Due to the
NFL's scheduling formula the Bears played 6 intra-division games, posting a record of 5–1. Because of rotating cycle scheduling, the Bears matched up against all four teams in the
AFC East (going 2–2) and
NFC West (going 4–0). In the remaining games, the Bears played the NFC's other reigning division winners, the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and
New York Giants, posting a record of 2–0. During the entire season, the Bears played 10 games at home, 8 games on the road, and 1 game at a neutral field for the Super Bowl. Including the playoffs and Super Bowl, the Bears finished with a record of 15–4.
The Chicago Bears’
2006 NFL Draft picks drew much criticism from various Bears’ fans and local sports critics. After injuries plagued the Bears’ offensive depth chart, the team finished the
2005 NFL season ranked 31st in passing yardage per game. Many fans assumed that the Bears would draft a
tight end or
wide receiver to improve the offense. However,
Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith surprised the media by trading away the Bears’ first round draft pick, and drafting five defensive players.[6] Devin Hester was drafted to fill the void left by former cornerback
Jerry Azumah and punt returner
Bobby Wade, while Danieal Manning could provide additional depth to the Bears’ secondary while also being potentially available for punt and kick returns, as his highest prospect grade came in kick returning.[7] Additionally, Anderson and Dvoracek were drafted to add depth to the Bears’ defensive line.
Training camp
The preseason featured a brewing
quarterback controversy when
Rex Grossman struggled in his exhibition appearances and newly signed veteran back-up
Brian Griese moved the second team offense freely.[8]
During the 2006 season, the Bears reintroduced three combinations of jerseys. During their week eight game against the
San Francisco 49ers, the Bears wore special orange jerseys in the spirit of
Halloween. They also wore all-white uniforms during their final two away games. Additionally, the Bears wore all-blue uniforms during their season finale against the
Green Bay Packers.
The Bears began their season on a victorious note by defeating the
Green Bay Packers. Widely considered one of the league's most storied rivalries, the Bears and Packers had previously met 28 times at
Lambeau Field for a season opener.[9][10][11] Notably, this was the first shutout ever for the Packers with
quarterbackBrett Favre at the helm.[12]
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Two: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
"No defense can stop us. That's only in my opinion. We are our only defense. We will win this game. Y'all take that as a guarantee or what not, but we will win this game."
The Bears began a winning streak by defeating the
Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The game drew more media attention than usual when
Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions guaranteed a victory against the Bears.[13][14]
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week Three: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
The Bears offense was limited by a resurgent
Minnesota Vikings defense, but fourth-quarter heroics from both the offense and defense resulted in a 19–16 victory.[15]
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Taking advantage of an injured Shaun Alexander, who did not play, and playing very well on both sides of the ball, the Bears defeated the defending
NFC Champion
Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field by a score of 37–6 on the Bears' first night game of the year.[16]
Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week five marked the return of former Bears head coach
Dick Jauron to Soldier Field. It would also be the second straight week in which the Bears defeated their opponent by more than 30 points.[17]
"The Bears are who we thought they were, and that’s why we took the damn field. Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!."
The Bears traveled to the newly opened
University of Phoenix Stadium to play the
Arizona Cardinals, their former cross-town rivals. While many expected the game a lop-sided affair in favor of the 5–0 Bears, the Cardinals led the Bears before stumbling in the game's last quarter. The game marked the Bears’ first
Monday Night Football appearance since the
2003 NFL season, and second overall
prime-time appearance of the season. The game started on an auspicious note for the Cardinals, as
Rex Grossman faced a quick three and out after failing to connect to
Bernard Berrian on a deep pass. The Cardinals responded offensively when rookie
quarterbackMatt Leinart threw two touchdowns in the first quarter. As
Neil Rackers helped bolster the Cardinals lead with a set of field goals, Grossman continued to struggle and committed four turnovers in the first half alone. By half time, the Cardinals were leading the Bears by a score of 20–0, which was the largest deficit they had faced all season at that point.
The Bears finally got on the score board in the third quarter when
Robbie Gould kicked a 23-yard field goal. However, Rackers responded again to boost the Cardinals lead back to twenty points. By the game's third quarter, many had assumed the Cardinals had grasped their second win of the season, and the undefeated Bears would be forced to face defeat. However, in the dying minutes of the third quarter, the Bears’ defense made a series of staunch defensive plays that allowed them to rally back.
