Week 14 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 42, St. Louis Rams 27

What you need to know

Chicago Bears

The Bears were greatly helped by two kicks returned for touchdowns by Devin Hester. He took one for 94 yards in the first quarter, and later had a 96 yard score.

Rex Grossman looked much better than in recent games. He did not turn the ball over and his decisions were good. He threw for 200 yards and had touchdown passes to Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad.

Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson shared time in the game and Benson actually finished with more carries. But it was Jones that made the biggest impact with runs of 24 yards and 30 yards on consecutive plays. The latter was for a touchdown. Adrian Peterson entered the game in the second half and scored on a one yard run.

Bernard Berrian had a big first half with three receptions for a total of 62 yards which included a 34 yard score. Muhsin Muhammad had the bigger second half with three receptions for a total of 50 yards with a 14 yard score. The receiving opportunities were limited as the Bears only threw eight times in the second half.

The Bears did not do much defensively until late in the game. As the lead grew, the defense was able to exert more pressure. The team finished with three sacks and created one turnover at the end of the game as Bulger desperately tried to hit Isaac Bruce in coverage.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams began the game well and took the lead on a 99 yard scoring drive. Marc Bulger did well against a Bears defense that was missing three starters. He attempted 55 passes and gained 356 yards on the day with three touchdowns.

Steven Jackson scored on a two yard run in the first half to give the Rams a 13-7 lead. He was able to make positive yardage on most plays, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Jackson was effective in the passing game with 10 receptions and a six yard receiving touchdown. He left the game in the second half with cramp in his calf, but was able to return with ten minutes remaining.

Torry Holt scored the first touchdown of the game on a one yard pass from Marc Bulger. Holt dropped at least three passes but scored again on a six yard reception in the second half. Kevin Curtis and Isaac Bruce also had some big plays as the Rams relied on the pass to try and get back in the game.

The Rams’ defense was poor, allowing 172 net rushing yards and 200 net passing yards. They also conceded two touchdowns on kick returns.

What you ought to know

QB Rex Grossman, Pass: 13 - 23 - 200 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - 20 - 0

After watching Brian Griese take 50% of the snaps in practice, Grossman rose to the challenge and had a good game. He converted a third down with a 22 yard scramble early in the game and threw an accurate pass to Bernard Berrian for a 34 yard touchdown reception on the Bears’ fourth drive. Grossman made decisions quickly for the most part and took what the defense gave him. He began the second half very well with two completions to Muhsin Muhammad, and then found Muhammad for a 14 yard touchdown on the Bears’ following drive. The Bears then took control of the game and Grossman only attempted eight passes in the entire second half with the game well in hand. Grossman appeared to lose a fumble after a sack late in the first half, but it was ruled an incomplete pass.

RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 16 - 64 - 0

Benson got a lot of work in the game, and was in as early as the third drive. He seemed to be sharing time with Thomas Jones but saw most of his action in the second half. He only had one run that did not result in positive yardage and he averaged four yards per carry.

RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 11 - 76 - 1, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (2 targets)

Jones was targeted on screen play on the Bears’ second drive and he made the catch for a 21 yard gain. After just 18 rushing yards in the first half, Jones had a big impact on the Bears’ first possession after the break. He broke a 24 yard run for a first down, and then ran 30 yards for a touchdown on the following play. He saw very little action after that as the Bears had the game under control.

RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 3 - 12 - 1, Rec: 1 - 32 - 0 (1 targets)

Peterson entered the game in the second half and began by taking a screen pass 32 yards. He was given three carries and scored on a one yard run when spelling Jones and Benson late in the game.

RB Jason McKie, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

McKie caught his only target for a seven yard gain.

WR Bernard Berrian, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 3 - 62 - 1 (9 targets)

Berrian was targeted seven times in the first half. He caught one for a gain of 20 yards and then Grossman threw a good pass to hit Berrian in stride for a 34 yard touchdown. He only saw two balls thrown his way in the second half as the Bears switched to the ground game, but he did draw a 21 yard pass interference penalty on one play to give the Bears a first and goal. Berrian was used on one reverse but the play did not gain any yardage.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 3 - 50 - 1 (4 targets)

Muhammad was only targeted once in the first half and could not make the catch. On the Bears’ opening possession of the second half, Muhammad had gains of 15 yards and 21 yards. He then had a key block to release Thomas Jones on a 30 yard touchdown run. On the following drive, Muhammad was the recipient of a well floated pass for a 14 yard touchdown. Late in the game, Muhammad recovered an onside kick.

WR Rashied Davis, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets)

Davis caught his first target for a five yard gain to convert on third down. His only other target was uncatchable after Grossman was hit as he threw the ball.

WR Mark Bradley (1 targets)

Bradley was targeted once in the game but was unable to make the catch. He appeared to run a completely different route to the one that Rex Grossman was expecting, and the ball was thrown wide.

TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (3 targets)

Clark caught his first two targets for a total of 18 yards. Grossman threw his way again and Clark made a great effort and beat defenders for a 29 yard gain. Unfortunately for Clark, the play was negated by a penalty.

TE John Gilmore (1 targets)

Gilmore was targeted once in the red zone but he was unable to make the catch.

PK Robbie Gould 0 - 2 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 6 points

Gould attempted field goals of 37 yards and 49 yards but missed both wide right. He converted all six extra point tries.

CHI Rush Defense

The Bears were without Tommie Harris for the game and he is reportedly lost for the season. The Rams were able to run the ball and had 101 net rushing yards. Steven Jackson scored on a two yard run.

