Bears rest starters in 19-9 loss to Browns
Evidently Bears coaches believe the offense is ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 9, since it played just three snaps in the preseason finale, a mostly meaningless 19-9 loss at Soldier Field to the Cleveland Browns.
Although the first team offense didn't do much Thursday night to impress anyone, generating just 4 yards in its cameo appearance, it's a confident group heading into the regular season.
"We're ready," said quarterback Rex Grossman, who completed his only pass but for no gain. "We've got the season opener against a very good (San Diego Chargers) team. But we feel like we're a very good team ourselves. We're ready for the challenge."
Even though the Bears again failed to generate much of a running game (74 yards on 28 attempts), coach Lovie Smith isn't backing down from earlier claims.
"I've said I think this team can be stronger than last year," Smith said, "and I still feel the same way. We have guys who can make plays."
The first-team defense got twice as much action, allowing 27 yards on seven plays over two series against the Browns' first-team offense. The most encouraging note was the 2007 debut of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris, allaying fears that he wouldn't be ready for the regular-season opener because of lingering effects from last season's torn hamstring.
"It finally feels like I'm back as part of the family," Harris said. "The hamstring feels good. It feels regular."
In addition to the physical rehab, Harris said he also had to overcome the mental aspect of the injury.
"It was both," he said. "I had surgery."
The Bears hope rookie tight end Greg Olsen will avoid that fate. He limped off the field late in the first half with what the Bears were calling a sprained left knee, although tests on Monday could reveal more damage.
While the Bears' offense stumbled through the first half, the Browns used good field position and special teams to build a 19-3 lead. The Bears' starters had already called it a night when the Browns took a 3-0 lead on Phil Dawson's 25-yard field goal. The visitors made it 5-0 on the next play when Danieal Manning handled the kickoff like a live grenade, finally corralled it but then was hammered by Cleveland's Jason Wright, who knocked the ball loose and into the end zone, where it rolled out of bounds for a safety.
The Bears' attack was burdened by horrible field position - their first-half possession began at the 10-, 4-, 7-, 20-, 16- and 24-yard lines - and it did little to improve the situation.
After the Browns took a 12-0 lead on Joshua Cribbs' 70-yard punt-return TD, Bears rookie Garrett Wolfe breathed the first signs of life into a comatose offense. He picked up nine yards after catching a dump-off pass from No. 3 quarterback Kyle Orton (12 of 19 for 102 yards) and then rushed for 4 yards, giving the Bears their initial first down 19 minutes into the game.
Four plays later Wolfe picked up 12 yards on another short pass, leaving Browns linebacker Clifton Smith clutching air at midfield. But the drive ended on the next play when Orton's pass was tipped and then intercepted by Smith.
The Browns capitalized on the turnover to build their lead to 19-0, but then Wolfe and Orton teamed up on four straight pass completions to help get the Bears on the board. Wolfe caught passes of 15, 7, 2 and 2 yards, and Orton hit tight end John Gilmore for 9 yards and wide receiver Rashied Davis for 20 to set up Robbie Gould's 21-yard field goal as the half ended.
"We were able to get him a lot of plays," Smith said of Wolfe, who managed just 20 yards on 11 rushes but added 53 yards on 6 catches. "We got a chance to see some of the quickness he's shown since he's been here and got a chance to see him catch the ball out of the backfield."