Tribune reporter John Mullin turns in his report card for Sunday’s game.
QUARTERBACK
A
Rex Grossman shook off the Arizona nightmare, completed 18 of 22 passes in the first half for 202 yards and three TDs and finished with 23 completions in 29 attempts for a passer rating of 137.4. His play-action fakes were Brett Favre-Peyton Manning quality, freezing the defense. Brian Griese played most of the fourth quarter and completed 2 of 3 passes.
RUNNING BACKS
A
Bears backs rushed for 147 yards and caught nine passes. Thomas Jones had 66 yards on 14 carries in the first half, 111 total for his second 100-yard game of the year, and showed his dominant all-around form of 2005, running with power inside and making cutbacks when the 49ers overpursued. Jones and Cedric Benson each scored on a 1-yard plunge.
RECEIVERS
A
Desmond Clark continued his strong season with a teamhigh six catches for 86 yards and two TDs, the fourth time in seven games he has caught four or more passes. Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad each had five catches, Muhammad collecting his 50th career TD and accounting for 65 yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
A
Right tackle Fred Miller controlled Pro Bowler Bryant Young, and the Bears controlled the line of scrimmage throughout. Center Olin Kreutz and guards Ruben Brown and Roberto Garza opened lanes through the middle and left tackle John Tait anchored protection that kept Grossman unsacked and largely untouched. Run blocking was solid throughout.
DEFENSIVE LINE
B+
Adewale Ogunleye returned to the starting lineup and had a sack, as did rookie Mark Anderson, giving him 7.5 for the season. Anderson caused a fumble on a sack for the second straight game. Tommie Harris and Israel Idonije recovered fumbles.
LINEBACKERS
A-
Overrated? Brian Urlacher was credited with a pass deflection, an acrobatic interception of the deflected ball and a pair of hits on QB Alex Smith. Lance Briggs forced a Smith fumble. The 49ers’ Frank Gore rushed for 111 yards, but only 33 in the first half when it mattered.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
B
Todd Johnson had five solo tackles and two forced fumbles in his first start for injured Mike Brown. Charles Tillman was credited with eight solo stops and Ricky Manning Jr. (right) recovered a fumble. Danieal Manning had three tackles, one to save a TD.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A-
Robbie Gould continued his perfect season with a field goal of 43 yards and put three of his first six kickoffs in the end zone. Adrian Peterson forced a fumble and Cameron Worrell recovered it to set up a TD on a 49ers kickoff return. Devin Hester ripped off a 42-yard punt return to position the offense for another TD. And this was all within the first 20 minutes. Brad Maynard averaged 51.3 yards on three punts and Rashied Davis averaged 24.3 yards on three kickoff returns.
COACHING
A
The coaches challenged the team to bury any lingering thoughts of the Arizona game and schemed to the Bears’ strengths. The Bears ran the ball 33 times and passed it 32 and never allowed the 49ers into the game offensively. Special teams put the 49ers in holes and the defense made it stand up.