First, rookie defensive end
Mark Anderson sacked Leinart, causing him to fumble. The loose ball was picked up by
Mike Brown, who returned it for a 3-yard touchdown. Later,
Brian Urlacher stripped the ball from running back
Edgerrin James, and
Charles Tillman recovered the football and returned it for another touchdown. The Bears, now only trailing by six points, took the lead when rookie
punt returnerDevin Hester returned a punt for an 83-yard touchdown. The Cardinals had one final attempt to win the game, but Rackers missed a 40-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Bears to kneel the clock out. After the game's conclusion,
Dennis Green, who was the Cardinal's coach at the time, threw his infamous "They are who we thought they were!" postgame conference. The rant became so popular, that it was featured in a
Coors Light commercial the next season.[18]
Week 7: Bye
Celebration of the Bears' improbable win over Arizona was tempered by the news that starting safety
Mike Brown was lost for the season with torn ligaments in his foot. The rest of the team was able to work toward renewed good health for the San Francisco game.
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week 8 saw the Bears return to Soldier Field to play the
San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the game, Lovie Smith announced that the Bears would don their alternative orange jerseys to commemorate the upcoming
Halloween holiday, and asked Bear fans to wear orange clothing to create an “orange swarm” at
Soldier Field.[19] The Bears' 41 point first half tied the franchise record for most points scored in one half, the other game being the
1940 NFL Championship, where the Bears defeated the
Washington Redskins 73–0.[20]
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Nine: Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week 9 saw the Bears take on the
Joey Harrington-led
Miami Dolphins and fall to 7–1 with their first loss of the season. Miami defensive end
Jason Taylor recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and a 20-yard pick-six.[21]
Week 10: at New York Giants
Week Ten: Chicago Bears at New York Giants – Game summary
The Bears traveled to
Giants Stadium to face the
New York Giants. The game was highly anticipated, as it was the first game in league history to benefit from the NFL's
flexible scheduling. Furthermore, leading up to the game Giants receiver
Plaxico Burress provided plenty of fodder for the Chicago media by calling the Bears’
cornerbacks “average”.[22] Nevertheless, the Bears went on to beat the Giants by a score of 38–20. The win over the Giants allowed the Bears to hold their first-place ranking in the
National Football Conference.[23] Devin Hester was also able to tie a record 108-yard return for a touchdown shared by teammate Nathan Vasher.
Week 11: at New York Jets
Week Eleven: Chicago Bears at New York Jets – Game summary
For week eleven, the Chicago Bears returned to
Giants Stadium to play the
New York Jets. While the Bears managed to record their second shut-out win of the year, their offense struggled throughout the first half the game, and managed only ten points in the second half. The victory over the Jets marked the first time in two games that the Bears did not turn over the ball, and Robbie Gould had not failed to convert a
field goal or
extra point on the year.[24]
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week Twelve: Chicago Bears at New England Patriots – Game summary
Following two consecutive wins at
Giants Stadium, the Bears were to finish a three-game road trip at
Gillette Stadium against the
New England Patriots. Similar to the week nine confrontation with the
Miami Dolphins, turnovers contributed to the Bears’ 17–13 loss against the Patriots.[25] The opening two quarters were a story of turnovers in a
Rex Grossman interception by
Asante Samuel, a
Benjamin Watson catch knocked into the hands of
Charles Tillman, a blocked Bears field goal attempt, and fumbles by
Laurence Maroney and Grossman. The third quarter saw a bizarre sequence of turnovers – first fumbles by both Watson and
Reche Caldwell on the same play, followed by another Samuel interception of Grossman, and finally a second Tillman interception of Brady. Through three quarters the game was tied 10–10 before a drive where Brady faked out
Brian Urlacher on a nine-yard run ended in a two-yard score to Watson. Turnovers then ended the game, with a
Corey Dillon fumble followed by Samuel's third interception of Grossman. Samuel's three picks tied
Roland James in Patriots history for three interceptions in one game.
Week 13: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Thirteen: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings
0
3
3
7
13
Bears
0
7
14
2
23
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date: December 3
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny, 18 °F (−8 °C)
Game attendance: 62,221
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
After the loss to New England, the Bears returned to
Soldier Field to play the
Minnesota Vikings. The weather conditions were harsh throughout the game; the below-freezing temperatures and swirling winds provided a clichéd background for a rivalry game in the
"Black and Blue Division". Despite a marginal offensive performance, the Bears managed to defeat the Vikings 23–13.
