Giants End Bears' Playoff Hopes

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Dec 3, 2007 3:05PM

Well that should just about do it for any talk of the Bears making the playoffs. After leading for the first 53 minutes of the game, the Bears allowed the New York Giants to score two late touchdowns, resulting in 21-16 loss.

The game began with a promising drive in which Rex Grossman drove the Bears down the field with ease, resulting in a touchdown and 7-0 lead just minutes into the game. But that was the only time the team would find the endzone.

In a battle of beleaguered quarterbacks, Grossman clearly put on the better performance in the first half and the Bears headed into the locker room with a 13-7 halftime lead. They extended the lead to nine points, and looked to have another easy TD when Devin Hester burst past all defenders and Grossman threw a nearly perfect bomb... that Hester dropped.

The Giants scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive and again in next possession. With barely two minutes in which to work, the Bears were unable to find the endzone, and defeat was grabbed from the jaws of victory.

Had this game come earlier in the season, we might have some hope. Grossman looked like Good Rex for much of the day - especially in the first half. While Adrian Peterson's 3.0 yards a carry was no improvement over Cedric Benson, he did catch seven passes for 82 yards and proved to be a more versatile weapon on offense than Benson.

The defense also played much better for most of the game. They forced four turnovers -- two interceptions and two fumbles -- that set up most of the Bears' scoring drives. But small improvements are too little, too late for this year's team. Time to see what Kyle Orton and Garrett Wolfe can do...

Photo by AP Photo/Jerry Lai