Week 6 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 24, Arizona Cardinals 23

What you need to know

Chicago Bears

The Bears trailed by 20 points at the half and overcame such a deficit for the first time since 1987, despite having the ball for only a little over 20 minutes.

Rex Grossman had a very bad game. He made poor decisions and tried to look for big plays when his receivers were covered. He threw four interceptions and led the offense to just three points on the night.

The Bears were unable to run the football after trailing early and for almost all of the game. Thomas Jones was limited to 11 carries for 39 yards.

The Bears’ defense played poorly in the first half, allowing 20 points. The second half was a totally different story. The pass rush generated more pressure and forced two fumbles which were returned for touchdowns. Devin Hester gave the team the lead by returning a punt 83 yards for the go ahead score with three minutes left in the game. CB Ricky Manning and SS Mike Brown both left the game with injuries in the second half.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals played very well in the first half on both sides of the ball. The second half saw a complete collapse as the team held a 20 point lead with a few seconds left in the third quarter, before surrendering the lead with three minutes to play.

Matt Leinart threw for two touchdowns in the first quarter and ended the game with 232 passing yards and no interceptions. He led the team down the field in the final three minutes to set up a field goal try from 40 yards, but Neil Rackers failed to convert the final kick for the second consecutive game. Leinart’s only mistake came when he fumbled away possession near his own goal line to allow the Bears back into the game.

Edgerrin James could not put the game away in the fourth quarter. He ended the night with 36 carries for just 55 yards and also lost a fumble.

The Cardinals’ defense created six turnovers but it was not enough to win the game. They became the first team in the history of the NFL to hold a 14 point lead after the first quarter and lose the game on two occasions in the same season.

What you ought to know

QB Rex Grossman, Pass: 14 - 37 - 148 - 0 TD / 4 INT, Rush: 3 - -7 - 0

Grossman almost connected with Bernard Berrian on the opening play of the game for what would have been a 62 yard touchdown. The ball was thrown about two yards too deep. Grossman had a very poor game. He seemed to be trying for the big play too often, rather than accepting what the defense allowed. His favorite target was Bernard Berrian with ten targets. Most were deep passes and badly thrown. Grossman threw four interceptions and also coughed up the ball twice when he was sacked by Adrian Wilson and Bertrand Berry.

RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 11 - 39 - 0, Rec: 3 - 14 - 0 (4 targets)

Jones only ran the ball 11 times in the game. He converted two first downs and his longest run gained 11 yards. Jones caught three of his four targets for a total of 14 yards. The Bears trailed early and for most of the game, and had to abandon the run.

RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets)

Benson got one carry in the second half for four yards and caught his only target for an eight yard gain.

RB Jason McKie, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0

McKie carried the ball once from the Cardinals’ three yard line, but he lost two yards and the Bears had to settle for a field goal.

WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (10 targets)

Berrian was targeted deep on the first pass of the game. The defender was beaten but Grossman threw the ball about two yards too far. Berrian would have scored a 62 yard touchdown had he been able to reach the ball. Seven of Berrian’s targets came in the second half as the Bears trailed and Grossman looked for big gains. Berrian was the intended target on two of Grossman’s interceptions, but both were quarterback errors. Berrian caught two of his ten targets, but most of the others were out of reach. He saw one target in the end zone but the ball sailed over his head. His longest gain of the day was a 17 yard reception which he took to the three yard line.

WR Rashied Davis, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (5 targets)

Davis was targeted once in the first half but the throw was inaccurate and should have been intercepted by Antrel Rolle. Davis caught passes of 15 yards and 16 yards on the Bears’ opening drive of the second half, and the drive led to a field goal. Davis dropped one pass after taking a big hit as he caught the ball.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (7 targets)

Muhammad was the intended target when Grossman threw his first interception. He did not have many chances to catch the seven passes thrown his way, although he did drop one after being hit by Eric Green. Muhammad only caught one pass for two yards.

TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 4 - 61 - 0 (9 targets)

Clark appeared healthy after being limited in recent games. Grossman found him for a 26 yard gain on the Bears’ third drive; the longest completion of the game for the Bears. Clark had a 14 yard gain for a first down on the Bears’ final possession of the first half. Clark had another first down on a 12 yard reception on the opening drive of the second half and ended the day with four receptions for 61 yards. He seemed very involved in the passing game.

PK Robbie Gould 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Gould made all of his kicks, converting a 23 yard field goal and three extra points.

CHI Rush Defense

The Bears saw a lot of Edgerrin James, but managed to restrict him to 55 yards on 36 carries as the Cardinals attempted to run some time off the clock. Lance Briggs (13 solos and two assists) and Brian Urlacher (11 solos and eight assists) had huge games. Urlacher seemed to take over the game in the fourth quarter.

