Week 3: Everyone piles on Rex, I blame Ced

The whole world is rightfully calling for Grossman's head today, but the key play in the loss was Ced Benson's fumble. Yes, point at Rex for sucking. But "Bad Rex" never really came out until Benson cost the Bears any offensive rhythm, which as we know is the most essential ingredient for "Good Rex." Rex is, unfortunately, not cool, calm, and collected. And his panic-induced mistakes can (and did) cost the Bears a ball game. But why was he in that position in the first place? Because Cedric Benson sucks. Up to the point of the fumble (in fairness, I thought his knee was down), the Rex and the offense were serviceable. After it, panic city. Let's look at the drives.

Q1. (A) Great field position to start the game, Benson looks good out of the gate, Rex goes 0-2, punt.

(B) Long drive, down to the six. On the drive, Rex looks good, Benson gets some holes, G-Reg makes his first catch. 2nd and goal from the 2, Benson gets stuffed. Ron Turner shows no faith in Ced on 3rd and 2 and elects to sprint Rex out. Can you think of a more awful play call in ANY situation than "Rex Grossman sprint-out?" Field goal.

Q2. (A) Rex and Bernie stay on the same page. Moose and Rex are not. Did Moose break off the route? I don't know, but if he would have run the route Rex threw, it would have been first and goal.

(B) Benson sucks, Rex throws to a covered Rashied Davis. Where is Mark Bradley?

(C) Terrible field position, holding, sack, run, punt. Ware abused Mark Tait, and yes, Rex can't scramble.

(D) Great field position after a lucky INT. Rex hits Berrian again, then Bernie drops a TD or at least 1st and goal inside the 5. Fake field goal attempt.

(E) They actually tried to score with 38 seconds left! A lucky horsecollar call, then Ware owns Tait again. At halftime, its tied, the D is still fresh because at least the offense is out on the field. If Benson doesn't suck and Bernie makes a catch (it looked like he lost it in the lights), its 14-3.

Q3. (A) Rex scrambles, hits Clark long, hits G-Reg (who looked tenative, I thought he could have scored), Ced gets in. A great drive.

(B) Down 7, near midfield, Ced fumbles with :30 left in the quarter. At this point, the D is already struggling, because Tony Romo is an escape artist who was about half a step ahead of about 10 sacks. Now they have to come back out gassed, and boom, it's a two score game.

Q4. (A) Now down 10, Rex panics, a la the Super Bowl, tosses up a duck, returned for a TD. Game over.

David Haugh wrote after the Chargers game (can't find the link) that this offense is not built to overcome fumbles. It may expect to have to see an interception or two, but if the ground game starts coughing it up too, forget about it.

Down 7, coming off a great drive, needing to keep the D off the field to regroup, Ced put it on the ground. Down 10, Rex presses, game over.

I agree that it's Greise time in Chicago, but if Ced and AP continually get stuffed and put the ball on the ground, it won't matter. Not only will Greise be unable to overcome those mistakes, but even the vaunted D needs to rest (see Marion Barber 5 carries, 31 yards late in the fourth).

In other news, thank god the NFC North sucks.