With their tenth win of the season, the Bears secured their second consecutive NFC North Title. Additionally, the Bears became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth, and remained tied for the NFL's best record.[26]
Week 14: at St. Louis Rams
Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
For week 14, the Bears traveled to
St. Louis, Missouri to play the
St. Louis Rams. Prior to the game, a quarterback controversy arose between
Rex Grossman and
Brian Griese regarding the Bears’ starting quarterback position. Grossman, who finished the preceding game with a quarterback rating of 1.3, was eager to make a statement, and rebound against the same team which injured him during the previous year's preseason. Grossman rose to the occasion, and spearheaded the Bears to a 42–27 victory over the Rams, while rookie CB
Devin Hester had a record-breaking performance. Also, many spectators of the
Monday night game may remember then-Senator
Barack Obama's humorous television introduction before kickoff.[27]
During the course of the game, Hester broke the NFL record for combined return touchdowns in a single season with six. He also became the sixth player in NFL history to return two kicks for touchdowns in a single game. For his performance, he earned the
NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award. On a low note, kicker
Robbie Gould uncharacteristically missed two field goal attempts, and the Bears announced that defensive tackle
Tommie Harris would miss the remainder of the season with a severe hamstring injury.[28]
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Fifteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
The Bears traveled to
Detroit, Michigan in hopes of another victory over the
Detroit Lions on
Christmas Eve. However, the game was essentially meaningless, as the Bears had already clinched the NFC's top playoff seed in the previous week. Therefore, the Bears experimented with different defensive and offensive plans en route to a victory over the Lions.[30]
Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week Seventeen: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
After their road victory against the
Detroit Lions, the Bears returned home to finish their season against the archenemy
Green Bay Packers. On December 24, the NFL announced that they would move to game to a primetime slot, making it the final game of the 2006 regular season. The loss marked the Bears second consecutive loss in a regular season finale. Brett Favre appeared at the end of the game, and gave a tearful interview with an NBC Sports correspondent, where he admitted his future as a professional was still questionable. Additionally, Grossman's four turnovers (including two interceptions that were returned for a touchdown), zero
passer rating, and press conference comments (where he admitted to being underprepared) drew criticism both from fans and the media as the Bears' regular season came to an end.[31][32]
The Bears clinched a
playoff berth after defeating the
Minnesota Vikings during week thirteen. They obtained a first round bye the following week, and later secured the NFC's first playoff seed. This ensured the Bears home field advantage for the NFC's Divisional and Conference games.
The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game by defeating the
Seattle Seahawks on January 14, 2007. In a hard-fought battle, the Bears had to rely on all “four phases” of the game (offense, defense, special teams, and crowd noise) to win 27–24 in overtime.[33]
NFC Championship: vs New Orleans Saints (2)
NFC Championship Game: New Orleans Saints (2) at Chicago Bears (1) – Game summary
The Chicago Bears returned to
Soldier Field to play the second-seeded
New Orleans Saints for the right to represent the
NFC in
Super Bowl XLI. On a cold field with unsure footing, and eventually falling snow, the Bears defeated the Saints 39–14 to claim their first NFC Championship since the
1985 Season. After the game, Bears owner Virginia McCaskey was presented the
George Halas Trophy, named after her late father, "Papa Bear"
George Halas. With the win,
Lovie Smith became the first African American coach to achieve a Super Bowl berth. In
Super Bowl XLI, The Bears would match up against the
Indianapolis Colts, and Smith would face his mentor,
Tony Dungy.[34]
Perhaps the most prevalent off-field occurrences were the actions taken by and against
Tank Johnson and
Ricky Manning, Jr. On December 14, 2006, Lake County police officers searched Johnson's home in
Gurnee, Illinois, and discovered that he possessed six firearms, including two
assault rifles. Johnson was charged with violation of probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. A Chicago media storm erupted shortly after when Johnson's bodyguard was shot and killed December 16, after attending a club with him. Bears coach
Lovie Smith deactivated Johnson for the following game against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers based on the incidents. Speculation arose in Chicago that the Bears'
defensive tackle would not be allowed either legally or by the team to travel to Miami to play in the Super Bowl, but he was ultimately allowed to play. Johnson eventually served 60 days in a
Cook County jail because of the charges.[38] Manning Jr. faced a similar situation that cost him a one-game suspension. On April 23, 2006, two days after receiving an offer sheet from the Bears, Manning Jr. attacked a man in a Denny's restaurant after teasing him for working on a laptop computer.[39][40] In September 2006, Manning pleaded no contest to felony assault in exchange for another probation deal, though later he proclaimed his innocence.[41]
Due to the
NFL's scheduling formula the Bears played 6 intra-division games, posting a record of 5–1. Because of rotating cycle scheduling, the Bears matched up against all four teams in the
AFC East (going 2–2) and
NFC West (going 4–0). In the remaining games, the Bears played the NFC's other reigning division winners, the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and
New York Giants, posting a record of 2–0. During the entire season, the Bears played 10 games at home, 8 games on the road, and 1 game at a neutral field for the Super Bowl. Including the playoffs and Super Bowl, the Bears finished with a record of 15–4.
