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CAPTIONS
Campbell vs. Vikings
Bears quarterback Jason Campbell passes around Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen in the fourth quarter. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune /December 9, 2012)
Bears quarterback Jason Campbell passes around Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen in the fourth quarter. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune /December 9, 2012)
The pressure mounted. The game was on the line.
A struggling Raiders franchise wasn't accustomed to the drama, not after losing 13 consecutive games to the division-rival Chargers. But something was different when the teams met in the fifth game of the 2010 season.
Former Raiders receiver Louis Murphy, now with the Panthers, felt the vibe. It had everything to do with the guy leading the huddle as the Raiders trailed 27-22 going into the fourth quarter.
Jason Campbell was in complete control.
"He brought the team together and said, 'Hey guys, let's take it one play at a time. We're going to win this game,' '' Murphy recalled. "It was a crucial drive and he was just like, 'Man, fellas, let's bring it together. Let's calm down, go out there and make plays.' ''
Campbell, who took over for an injured Bruce Gradkowski that day, guided the Raiders to a 35-27 come-from-behind victory. Throughout the rally, Murphy never saw his quarterback flinch.
"Those are the things you want to see from your quarterback,'' Murphy said. "And you want him to be able to communicate with you efficiently. That was a great characteristic he had.
"And one other thing about Jason is a lot of guys rallied behind him because he's such a competitor. He's a leader. And he's a great quarterback.''
The Bears hope all those things come into play Monday night against the 49ers when Campbell starts his first game since Oct. 16 of last season. His 71st career start comes as a result of Jay Cutler being sidelined with a concussion. Campbell has a career record of 31-39 as a starter with the Redskins and Raiders, but he has won five of his last seven.
"He has played before,'' offensive coordinator Mike Tice said. "Watching him in practice, he brings tremendous poise and leadership.''
Although Campbell has yet to play in the postseason, big games such as that October 2010 showdown with the Chargers helped the former first-round draft pick prepare for this moment.
"I remember that game,'' Campbell said. "It was about unity. Right now, it's about unity. That's the only way we're going to keep winning, is as a team.''
Going deep
One of the signature plays of that triumph over the Chargers was Campbell's deep throw to Murphy for a 58-yard gain that set up a touchdown. Campbell effortlessly zipped the ball 30-plus yards while Murphy did the rest.
It was nothing Murphy hadn't seen before.
"That's one of his greatest assets, throwing the deep ball,'' Murphy said. "He's precise and has a good spin on it. I'm pretty sure he's going to show you guys what he has with that deep ball.''
Restless Bears fans didn't see enough of it last week after Campbell replaced the injured Cutler in the second half of a 13-6 loss to the Texans. Skeptics wondered why Campbell settled for checkdown throws when Brandon Marshall was matched in one-on-one situations at times.
Campbell chuckled at his first real exposure to criticism in the Chicago market.
"Last week everybody was talking about 'Checkdown, checkdown,' but actually we threw three down the field and completed two,'' Campbell said. "We had a miss on one.
A struggling Raiders franchise wasn't accustomed to the drama, not after losing 13 consecutive games to the division-rival Chargers. But something was different when the teams met in the fifth game of the 2010 season.
Jason Campbell was in complete control.
"He brought the team together and said, 'Hey guys, let's take it one play at a time. We're going to win this game,' '' Murphy recalled. "It was a crucial drive and he was just like, 'Man, fellas, let's bring it together. Let's calm down, go out there and make plays.' ''
Campbell, who took over for an injured Bruce Gradkowski that day, guided the Raiders to a 35-27 come-from-behind victory. Throughout the rally, Murphy never saw his quarterback flinch.
"Those are the things you want to see from your quarterback,'' Murphy said. "And you want him to be able to communicate with you efficiently. That was a great characteristic he had.
"And one other thing about Jason is a lot of guys rallied behind him because he's such a competitor. He's a leader. And he's a great quarterback.''
The Bears hope all those things come into play Monday night against the 49ers when Campbell starts his first game since Oct. 16 of last season. His 71st career start comes as a result of Jay Cutler being sidelined with a concussion. Campbell has a career record of 31-39 as a starter with the Redskins and Raiders, but he has won five of his last seven.
"He has played before,'' offensive coordinator Mike Tice said. "Watching him in practice, he brings tremendous poise and leadership.''
Although Campbell has yet to play in the postseason, big games such as that October 2010 showdown with the Chargers helped the former first-round draft pick prepare for this moment.
"I remember that game,'' Campbell said. "It was about unity. Right now, it's about unity. That's the only way we're going to keep winning, is as a team.''
Going deep
One of the signature plays of that triumph over the Chargers was Campbell's deep throw to Murphy for a 58-yard gain that set up a touchdown. Campbell effortlessly zipped the ball 30-plus yards while Murphy did the rest.
It was nothing Murphy hadn't seen before.
"That's one of his greatest assets, throwing the deep ball,'' Murphy said. "He's precise and has a good spin on it. I'm pretty sure he's going to show you guys what he has with that deep ball.''
Restless Bears fans didn't see enough of it last week after Campbell replaced the injured Cutler in the second half of a 13-6 loss to the Texans. Skeptics wondered why Campbell settled for checkdown throws when Brandon Marshall was matched in one-on-one situations at times.
Campbell chuckled at his first real exposure to criticism in the Chicago market.
"Last week everybody was talking about 'Checkdown, checkdown,' but actually we threw three down the field and completed two,'' Campbell said. "We had a miss on one.
