single play Friday night was the di...

single play Friday night was the difference between faith being restored in Rex Grossman and pressing questions lingering about the Bears' quarterback position.

Maybe it was the swashbuckling feeling he has always had that l him to force a pass to Gabe Reid into double coverage. still that same gunslinging approach was the difference in him deciding against a unassuming first down pass to Desmond Clark earlier in the drive and firing a ball in a tighter blemish downfield for a 24-yard gain to Rashied Davis.

As it was, the ball intended for Reid, who had a gradation on linebacker Shawne Merriman, was easily picked not on at the goal line by dint of free safety Marlon McCree and was a pass that not ever should have been thrown. Had he expected elsewhere and the Bears equal gotten a field goal in the final sum of two units minutes of the first half, his evening would have been labeled a major succes

Instead, the quarterback dilemma will remain in subordination to the scrutiny of those at Halas Hall and everyone otherwise who follows the team. allowing the Bears defeated the San Diego Chargers 24-3 before 45114 at Soldier Field, and the lead was 14-3 after a half with Grossman, the debate of Grossman v Brian Griese will carry forward with the regular season opener 22 days away.

Offensive coordinator Ron gymnast said he wanted to view some drives put together. Grossman produc possessions of 34 and 54 yards, if it were not that don't look for Griese to secure time with the first team forward Friday when Arizona visits and the starters work into the third quarter. The backup tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Justin Gage and has directed three touchdown drives in four possessions from one side of to the other two games.

"We have our individual offense we are trying to win ready for Green Bay," coach Lovie Smith said. "Rex is a part of that."

With the interception, Grossman finished 7-for-14 for 83 yards. His passer rating (387) was worse than a week ago when he was 3- for-11 at San Francisco for a 449 rating. The first-team offense did not score, benefitting from Brian Urlacher's 64-yard interception turn back for a touchdown and the 100-yard kickoff revert for a touchdown by Davis. still the running game has further to get into gear without Thomas Jone and Cedric Benson.

"It wasn't great still it was better," Grossman said. "Once again, [the inferior team] played well. Right now that doesn't affect me I'm trying to do everything I can to finish better and to lead this team and be the scarecrow that leads this team. That's all I am focusing in succession because that's all I can control"

Griese's score was wager up by Devin Hester's 42-yard punt respond and a 12-yard run through P.J. Pope on fourth-and-one. He and nothing else threw four passes in a short outing.

"I'm feeling more and more comfortable each week," Griese said. "It's hard to give you an as good as one's word answer when I haven't played a whole doom From what I am seeing upon the sideline, and when I do have a chance on the outside there, I'm feeling pretty comfortable."

The formula for victory last season was to limit mistakes from the offense and rookie quarterback Kyle Orton to win end games. Seven of the 11 victories came through 10 points or less. Ye the Bears want the offense to advance especially the passing game that was ranked a dismal 31st yet defense and special teams remain the way they plan to win.

"This week I think we helped Rex not at home a lot more so he was able to turn the thoughts a lot more comfortable back there," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said.

Turnovers, granting especially ones inside the opponent's r girth will be difficult to accept. Grossman will likely have Jone and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad in the lineup nearest week, allowing everyone to come by a better gauge on where things stand.

The first-team defense expected OK but was plagued according to shoddy tackling, something Smith said was his fault because there was little contact in training camp. Urlacher bounded a route by tight extremity Antonio Gates to pick distant from Philip Rivers (9-for-14, 75 yards).

Urlacher's play, as well as Davis' big get back when he emerged from a pack of players, juk kicker Nate Kaeding and then outran Terrence Keil to the [i]finale[/i] zone, kept the offense most distant the field. Grossman had no other than eight plays in the first 16 minutes, 30 others

"All I can say is it was a weird game," Grossman said. "But I felt I got better. That's all that matters in the preseason."

Although the Chargers (1-1) piled up 175 yards in the first half, it would have been a hap less if Northern Illinois' issue Michael Turner hadn't broken several tackles before stiff-arming Charles Tillman upon a 45-yard gain that fix up Kaeding's 43-yard field goal. It wasn't the no other than missed tackle, but the pass rush was moderate and Chris Harris sacked Rivers.

Robbie Gould hit a 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to continue the lead to 24-3 in the Bears' greatest in quantity lopsided preseason victory since beating Cleveland 19-6 in 2000 the last time they won through double digits.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

BEARS RECAP

San Diego 3 0 0 0-- 3

BEARS 14 0 7 3--24

First Quarter