CHI Pass Defense

Nathan Vasher and Todd Johnson were both inactive, so the Bears had to try and plug the holes as best they could. As a result, the Rams were able to move the ball effectively through the air. Marc Bulger threw 55 times for 356 yards and three touchdowns. The defense did manage three sacks but had to wait until the end of the game for their first turnover on a Charles Tillman interception.

QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 34 - 55 - 356 - 3 TD / 1 INT

Bulger attempted 55 passes in the game including 36 in the second half as the Rams tried to rally. The Rams’ first two drives ended on dropped passes, but Bulger led a 99 yard drive on the following possession. He found Torry Holt twice at the start of the drive and made a great throw to hit Kevin Curtis for a 42 yard gain. Bulger then threw a one yard touchdown to Torry Holt to cap the drive. Bulger was protected well after challenging his offensive line to step up, but was still sacked three times. Two of the sacks came late in the game with Bulger trying to make plays. Torry Holt dropped at least three passes including one that should have gone for a 24 yard touchdown, but Bulger went back to him later on the drive for a six yard score. Bulger converted on fourth down with a 22 yard gain to Kevin Curtis. He completed the drive with a six yard touchdown pass to Steven Jackson. On the Rams’ final drive, Bulger converted on third and 25 as Torry Holt made a superb one-handed catch. Bulger threw a desperate pass towards Isaac Bruce later on the drive with very little time left in the game and was intercepted by Charles Tillman.

RB Steven Jackson, Rush: 18 - 81 - 1, Rec: 10 - 58 - 1 (14 targets)

Jackson began the game badly and dropped a pass that should have converted a third down on the Rams’ opening drive. He was given a carry at the one yard line two drives later, but was stopped for no gain. He started to get into the game on the following drive, gaining 21 yards on one play. He was again given the carries at the goal line and bounced outside on his second attempt for a two yard touchdown run. Jackson had 13 carries in the first half at almost five yards per carry. In the second half, Jackson fell to the ground with cramp in his calf. He left the game on the Rams’ second possession of the half and returned with ten minutes remaining in the game and was fine for the remainder. By then, the game was almost beyond the Rams and they were passing on most plays. Jackson was targeted nine times in the second half and scored on a six yard reception after a good effort. He ended the game with 139 total yards and two scores despite missing time.

RB Stephen Davis, Rush: 3 - 29 - 0, Rec: 4 - 37 - 0 (6 targets)

Davis carried once in the first half, gaining 16 yards on fourth and one before coming up a yard short of the goal line. Davis was involved more in the second half after Steven Jackson left the field with cramp. Davis was targeted six times, catching four passes for a total of 37 yards. One of the receptions came on fourth down and Davis converted with an 18 yard gain to the six yard line.

RB Kay Jay Harris, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (1 targets)

Harris was targeted once in the game, gaining ten yards for a first down.

WR Torry Holt, Rec: 6 - 75 - 2 (14 targets)

Holt had an inconsistent game. He was very effective on the Rams’ third possession, making first down catches of 13 yards and 16 yards. He was also the target at the end of the drive and scored on a one yard reception after beating Devin Hester. But Holt was responsible for at least three dropped passes in the game, the last of which would have resulted in a 24 yard touchdown. The last drop didn’t matter too much as Bulger targeted him again for a six yard score. Holt had one 19 yard gain negated by a penalty before making a superb one-handed 26 yard catch to convert on third and 25.

WR Kevin Curtis, Rush: 1 - -9 - 0, Rec: 4 - 77 - 0 (5 targets)

Curtis had the Rams’ longest play of the day on his first catch. The ball was beautifully thrown by Bulger and Curtis caught it for a 42 yard gain. Curtis was targeted deep on fourth down in the second half and he made the catch for 22 yards. He replaced Isaac Bruce on a few plays but was mainly used as the third receiver.

WR Isaac Bruce, Rec: 4 - 62 - 0 (8 targets)

Bruce was not targeted until the Rams’ fourth drive when he converted a third down with a 12 yard reception. Bulger went back to him on the next play for a 20 yard gain. On the final possession of the half, Bruce had his longest play of the day for a 24 yard gain. Most of Bruce’s second half targets were deep passes and Bulger was intercepted on the last of them.

WR Shaun McDonald (1 targets)

McDonald’s only target came on third down on the Rams’ opening drive, but he dropped the ball.

TE Joe Klopfenstein, Rec: 4 - 31 - 0 (6 targets)

Bulger targeted Klopfenstein in the end zone in the first half, but the 25 yard pass was knocked away by the defender. Klopfenstein was more involved in the second half, catching four balls for a total of 31 yards with two first downs.

TE Aaron Walker, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Walker had a six yard reception on his only target of the game.

PK Jeff Wilkins 0 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Wilkins missed a 48 yard field goal try wide right at the end of the first half. He made all three extra point attempts. On the Rams' opening score, Wilkins had to abort the extra point attempt due to a bad snap. He was not charged with a miss as he technically did not attempt a kick.

STL Rush Defense

The Rams did well against the run in the first half. But after the break, Thomas Jones gained 54 yards on two plays for a Bears’ touchdown. The Rams conceded 172 net rushing yards by the end of the game and Adrian Peterson scored a second rushing touchdown on a one yard run. Pisa Tinoisamoa broke his hand and had to leave the game.

STL Pass Defense

The Rams were unable to put much pressure on Rex Grossman; although they were unlucky to have a fumble overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. Grossman looked better than of late, completing 56.5% of his passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams were dealt an additional blow early in the fourth quarter when Leonard Little was struck in the throat and had to leave the game.