CHI Pass Defense

The Bears gave up some big plays in the first quarter, allowing both Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin to find the end zone. They improved in the second half and generated more pressure on Leinart. Brian Urlacher and Mark Anderson both forced fumbles and the Bears were able to recover both for touchdowns.

QB Matt Leinart, Pass: 24 - 42 - 232 - 2 TD / 0 INT

Leinart began the game well, lining up in shotgun formation on the opening drive. The ploy worked and he was able to lead the team down the field with five completions for 46 yards and an 11 yard touchdown pass to Bryant Johnson. Leinart appeared to throw an interception on the Cardinals’ second drive, but the play was challenged and overturned. On the following drive, Leinart found Anquan Boldin for a 26 yard touchdown. That made Leinart the first quarterback ever to throw two or more touchdown passes in the first quarter in his first two starts. Leinart looked very poised in the first half, and was heard encouraging his team on the sidelines and showing his leadership qualities. With a few seconds remaining in the third quarter, Leinart was sacked and lost the ball. The fumble was recovered by Mike Brown of the Bears for a touchdown. With three minutes left in the game, the Bears took the lead on a punt return. Leinart came out and showed belief in his abilities as he led the team into field goal range. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Neil Rackers missed what would likely have been a game winning kick.

RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 36 - 55 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

James saw a lot of work as he carried 36 times in the game. He was bottled up for most of the night with 14 carries going for no gain or a loss. Only two carries gained more than six yards. To be fair to James, much of his work came after the Cardinals had a big lead and the Bears were expecting the run. James not only failed to put the game away, he also fumbled with five minutes remaining in the game. Charles Tillman recovered the ball and scored a 40 yard touchdown. James was targeted twice in the passing game, catching one pass for seven yards and a first down.

RB J.J. Arrington, Rush: 2 - 11 - 0, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (2 targets)

Arrington was targeted once in the first half, catching a 12 yard pass to help set up a 41 yard field goal. He was also targeted once in the second half, gaining ten yards to help set up another field goal. He carried twice for a total of 11 yards in the second half.

RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Ayanbadejo caught both passes thrown in his direction. The second was a 13 yard reception near the end of the game to move the team into field goal range.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 12 - 136 - 1 (18 targets)

With Larry Fitzgerald inactive, Boldin was the focal point of the Cardinals’ passing game. He was targeted nine times in each half. Boldin made a 15 yard reception on the opening drive to bring up a first down. He then scored a 26 yard touchdown on the Cardinals’ third drive. It was the first third down of 11 yards or more that the team had converted all season. Boldin was targeted in the end zone later in the half but was unable to make the catch. He ended the first half with a 19 yard reception to set up a Rackers field goal. In the second half, it was clear that Boldin was Leinart’s first thought when he needed a big play. An 18 yard reception on the second drive of the half gave the Cardinals a first down. Boldin had two other 15 yard receptions for first downs in the second half, and ended the day with 12 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown.

WR Troy Walters, Rec: 4 - 25 - 0 (8 targets)

With Larry Fitzgerald missing the game, Walters saw a bigger role than normal. He was targeted eight times, catching four. All of his receptions were for less than ten yards.

WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 2 - 17 - 1 (6 targets)

Johnson started the game in the absence of Larry Fitzgerald. He began well with a six yard reception to convert on third and six. Leinart went back to Johnson at the end of the drive, and Johnson was able to cut past the closest defender for an 11 yard touchdown. He failed to catch any of the other passes thrown in his direction and finished with less targets than Troy Walters.

WR Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald missed the game with an injured hamstring.

TE Leonard Pope, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Pope caught a nine yard pass on the opening drive of the game, but he was not targeted again.

TE Adam Bergen (1 targets)

Bergen was only targeted once in the game and was unable to make the catch.

PK Neil Rackers 3 - 5 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points

Rackers converted field goals from 41 yards, 28 yards and 29 yards, and both extra point tries, but he will remember the two kicks he missed. The first was a 52 yard attempt in the first half, which he missed wide left. With less than a minute remaining, Rackers had the chance to give the team the lead. He again missed wide left, this time from 40 yards. Rackers missed a kick the previous week which would have taken the game into overtime.

ARI Rush Defense

The Cardinals held the Bears to 34 net rushing yards. The game situation saw the Bears abandon the run early.

ARI Pass Defense

The pass defense generated six turnovers in the game. Adrian Wilson and Bertrand Berry both recorded sacks which forced a fumble. The Cardinals also intercepted four Rex Grossman passes (Francisco, Hayes, Dockett and Griffith). Eric Green delivered three big hits to knock the ball loose and prevent passes from being completed.