2001 Chicago Bears season
OwnerThe McCaskey Family
General managerJerry Angelo
Head coachDick Jauron
Home fieldSoldier Field
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Eagles) 19–33
Pro BowlersC Olin Kreutz
T James Williams
DT Ted Washington
LB Brian Urlacher
ST Larry Whigham

The 2001 Chicago Bears season was their 82nd regular season and 23rd postseason completed in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a 13–3 record under head coach Dick Jauron en route to an NFC Central title and the number two seed in the NFC. With former 1st round pick Cade McNown being traded during training camp, the Bears were led by Jim Miller. The team had five comeback wins during the season, including two straight improbable wins where safety Mike Brown returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, the Bears were upset at home by the Philadelphia Eagles 33–19 in the NFC Divisional playoffs.

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
DT Ted Washington (Bills)DT Mike Wells (Colts)
TE Fred Baxter (Jets)WR Eddie Kennison (Broncos)
FB Stanley Pritchett (Eagles)DT Jim Flanigan (Packers)
QB Danny Wuerffel (Packers)G Todd Perry (Dolphins)
TE John Davis (Vikings)LB Barry Minter (Browns)
P Brad Maynard (Giants)C Casey Wiegmann (Chiefs)
DT Keith Traylor (Broncos)CB Thomas Smith (Colts)
FB Daimon Shelton (Jaguars)WR Bobby Engram (Seahawks)
SS Larry Whigham (Patriots)

Draft choices

2001 Chicago Bears draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 8 David Terrell  WR Michigan
2 38 Anthony Thomas  RB Michigan
3 68 Mike Gandy  OL Notre Dame
4 103 Karon Riley  LB Minnesota
5 138 Bernard Robertson  OL Tulane
7 208 John Capel  WR Florida
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Staff

2001 Chicago Bears staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer
  • Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little

Roster

2001 Chicago Bears final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 46 Eric Johnson S
  • 97 Tim Johnson LB
  • 68 Devin Lemons LB
  • 76 Roshaun Matthews DE
  • 18 Willie Spencer WR


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad

Season narrative

The Bears surprised most with a breakout campaign in 2001. After losing the opening game of the season to the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens 17–6 on the road, the Bears won their next six games, starting with a 17–10 victory against their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings in the Bears’ home-opener. They carried their momentum through the Week 3 Bye and won on the road against the Atlanta Falcons (31–3).

The Bears returned home and won against the Arizona Cardinals 20–13. After a road shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals 24–0 the Bears played three home games. The first two games of this stretch were back-to-back overtime wins, first against the San Francisco 49ers (37–31), then against the Cleveland Browns (27–21). Both times safety Mike Brown capped remarkable comebacks (the Bears trailed 28–9 in the third quarter against San Francisco, and 21–7 with seconds remaining against Cleveland) by returning an interception in overtime for a touchdown.

Unfortunately the Green Bay Packers (their historic rival) buried the Bears’ win streak at home, 20–12. The Bears rebounded, winning their next three games. They first defeated then-division rival Tampa Bay 27–24. A season sweep of the Vikings (13–6) followed, then the Bears defended their turf against the Detroit Lions 13–10.

The Bears then traveled to Lambeau Field and were swept by the Packers 17–7. Once again the Bears rebounded, winning their last four games, against the Buccaneers at home (27–3), the Redskins (20–15), the Lions on the road (24–0), and then their season-finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars (33–13). The Bears ended the regular season with a 13–3 record.

The Bears entered the playoffs with the league's top defense (allowing a league-low 203 points), an offense ranked 11th in points scored (338 points), and a plus-13 turnover differential (4th in the league), but their magical season ended on a sour note, losing 33–19 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at Soldier Field.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 9 at Baltimore Ravens L 6–17 0–1 PSINet Stadium 69,365
2[upper-alpha 1] September 23 Minnesota Vikings W 17–10 1–1 Soldier Field 66,944
3 Bye
4 October 7 at Atlanta Falcons W 31–3 2–1 Georgia Dome 46,483
5 October 14 Arizona Cardinals W 20–13 3–1 Soldier Field 66,944
6 October 21 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–0 4–1 Paul Brown Stadium 63,408
7 October 28 San Francisco 49ers W 37–31 (OT) 5–1 Soldier Field 66,944
8 November 4 Cleveland Browns W 27–21 (OT) 6–1 Soldier Field 66,944
9 November 11 Green Bay Packers L 12–20 6–2 Soldier Field 66,944
10 November 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–24 7–2 Raymond James Stadium 65,612
11 November 25 at Minnesota Vikings W 13–6 8–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,214
12 December 2 Detroit Lions W 13–10 9–2 Soldier Field 66,944
13 December 9 at Green Bay Packers L 7–17 9–3 Lambeau Field 59,869
14 December 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–3 10–3 Soldier Field 66,944
15 December 23 at Washington Redskins W 20–15 11–3 FedExField 78,884
16 December 30 at Detroit Lions W 24–0 12–3 Pontiac Silverdome 76,067
17[upper-alpha 1] January 6 Jacksonville Jaguars W 33–13 13–3 Soldier Field 66,944

