Bears Plunder Win From Raiders

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Nov 12, 2007 2:41PM

For just short of 57 minutes, it was not a pretty game. We're glad we endured it, however, to see the Bears finally come alive in the final three minutes and turn a 6-3 snoozefest deficit into a 17-6 victory against the Oakland Raiders.

Chicagoist almost gave up in the second quarter, when Brian Griese went down with a shoulder injury, Rex Grossman entered the game... and preceded to fumble his first snap! D'oh! Well, at least he recovered it...

Grossman settled down after that initial gaff and played a decent game. The Bears certainly had more of a vertical passing game with Rex under center. And most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over. His 59-yard strike to Bernard Berrian with just over three minutes to go turned out to be the game-winning play.

It would surprise us if the most common topic of conversation this week isn't whether Grossman or Griese should start for the Bears in Seattle next Sunday. That could depend somewhat on the diagnosis of Griese's injury, although he claimed it didn't feel too bad. We did notice a swagger to the team once Rexy returned. And Jay Mariotti thinks he should return to the bench, so that alone makes us want to see Grossman start next week. But we're not really sure, just yet. What will Lovie do? And will Griese's injury give him the cover to make the switch?

If only there was another running back to create a controversy at that position. Cedric Benson had yet another underwhelming game in spite of a career high in carries. There is absolutely no excuse for amassing just 73 yards on 28 carries against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. We almost pine for the days of Curtis Enis! The truth of the matter is, that no matter who plays QB for the Bears, this team has no shot at the playoffs without a decent running game.

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez