Bears Win First Pre-Season Tune-Up

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 13, 2007 3:00PM

Sure, pre-season games don't mean very much. Any starter with so much as a hang nail remains on the sidelines and the starters who do play are in the showers before halftime. But it's still better when our team wins than loses. And fourth quarter comebacks are always exciting, whether pre-season or not. Robbie Gould's 47-yard field goal with 2:23 seconds left gave the Bears a 20-19 victory over the Houston Texans.

For bears fans, the biggest question is how Rex Grossman looked. He completed his first 8 passes and finished with an 87.5 passer rating. Not too bad for the first time on the field since the Super Bowl. Brian Griese and Kyle Orton also looked decent, especially Orton. Initial indications also show promise for the Bears corp of receivers and tight ends. Maybe the Bears can add a consistent vertical passing game to their typical run-oriented offense!

The Bears defense looked to be in mid-season form already, in spite of having both Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris in street clothes. Twice, the defense held the Texans to field goals after starting their possessions inside the Bears 25 yard line.

But why did the Texans have such good field goal position to begin with? One possession was the result of Brian Griese's interception. The other came after a 78-yard punt return by Houston. Does this expose a weakness in the Bears team at special teams? While they still have Pro Bowlers at kicker and returner, did they allow too many of their coverage guys go via free agency and trades? Or can some of the new youngsters learn a thing or two before the games count?

Image via AP Photo/Dave Einsel