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

1 234Total
Bears 3 030 6
• Ravens 0 377 17
Scoring summary
18:33CHIPaul Edinger 20-yard field goalBears 3–0
215:00BALMatt Stover 37-yard field goal3–3
35:30CHIPaul Edinger 46-yard field goalBears 6–3
313:12BALSam Gash 6-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (Matt Stover kick)Ravens 10–6
412:24BALTerry Allen 1 yard rush (Matt Stover kick)Ravens 17–6

[1]

Week 2

1 234Total
Vikings 3 070 10
• Bears 0 0314 17
Scoring summary
1MINGary Anderson 20-yard field goalVikings 3–0
3MINAndrew Jordan 3-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick)Vikings 7–3
3CHIPaul Edinger 45-yard field goalVikings 10–3
4CHIMarty Booker 15-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)Tie 10–10
4CHIMarcus Robinson 24-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 17–10

[2]

Week 4

1 234Total
• Bears 0 10021 31
Falcons 0 003 3
Scoring summary
2CHIMarcus Robinson 34-yard pass from Marty Booker (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 7–0
2CHIPaul Edinger 42-yard field goalBears 10–0
4CHIMarty Booker 63-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 17–0
4CHIBrian Urlacher 90-yard fumble return (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 24–0
4ATLJay Feely 44-yard field goalBears 24–3
4CHIAnthony Thomas 32-yard run (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 31–3

[3]

Week 5

1 234Total
Cardinals 0 607 13
• Bears 3 1070 20
  • Date: October 14
  • Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C) • Wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger
Scoring summary
1CHIPaul Edinger 46-yard field goalBears 3–0
2ARIBill Gramatica 40-yard field goalTie 3–3
2CHIJames Allen 1-yard run (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 10–3
2ARIBill Gramatica 47-yard field goalBears 10–6
2CHIPaul Edinger 43-yard field goalBears 13–6
3CHIR. W. McQuarters 69-yard fumble return (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 20–6
4ARIFrank Sanders 7-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Bill Gramatica kick)Bears 20–13

[4]

Week 6

1 234Total
• Bears 3 777 24
Bengals 0 000 0
Scoring summary
1CHIPaul Edinger 48-yard field goalBears 3–0
2CHIFred Baxter 1-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 10–0
3CHIMarty Booker 13-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 17–0
4CHIAnthony Thomas 23-yard run (Paul Edinger kick)Bears 24–0

[5]

Week 7

1 234OTTotal
49ers 14 01430 31
• Bears 0 97156 37
  • Date: October 28
  • Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4.4 °C), wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green, and Dan Jiggetts
Scoring summary
1SFJulian Peterson 26-yard fumble return (Jose Cortez kick)49ers 7–0
1SFJustin Swift 1-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick)49ers 14–0
2CHISafety, ball fumbled out of end zone49ers 14–2
2CHIDaimon Shelton 3-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick)49ers 14–9
3SFGarrison Hearst 60-yard pass from Jeff Garcia (Jose Cortez kick)49ers 21–9
3SFZack Bronson 97-yard interception return (Jose Cortez kick)49ers 28–9
3CHIAnthony Thomas 19-yard run (Paul Edinger kick)49ers 28–16
4SFJose Cortez 40-yard field goal49ers 31–16
4CHIDavid Terrell 13-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick)49ers 31–23
4CHIDavid Terrell 4-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Anthony Thomas run)Tie 31–31
OT14:44CHIMike Brown 33-yard interception returnBears 37–31

[6]

The Bears trailed the 49ers 28–9 in the third quarter. The Bears would score 22 unanswered points after Shane Matthews threw two touchdown passes to David Terrell in the last four minutes to tie the game 31–31. The 49ers won the coin toss and elected to receive. On the first play of overtime, quarterback Jeff Garcia threw a pass to Terrell Owens which Owens bobbled it out of his hands and was intercepted by Mike Brown. Brown would return the ball all the way for a walk-off pick six to win the game for the Bears 37–31.[7]

