Or was that Bears-Cardinals game last night the most bizarre game ever played in the NFL?
I haven’t gotten to watch much football so far this season, due to moving and what-not, but I took some time out this weekend to get in a few games. I watched a spirited game between the Buccaneers and the Bengals, in which the Bucs pulled off a last-minute touchdown that required a booth review to overturn a bad call on the field, giving the Tampa their first victory of the year. Very impressive was the second ever start for rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who was very poised and confident for a rookie QB.
And then last night I watched another rookie QB make his second start in the NFL. Matt Leinart looked far too comfortable on the field to be a rookie. He was managing the game clock, reading the defenses, and making all the throws, even with the number one defense bearing down on him. By half-time, he had led the Cardinals (notoriously football’s worst team) to a 20-0 lead over the top-ranked team in the league.
Meanwhile, all the hype about “Sexy” Rex Grossman was for naught, as he threw for less than 50%, and gave away two interceptions and two fumbles in the first half alone. All hope was lost for Da Bears when they went into the locker room for half time.
The third quarter didn’t make things any better, as the score changed to 23-3 over the next 15 minutes. Grossman continued to play like shit, though the defense had started to create some opportunities for him. It was clear when the fourth quarter arrived that the game would not be turned around by Rex Grossman.
What happened next was astounding. After yet another preposterous punt on a 3-and-out, rather than going for it and trying to salvage the game, the Bears defense forced a turnover and returned it for a touchdown. Then, on the following possession, as Leinart started to march the Cardinals downfield again, the Bears defense force ANOTHER turnover, and returned it for a touchdown. The Cardinals started moving, and finally reached a punting situation, which the Bears punt returner returned for a touchdown!
Bam! Bam! Boom! And with just over two minutes remaining in the game, and no offensive points scored, the Bears are now winning 24-23 in a game they gave away for three quarters.
But Leinart still doesn’t give up, and he marches his team down field again, putting his kicker well into comfortable range for a game-winning field goal. But the Cardinals are a cursed team, and he shanks an easy FG to the left of the goal post. Bears win, remaining undefeated.
Incredible.
