30 Day Challenge: Change One Moment in Bears History
Each day in the month of June, we’ll roll out a fresh topic to get Chicago Bears fans thinking. Be sure to chime in with your answer in the comments so we can all get to know our WCG members a bit better. This one was tough as there have been quite a handful of painful moments in recent Bears history. The “Double Doink” and Javon Wims ’ dropped TD pass from Mitch in our last playoff appearance before the 2025 season come to mind. But if we change too much in recent memory, we may not end up with Ben and Caleb. With that said, I am going to our last Super Bowl appearance back in the 2006 season. Even in this game alone you could go multiple directions. I remember throwing my hat on the ground when Cedric Benson was subbed in after Thomas Jones led the team down for a TD drive and we held the Colts to a three and out. What does Benson do? He fumbled the ball on his first carry. There was an opening drive fumble by Rex later in that first half and a couple of INTs by Rex that game, but one deflated me more than any – and it came at the hands of a future Bear – Kelvin Hayden . THAT would be the one moment I change. It was early in the 4th quarter and we just forced another three and out (the Bears defense played lights out that game to be honest) and were driving down the field. After a couple strong runs by Thomas Jones and a deep connection from Rex to Mushin Muhammed, Rex attempted another deep shot to Moose and was picked clean. Not only did Hayden come down with the ball, but he took it the distance and made it a two score game with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation. If I could change that moment, I would simply get the ball back in Thomas Jones’ hands. Let him carry Chicago down the field to take the lead with a TD or draw within 2 points after a FG. Who’s to say we wouldn’t have still lost? Either way, I like our chances with that play erased from history considering the way our OL was blocking and our Defense was playing against Peyton Manning and Co. We averaged 5.8 yards per carry as a team despite Thomas Jones averaging 7.5 and we forced 3 turnovers by the Colts. The problem is, we had 5 turnovers ourselves, with Rex Grossman committing 3 himself and nearly losing a 4th fumble as well. If we don’t throw that back breaking INT and eventually score on that drive and win that game – Chicago and Lovie Smith bask in the South Beach glory on that humid February night in 2007 instead of Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs , Peanut Tillman and Devin Hester all get their Super Bowl rings and Virginia gets to see her fathers dream come true. Perhaps Thomas Jones wins Super Bowl MVP and sticks around in Chicago for longer too!