Grossman Is Back, but Will Bears Still Run First?

Even with Rex Grossman back under center for Chicago, don’t expect to see the Green Bay Packers scrambling to prepare for the Air Bears.

“I like what we’re doing offensively,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “I’m not really interested in passing for 400 yards. We’re just interested in getting the win. We’re a running football team.”

However, Smith says, “When we call on our passing game to do something, I feel like we’ll be able to do that.”

That wasn’t necessarily the case three weeks ago, when the Packers held rookie quarterback Kyle Orton to 68 yards passing. The Bears still managed to win 19-7, using the same formula that has driven them to the top of the NFC North this season: a strong running game and aggressive defense.

Naming a new starting quarterback is a major change for a 10-4 division leader. But facing the possibility of clinching the NFC North title with a victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field today, the Bears aren’t about to rip up their entire offensive philosophy.

If Grossman’s presence is enough to prevent opponents from focusing entirely on the Bears’ running game, that’s just fine.

“Our team is really good with our defense and running game, so if I can add a little bit of the passing game to it, I like our chances against anyone,” Grossman said.

Grossman, who broke his ankle in a preseason game Aug. 12, took the field in the second half of Sunday night’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He led the Bears to a touchdown on his first drive.

“I think they become a little more explosive in the passing game, just from a standpoint of experience,” said Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman. “I mean, this guy’s a three-year veteran as opposed to a rookie. He’s seen more looks.”

Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates says the quarterback switch has not dramatically changed how he will prepare for the game.

“They’ve gotten to where they are doing a good job running the football with a controlled passing game, and they’ve played great defense,” Bates said. “They may open it up a little bit. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

At this point in the season, the Bears are usually looking up at the Packers in the standings. The teams have switched roles, but the Bears aren’t taking the Packers for granted.

“Defensively, they pretty much knocked us around,” said Bears center Olin Kreutz of the Bears’ Dec. 4 victory. “We didn’t do anything. They beat us pretty bad on offense. They play pretty good defense. And they still have Brett Favre.”

But Favre isn’t the dominant force he once was. Free agent losses and injuries have cost the three-time MVP much of his supporting cast, and he admits he’s pressing. The Bears beat up on Favre three weeks ago, forcing him to throw two critical interceptions.

Favre said he’s still playing for pride.

“All those years we’ve been on top and played Chicago and they have had a chance to knock us off or whatever, here we are in kind of the opposite situation that we’ve been in in the past,” Favre said. “So turn it loose, have some fun and the offseason will be here soon enough. There’s no sense in rushing it.”

Like Favre, Grossman isn’t afraid to throw risky passes -- which could turn out to be the same mixed blessing for the Bears as it has been for Favre’s Packers, especially this season.

For all the talk about the spark Grossman gave the Bears, his first touchdown drive was nearly undone when he threw an interception on the goal line. The Falcons fumbled the ball, and the Bears recovered, then scored a touchdown.

Naturally, Grossman says he loves playing against Favre.

“Anytime you get a Bears-Packers rivalry in Lambeau Field playing against Brett Favre, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Grossman said.