Bears fend off Colts

INDIANAPOLIS – Bad Rex was back at his worst Monday night. Not that the Chicago Bears needed any reminders of what happens when Grossman goes awry – even in the preseason.

After struggling for most of Grossman’s 26 plays, the Bears’ backups bailed him out and eventually overcame the miscues to beat the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 in what had been billed as a Super Bowl rematch.

“I haven’t lost any (confidence),” Grossman said. “I hope the Chicago fans and everyone else hasn’t lost any. I’m a pretty optimistic guy. Just because I throw an interception in the preseason doesn’t take away from a good camp.”

It was more than an interception in Grossman’s case, but it wasn’t all bad news for the Bears. They scored on back-to-back series in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead, then scored the first 10 points of the second half to break a 17-17 tie.

But this game wasn’t merely about a win or a loss.

If Grossman intended to wipe away the inconsistency, mistakes and blown chances that have defined his NFL career all he did Monday night was give his critics fodder.

A week after completing 8 of 10 passes in Houston, a glimpse of what Chicago hoped was a progression, Grossman regressed against Indy.

He fumbled three times, twice on snaps, threw an interception deep in Chicago territory and was sacked once. Even his one good moment, a 1-yard touchdown run, came with an unusual twist: He carried twice for minus-1 yard and a TD on the drive.

Afterward, Grossman blamed the fumbled snaps on everything from the crowd noise to sweaty hands. He didn’t even try to explain the other fumble, which Robert Mathis swatted away as he sacked Grossman who finished 9 of 11 for 59 yards and with a sub-par passer rating of 51.1.

In contrast, Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning looked like his usually efficient self – albeit briefly. He finished 5 of 8 for 97 yards and led the Colts to one touchdown in 16 plays, numbers that would have been better if not for a couple of drops.

Colts running back Joseph Addai, the new feature back, carried seven times for 24 yards and scored on a 4-yard touchdown run that looked like his winning score against New England in last season’s AFC championship game.

“We saw some good things but not enough good things,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “Obviously we still have some work to do.”

The game did rekindle a few championship memories.

Danieal Manning set up Chicago’s first score, a 32-yard field goal, with a 72-yard kickoff return that reminded the Colts of Devin Hester’s kickoff return for a TD on the opening play of the Super Bowl.

Hester struck on the next kick, returning Hunter Smith’s punt 50 yards before getting tripped up at the Colts 24. Two plays after Grossman fumbled the snap on the 1, he hung on long enough on the quarterback keeper to score to make it 10-7.

“We like the way our special teams play,” Smith said.

Notes

Cedric Benson, Chicago’s new starting running back, ran 10 times for 24 yards. … Bears receiver Brandon Rideau left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. … Colts tight end Bryan Fletcher left with a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter.