QUARTERBACK: C
Rex Grossman had a dismal first half, completing 5 of 11 passes for 7 yards while losing more than that (8 yards) on the Jets’ only sack of the game. He made some inaccurate throws under pressure and finished 11 of 22 for 119 yards, his lowest output of the season. But he threw a touchdown pass and, most importantly, no interceptions.
RUNNING BACKS: A-
Thomas Jones handled the ball on eight of the first nine plays, gaining 35 yards in the first quarter on his way to his fourth 100-yard game in the last six, with 23 carries for 121 yards. Cedric Benson added 51 yards on 10 carries as the Bears piled up a season-best 173 yards on the ground.
RECEIVERS: C+
Mark Bradley’s catch-and-run 57-yard touchdown was his second score in two weeks and was part of his team-high four catches for 80 yards. Muhsin Muhammad had only two catches for 29 yards, but one was a key 28-yarder on third down.
OFFENSIVE LINE: A-
The blocking dealt well with a Jets 3-4 base front that showed blitzes on a majority of snaps and kept the rush off Grossman for most of the game while gradually taking over up front. Center Olin Kreutz vs. Jets nose tackle Dewayne Robertson was a pivotal win for the Bears.
DEFENSIVE LINE: A-
Adewale Ogunleye pressured Chad Pennington into an end-zone interception in the second quarter to end a scoring threat and picked up a sack to go with six tackles. Alex Brown forced an interception with pressure. Mark Anderson recorded a tackle for loss as part of a rush that provided pressure despite the Jets’ quick-release offense.
LINEBACKERS: A
Brian Urlacher’s end-zone interception saved a touchdown and he tied for the team high with 11 tackles. Lance Briggs added seven tackles and a pass breakup. Urlacher (2), Briggs, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Rod Wilson produced tackles for loss in the first half.
SECONDARY: B+
Todd Johnson was the target of implied criticism last week but played perhaps the best run support in the secondary and tied Urlacher with 11 tackles. Ricky Manning Jr., Danieal Manning and Nathan Vasher each had seven tackles and Vasher intercepted a Pennington pass.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B+
Robbie Gould converted a 20-yard field goal to go 24-for-24 on the season. Brad Maynard was superb in a game of field position, punting eight times for a 42.9-yard average, while the coverage units controlled one of the best return games in the NFL. Recovering the onside kick to start the second half was momentum-turning.
COACHING: A-
The Bears were prepared for the Jets’ offensive scheming and muddle-huddling. The offense committed to the run and stayed with it in a game in which one mistake could have changed everything.
