2006 Chicago Bears season

] Notably, this was the first shutout ever for the Packers with quarterback Brett Favre at the helm. [
*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 18 °F (sunny)
*Stadium: Soldier Field
*TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color commentator), and Tony Siragusa (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 62,221
*Referee: Tony Corrente

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. [
*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 49° F (partly sunny)
*Stadium: Soldier Field
*TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color commentator), and Tony Siragusa (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 62,260
*Referee: Larry Nemmers

The Bears improved to 12-2 and secured home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with an overtime victory over their former division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears entered the game without Pro Bowlers Mike Brown, Nathan Vasher and Tommie Harris. Additionally, Lovie Smith deactivated defensive tackle Tank Johnson due to his legal issues. [
*Game time: 8:15 p.m. EST/7:15 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 50° F (cloudy)
*Stadium: Soldier Field
*TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator), and Andrea Kremer (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 62,287
*Referee: Bill Vinovich

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 professional was still questionable (he ultimately returned for 2007). Additionally, Grossman’s four turnovers, 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. [
*Game time: 3:00 PM EST/2:00 PM CST
*Game weather: 28°F (Cloudy, Snow)
*Stadium: Soldier Field
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentator), Pam Oliver (field reporter), and Chris Myers (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 61,047
*Referee: Terry McAulay

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. [] The eight selections were the most from any team in the NFC. The Bears had not sent that many players to Honolulu since the 1986 Pro Bowl, which succeeded the 1985 NFL season, when they sent nine. On January 25, Bears' left guard Ruben Brown was named to his ninth Pro Bowl, taking the spot of injured Shawn Andrews of the Philadelphia Eagles. [cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2980 |title=Brown's eyes focused solely on ultimate prize |accessdate=2007-05-21] However, Harris, Urlacher, Kreutz, and Briggs missed the Pro Bowl on the account of injuries.

2006 roster

References

External links

* [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/schedule.html 2006 Chicago Bears Schedule and Results]
* [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/stats.html Official Statistics]
* [http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/2006chicagobears.aspx 2006 at BearsHistory.com]
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi2006.htm Pro Football Reference entry]