Let's take a look at how the Bears have been doing over the last couple of years. We see in 2000, the bear's owner growls as another awful 5-11 season played by Rookie LB Brian Urlacher, the Bears 1st Round of pick out of New Mexico. Urlacher draws comparisons to Dick Butkus as he earns NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2001, nobody really expected much from the Bears. This was their final year at Soldier Field before renovation. Even though, the Bears were a young exhilarating team founded on a strong defense.
After losing their first game, the Bears won their next four and were in first place in the NFC Central. A week later against the Cleveland Browns the Bears trailed by 14 points under 2 minutes to play a TD and a recovered onside kick set up an incredible game tying Hail Mary, which sent the game to OT, where Brown continued his accomplishment of a week earlier to get the Bears to 6-1.
The Bears would only lose 2 more games the rest of the way, good enough to win their first division title in 12 years with a 13-3 record, as exciting RB Anthony Thomas earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and Dick Jauron earned coach of the year. The luck would run out in the playoffs, as the Bears lost 33-19 to the veterans, "The Philadelphia Eagles" in the Divisional Round.
In 2002 with Soldier Field under construction, the Bears had to play their home games at the University of Illinois in Champaign, which was over 136 miles away from Chicago. The Bears would get off to a strong start by rallying in the 4th Quarter to win their first two games.
The Bears would suffer numerous injuries to every position, as the traveling seemed too much for them to handle. The Bears endured a frustrating eight game losing streak. The Bears would not recover, as they finished in 3rd place in the NFC North with a terrible record of 4-12.
In 2003, the Bears season got off to a rough start as they were disgraced their name in their two first games on the road. Following an early bye week, the Bears returned home to Chicago and a brand new version of Soldier Field, which had been completely redone. In their first game at Soldier Field II the Bears would host the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.
They were beaten 38-23. Nevertheless, with an eye to the future the Bears would take on rookie Rex Grossman in the final three games. Grossman would look sharp leading the Bears to two wins, as the Bears finished with a 7-9 record b y winning four of their last six overall. It was not enough to save Coach Dick Jauron's his was told to hit the caboose as Lovie Smith following the season replaced him.
In 2004, new Coach Lovie Smith the season would get off to a terrible start as the Bears lost at home to the Detroit Lions 20-16. Nevertheless, a week later they would bounce back with a great 21-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on the road.
The rest of the time the Bears would have to scramble, as they could not find a starting QB trying out Criag Krenzle, Jonathan Quinn, and Chad Hutchinson along the way as they stumbled their way to a last place 5-11 season.
Now in 2005, by the time this year is over injured QB Rex Grossman might as well be Wally Pipp as Rookie Kyle Orton has a chance to be this year's Ben Rothlisberger. Nevertheless, the Bears team is not doing as well as the Steelers and a strong good playing rookie will not be enough as the Bears end the season in last.
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