Week 8

1 234OTTotal
Browns 7 01400 21
• Bears 0 70146 27
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
  • Game start: 3:15 p.m. (originally scheduled for 12:00 pm)
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 66,944
  • Game weather: 53 °F (11.7 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Referee: Gerald Austin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian
Scoring summary
1CLECourtney Brown 25-yard fumble return (Phil Dawson kick)Browns 7–0
2CHIAnthony Thomas 2-yard run (Paul Edinger kick)Tie 7–7
3CLEMike Sellers 3-yard pass from Tim Couch (Phil Dawson kick)Browns 14–7
3CLEKevin Johnson 55-yard pass from Tim Couch (Phil Dawson kick)Browns 21–7
4CHIMarty Booker 9-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick)Browns 21–14
4CHIJames Allen 34-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Paul Edinger kick)Tie 21–21
OT12:10CHIMike Brown 16-yard interception returnBears 27–21

[8]

The Bears trailed the Browns 21–7 with 30 seconds left in the game. The Bears were able to score 14 points in those 30 seconds after Shane Matthews threw a touchdown pass to Marty Booker, Bears get the onside kick, and Matthews throwing a Hail Mary that got tipped up in the air and somehow caught in the endzone by James Allen for a touchdown. The game would go into Overtime for the second game in a row for the Bears. The Bears won the coin toss but had to punt it to the Browns. On the Browns' third play of their drive, Tim Couch threw a pass that was batted up in the air by Bryan Robinson and fell into the hands of Mike Brown who would return it for a game winning pick six. Brown became the first and currently only player in NFL history to have back-to-back games with a game winning pick six in overtime.[9]

Week 9

1 234Total
• Packers 0 1073 20
Bears 6 330 12
Scoring summary
Q17:52CHIPaul Edinger 37-yard field goalCHI 3–0
Q113:33CHIPaul Edinger 47-yard field goalCHI 6–0
Q25:27GNBRyan Longwell 40-yard field goalCHI 6–3
Q214:15GNBBill Schroeder 41-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick)GNB 10–6
Q215:00CHIPaul Edinger 37-yard field goalGNB 10–9
Q37:55GNBAntonio Freeman 9-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick)GNB 17–9
Q311:02CHIPaul Edinger 41-yard field goalGNB 17–12
Q47:37GNBRyan Longwell 31-yard field goalGNB 20–12

[10]

Week 10

1 234Total
• Bears 0 7173 27
Buccaneers 3 6015 24
Scoring summary
Q112:31TAMMartin Gramatica 25-yard field goalTAM 3–0
Q21:11TAMMartin Gramatica 38-yard field goalTAM 6–0
Q26:39CHIMarty Booker 28-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 7–6
Q214:37TAMMartin Gramatica 26-yard field goalTAM 9–7
Q33:57CHIMarty Booker 44-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 14–9
Q35:37CHIMarty Booker 66-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 21–9
Q310:59CHIPaul Edinger 26-yard field goalCHI 24–9
Q42:35TAMMike Alstott 1 yard rush (Martin Gramatica kick)CHI 24–16
Q48:01CHIPaul Edinger 40-yard field goalCHI 27–16
Q412:31TAMBrad Johnson 1 yard rush (Mike Alstott pass from Johnson)CHI 27–24

[11]

Week 11

1 234Total
• Bears 0 1003 13
Vikings 0 033 6
Scoring summary
Q25:17CHILeon Johnson 1 yard rush (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 7–0
Q214:16CHIPaul Edinger 30-yard field goalCHI 10–0
Q37:08MINGary Anderson 44-yard field goalCHI 10–3
Q41:31CHIPaul Edinger 43-yard field goalCHI 13–3
Q411:43MINGary Anderson 44-yard field goalCHI 13–6

[12]

Week 12

1 234Total
Lions 7 030 10
• Bears 0 3010 13
Scoring summary
Q114:35DETJames Stewart 3-yard rush (Jason Hanson kick)DET 7–0
Q23:13CHIPaul Edinger 46-yard field goalDET 7–3
Q38:46DETJason Hanson 36-yard field goalDET 10–3
Q40:59CHIPaul Edinger 26-yard field goalDET 10–6
Q49:26CHILeon Johnson 1 yard rush (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 13–10

[13]

After the winless Lions control play for most of the first half, Detroit kicker Jason Hanson misses three relatively easy field goals and the Bears recover their offense for a come-behind victory.[14] The win moves the Bears to 9–2 but leave the Lions at 0–11 and looking down the barrel of the first 0–16 season in NFL history.

