A-
Rashied Davis’ 24-yard catch provided the winning TD with 1:53 remaining. Muhsin Muhammad had nine catches and his second 100-yard game (118) in three weeks. Bernard Berrian had a costly drop in the second quarter but finished with six catches, two for third-down conversions on second-half scoring drives.
OFFENSIVE LINE
B-
Struggled to deal with a potent Minnesota rush and blitz package for the entire game, giving up several hits on Grossman. The Metrodome noise had more effect on this group than any other, but the blocking was key to the Bears scoring on four of their final six possessions.
DEFENSIVE LINE
B-
Tommie Harris matched his ’05 total with his third sack of the season and forced the fourth-quarter fumble that Adewale Ogunleye recovered to set up the winning TD. Rookie Mark Anderson pursued a play halfway across the field to recover a fumble and thwart a scoring threat.
LINEBACKERS
C-
Missed tackles plagued all areas of the defense, in particular this group. Brian Urlacher had a team-high 10 tackles and Lance Briggs six, but the Vikings were able to rush for 97 yards, too many of them after initial hits by defenders. Minnesota’s offense did not cross the goal line, but the play was well short of dominating.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
D+
The Vikings had too many significant gains once running backs got past the line of scrimmage, and tackling was poor. Mike Brown forced a fumble, but no defensive back broke up a pass. Rookie safety Danieal Manning was credited with four tackles in his first NFL start.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A
Robbie Gould continues to be solid from long range, converting from 42 and 49 yards. He’s 10-for-10 for the season after Sunday’s 4-for-4. Rashied Davis averaged 29 yards on four kick returns. Devin Hester did little with his punt returns and first try at a kickoff return. Penalties on Charles Tillman and Jamar Williams hurt the kicking game.
COACHING
A-
Nine penalties in the first half is unacceptable, and two time- outs were spent on unsuccessful appeals. But the offense stayed within itself, the defense bent but didn’t break and special teams allowed no post-kick possession to start beyond the Bears’ 38.