The Chicago Bears’
2006 NFL Draft picks drew much criticism from various Bears’ fans and local sports critics. After injuries plagued the Bears’ offensive depth chart, the team finished the
2005 NFL season ranked 31st in passing yardage per game. Many fans assumed that the Bears would draft a
tight end or
wide receiver to improve the offense. However,
Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith surprised the media by trading away the Bears’ first round draft pick, and drafting five defensive players.[6] Devin Hester was drafted to fill the void left by former cornerback
Jerry Azumah and punt returner
Bobby Wade, while Danieal Manning could provide additional depth to the Bears’ secondary while also being potentially available for punt and kick returns, as his highest prospect grade came in kick returning.[7] Additionally, Anderson and Dvoracek were drafted to add depth to the Bears’ defensive line.
Training camp
The preseason featured a brewing
quarterback controversy when
Rex Grossman struggled in his exhibition appearances and newly signed veteran back-up
Brian Griese moved the second team offense freely.[8]
During the 2006 season, the Bears reintroduced three combinations of jerseys. During their week eight game against the
San Francisco 49ers, the Bears wore special orange jerseys in the spirit of
Halloween. They also wore all-white uniforms during their final two away games. Additionally, the Bears wore all-blue uniforms during their season finale against the
Green Bay Packers.
The Bears began their season on a victorious note by defeating the
Green Bay Packers. Widely considered one of the league's most storied rivalries, the Bears and Packers had previously met 28 times at
Lambeau Field for a season opener.[9][10][11] Notably, this was the first shutout ever for the Packers with
quarterbackBrett Favre at the helm.[12]
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Two: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
"No defense can stop us. That's only in my opinion. We are our only defense. We will win this game. Y'all take that as a guarantee or what not, but we will win this game."
The Bears began a winning streak by defeating the
Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The game drew more media attention than usual when
Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions guaranteed a victory against the Bears.[13][14]
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week Three: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
The Bears offense was limited by a resurgent
Minnesota Vikings defense, but fourth-quarter heroics from both the offense and defense resulted in a 19–16 victory.[15]
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Taking advantage of an injured Shaun Alexander, who did not play, and playing very well on both sides of the ball, the Bears defeated the defending
NFC Champion
Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field by a score of 37–6 on the Bears' first night game of the year.[16]
Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week five marked the return of former Bears head coach
Dick Jauron to Soldier Field. It would also be the second straight week in which the Bears defeated their opponent by more than 30 points.[17]
"The Bears are who we thought they were, and that’s why we took the damn field. Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!."
The Bears traveled to the newly opened
University of Phoenix Stadium to play the
Arizona Cardinals, their former cross-town rivals. While many expected the game a lop-sided affair in favor of the 5–0 Bears, the Cardinals led the Bears before stumbling in the game's last quarter. The game marked the Bears’ first
Monday Night Football appearance since the
2003 NFL season, and second overall
prime-time appearance of the season. The game started on an auspicious note for the Cardinals, as
Rex Grossman faced a quick three and out after failing to connect to
Bernard Berrian on a deep pass. The Cardinals responded offensively when rookie
quarterbackMatt Leinart threw two touchdowns in the first quarter. As
Neil Rackers helped bolster the Cardinals lead with a set of field goals, Grossman continued to struggle and committed four turnovers in the first half alone. By half time, the Cardinals were leading the Bears by a score of 20–0, which was the largest deficit they had faced all season at that point.
The Bears finally got on the score board in the third quarter when
Robbie Gould kicked a 23-yard field goal. However, Rackers responded again to boost the Cardinals lead back to twenty points. By the game's third quarter, many had assumed the Cardinals had grasped their second win of the season, and the undefeated Bears would be forced to face defeat. However, in the dying minutes of the third quarter, the Bears’ defense made a series of staunch defensive plays that allowed them to rally back.
First, rookie defensive end
Mark Anderson sacked Leinart, causing him to fumble. The loose ball was picked up by
Mike Brown, who returned it for a 3-yard touchdown. Later,
Brian Urlacher stripped the ball from running back
Edgerrin James, and
Charles Tillman recovered the football and returned it for another touchdown. The Bears, now only trailing by six points, took the lead when rookie
punt returnerDevin Hester returned a punt for an 83-yard touchdown. The Cardinals had one final attempt to win the game, but Rackers missed a 40-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Bears to kneel the clock out. After the game's conclusion,
Dennis Green, who was the Cardinal's coach at the time, threw his infamous "They are who we thought they were!" postgame conference. The rant became so popular, that it was featured in a
Coors Light commercial the next season.[18]
Week 7: Bye
Celebration of the Bears' improbable win over Arizona was tempered by the news that starting safety
Mike Brown was lost for the season with torn ligaments in his foot. The rest of the team was able to work toward renewed good health for the San Francisco game.
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week 8 saw the Bears return to Soldier Field to play the
San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the game, Lovie Smith announced that the Bears would don their alternative orange jerseys to commemorate the upcoming
Halloween holiday, and asked Bear fans to wear orange clothing to create an “orange swarm” at
Soldier Field.[19] The Bears' 41 point first half tied the franchise record for most points scored in one half, the other game being the
1940 NFL Championship, where the Bears defeated the
Washington Redskins 73–0.[20]
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Nine: Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Week 9 saw the Bears take on the
Joey Harrington-led
Miami Dolphins and fall to 7–1 with their first loss of the season. Miami defensive end
Jason Taylor recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and a 20-yard pick-six.[21]
Week 10: at New York Giants
Week Ten: Chicago Bears at New York Giants – Game summary
The Bears traveled to
Giants Stadium to face the
New York Giants. The game was highly anticipated, as it was the first game in league history to benefit from the NFL's
flexible scheduling. Furthermore, leading up to the game Giants receiver
Plaxico Burress provided plenty of fodder for the Chicago media by calling the Bears’
cornerbacks “average”.[22] Nevertheless, the Bears went on to beat the Giants by a score of 38–20. The win over the Giants allowed the Bears to hold their first-place ranking in the
National Football Conference.[23] Devin Hester was also able to tie a record 108-yard return for a touchdown shared by teammate Nathan Vasher.
Week 11: at New York Jets
Week Eleven: Chicago Bears at New York Jets – Game summary
For week eleven, the Chicago Bears returned to
Giants Stadium to play the
New York Jets. While the Bears managed to record their second shut-out win of the year, their offense struggled throughout the first half the game, and managed only ten points in the second half. The victory over the Jets marked the first time in two games that the Bears did not turn over the ball, and Robbie Gould had not failed to convert a
field goal or
extra point on the year.[24]
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week Twelve: Chicago Bears at New England Patriots – Game summary
Following two consecutive wins at
Giants Stadium, the Bears were to finish a three-game road trip at
Gillette Stadium against the
New England Patriots. Similar to the week nine confrontation with the
Miami Dolphins, turnovers contributed to the Bears’ 17–13 loss against the Patriots.[25] The opening two quarters were a story of turnovers in a
Rex Grossman interception by
Asante Samuel, a
Benjamin Watson catch knocked into the hands of
Charles Tillman, a blocked Bears field goal attempt, and fumbles by
Laurence Maroney and Grossman. The third quarter saw a bizarre sequence of turnovers – first fumbles by both Watson and
Reche Caldwell on the same play, followed by another Samuel interception of Grossman, and finally a second Tillman interception of Brady. Through three quarters the game was tied 10–10 before a drive where Brady faked out
Brian Urlacher on a nine-yard run ended in a two-yard score to Watson. Turnovers then ended the game, with a
Corey Dillon fumble followed by Samuel's third interception of Grossman. Samuel's three picks tied
Roland James in Patriots history for three interceptions in one game.
Week 13: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Thirteen: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings
0
3
3
7
13
Bears
0
7
14
2
23
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date: December 3
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny, 18 °F (−8 °C)
Game attendance: 62,221
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
After the loss to New England, the Bears returned to
Soldier Field to play the
Minnesota Vikings. The weather conditions were harsh throughout the game; the below-freezing temperatures and swirling winds provided a clichéd background for a rivalry game in the
"Black and Blue Division". Despite a marginal offensive performance, the Bears managed to defeat the Vikings 23–13.
With their tenth win of the season, the Bears secured their second consecutive NFC North Title. Additionally, the Bears became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth, and remained tied for the NFL's best record.[26]
Week 14: at St. Louis Rams
Week Fourteen: Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
For week 14, the Bears traveled to
St. Louis, Missouri to play the
St. Louis Rams. Prior to the game, a quarterback controversy arose between
Rex Grossman and
Brian Griese regarding the Bears’ starting quarterback position. Grossman, who finished the preceding game with a quarterback rating of 1.3, was eager to make a statement, and rebound against the same team which injured him during the previous year's preseason. Grossman rose to the occasion, and spearheaded the Bears to a 42–27 victory over the Rams, while rookie CB
Devin Hester had a record-breaking performance. Also, many spectators of the
Monday night game may remember then-Senator
Barack Obama's humorous television introduction before kickoff.[27]
During the course of the game, Hester broke the NFL record for combined return touchdowns in a single season with six. He also became the sixth player in NFL history to return two kicks for touchdowns in a single game. For his performance, he earned the
NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award. On a low note, kicker
Robbie Gould uncharacteristically missed two field goal attempts, and the Bears announced that defensive tackle
Tommie Harris would miss the remainder of the season with a severe hamstring injury.[28]
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Fifteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
The Bears traveled to
Detroit, Michigan in hopes of another victory over the
Detroit Lions on
Christmas Eve. However, the game was essentially meaningless, as the Bears had already clinched the NFC's top playoff seed in the previous week. Therefore, the Bears experimented with different defensive and offensive plans en route to a victory over the Lions.[30]
Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week Seventeen: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
After their road victory against the
Detroit Lions, the Bears returned home to finish their season against the archenemy
Green Bay Packers. On December 24, the NFL announced that they would move to game to a primetime slot, making it the final game of the 2006 regular season. The loss marked the Bears second consecutive loss in a regular season finale. Brett Favre appeared at the end of the game, and gave a tearful interview with an NBC Sports correspondent, where he admitted his future as a professional was still questionable. Additionally, Grossman's four turnovers (including two interceptions that were returned for a touchdown), zero
passer rating, and press conference comments (where he admitted to being underprepared) drew criticism both from fans and the media as the Bears' regular season came to an end.[31][32]
The Bears clinched a
playoff berth after defeating the
Minnesota Vikings during week thirteen. They obtained a first round bye the following week, and later secured the NFC's first playoff seed. This ensured the Bears home field advantage for the NFC's Divisional and Conference games.
The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game by defeating the
Seattle Seahawks on January 14, 2007. In a hard-fought battle, the Bears had to rely on all “four phases” of the game (offense, defense, special teams, and crowd noise) to win 27–24 in overtime.[33]
NFC Championship: vs New Orleans Saints (2)
NFC Championship Game: New Orleans Saints (2) at Chicago Bears (1) – Game summary
The Chicago Bears returned to
Soldier Field to play the second-seeded
New Orleans Saints for the right to represent the
NFC in
Super Bowl XLI. On a cold field with unsure footing, and eventually falling snow, the Bears defeated the Saints 39–14 to claim their first NFC Championship since the
1985 Season. After the game, Bears owner Virginia McCaskey was presented the
George Halas Trophy, named after her late father, "Papa Bear"
George Halas. With the win,
Lovie Smith became the first African American coach to achieve a Super Bowl berth. In
Super Bowl XLI, The Bears would match up against the
Indianapolis Colts, and Smith would face his mentor,
Tony Dungy.[34]
Perhaps the most prevalent off-field occurrences were the actions taken by and against
Tank Johnson and
Ricky Manning, Jr. On December 14, 2006, Lake County police officers searched Johnson's home in
Gurnee, Illinois, and discovered that he possessed six firearms, including two
assault rifles. Johnson was charged with violation of probation and possessing unlicensed weapons. A Chicago media storm erupted shortly after when Johnson's bodyguard was shot and killed December 16, after attending a club with him. Bears coach
Lovie Smith deactivated Johnson for the following game against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers based on the incidents. Speculation arose in Chicago that the Bears'
defensive tackle would not be allowed either legally or by the team to travel to Miami to play in the Super Bowl, but he was ultimately allowed to play. Johnson eventually served 60 days in a
Cook County jail because of the charges.[38] Manning Jr. faced a similar situation that cost him a one-game suspension. On April 23, 2006, two days after receiving an offer sheet from the Bears, Manning Jr. attacked a man in a Denny's restaurant after teasing him for working on a laptop computer.[39][40] In September 2006, Manning pleaded no contest to felony assault in exchange for another probation deal, though later he proclaimed his innocence.[41]