Week 13

1 234Total
Bears 0 070 7
• Packers 7 073 17
Scoring summary
Q14:29GNBAntonio Freeman 3-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick)GNB 7–0
Q31:19CHIAnthony Thomas 19-yard rush (Paul Edinger kick)7–7
Q312:00GNBAhman Green 12-yard rush (Ryan Longwell kick)GNB 14–7
Q42:20GNBRyan Longwell 27-yard field goalGNB 17–7

[15]

Week 14

1 234Total
Buccaneers 0 300 3
• Bears 3 1077 27
Scoring summary
Q19:17CHIPaul Edinger 30-yard field goalCHI 3–0
Q27:10TAMMartin Gramatica 25-yard field goal3–3
Q210:24CHIMarty Booker 2-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 10–3
Q215:00CHIPaul Edinger 46-yard field goalCHI 13–3
Q36:49CHIFred Baxter 18-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 20–3
Q43:35CHIAnthony Thomas 5-yard rush (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 27–3

[16]

Week 15

1 234Total
• Bears 3 7010 20
Redskins 7 332 15
Scoring summary
Q14:32CHIPaul Edinger 39-yard field goalCHI 3–0
Q110:21WASStephen Davis 3-yard rush (Brett Conway kick)WAS 7–3
Q20:08CHILeon Johnson 32-yard rush (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 10–7
Q27:10WASBrett Conway 34-yard field goal10–10
Q310:06WASBrett Conway 26-yard field goalWAS 13–10
Q45:05CHIBrian Urlacher 27-yard pass from Brad Maynard (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 17–13
Q411:37CHIPaul Edinger 37-yard field goalCHI 20–13
Q415:00WASSafety, Brad Maynard runs out of end zoneCHI 20–15

[17]

Week 16

1 234Total
• Bears 14 307 24
Lions 0 000 0
Scoring summary
Q12:42CHID'Wayne Bates 28-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 7–0
Q110:06CHIDavid Terrell 20-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 14–0
Q29:13CHIPaul Edinger 38-yard field goalCHI 17–0
Q413:48CHIWalt Harris 39-yard interception return (Paul Edinger kick)CHI 24–0

[18]

Quarterback Miller controls play, and the Bear defence dominates Lion QB Ty Detmer, so that the Lions suffer a second home shutout for the first time since 1942. The Bears’ first playoff berth in eight seasons becomes settled and the team gains an opportunity to win the NFC Central – in the last year under that banner – for the first time since 1990.[19]

Week 17

Jacksonville Jaguars (6–9) at Chicago Bears (12–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 0 6713
Bears 3 10 101033

at Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois

Game information

The game's biggest highlight was defensive tackle Keith Traylor intercepting a Mark Brunell pass and returning it 67 yards setting up a David Terrell touchdown in the third quarter.

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Chicago Bears 13 3 0 .813 338 203 W4
(4) Green Bay Packers 12 4 0 .750 390 266 W3
(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 324 280 L1
Minnesota Vikings 5 11 0 .313 290 390 L4
Detroit Lions 2 14 0 .125 270 424 W1

Playoffs

Week Date Opponent Result
Divisional January 19, 2002 Philadelphia Eagles L 19-33
1 234Total
• Eagles 6 7713 33
Bears 0 775 19
  • Date: Saturday January 19, 2002
  • Location: Soldier Field
  • Game start: 3:37
  • Elapsed time: 2:58
  • Game attendance: 66,944
  • Game weather: 31 °F (−0.6 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn), wind chill 19 °F or −7.2 °C
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver
Scoring summary
Q19:04PHIAkers 34-yard field goalPHI 3–0
Q13:22PHIAkers 23-yard field goalPHI 6–0
Q25:29CHIMerritt 47-yard run (Paul EdingerCHI 7–6
Q20:14PHIMartin 13-yard pass from McNabb (Akers kick)PHI 13–7
Q312:25CHIAzumah 39-yard interception return (Edinger kick)CHI 14–13
Q35:55PHIStaley 6-yard pass from McNabb (Akers kick)PHI 20-14
Q414:16CHIEdinger 38-yard field goalPHI 20–17
Q48:48PHIAkers 40-yard field goalPHI 23–17
Q46:28PHIAkers 46-yard field goalPHI 26–17
Q43:21PHIMcNabb 5-yard run (Akers kick)PHI 33–17
Q40:00CHISafetyPHI 33–19

[20]

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Bears were originally scheduled to host the Jacksonville Jaguars during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Soldier Field. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was re-scheduled to Week 17.

References

  1. ↑ Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens – September 9th, 2001
  2. ↑ Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – September 23rd, 2001
  3. ↑ Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – October 7th, 2001
  4. ↑ Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears – October 14th, 2001
  5. ↑ Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals – October 21st, 2001
  6. ↑ San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – October 28th, 2001
  7. ↑ "Throwback Thursday: Mike Brown, Bears win wild OT thriller against the 49ers". Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  8. ↑ Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – November 4th, 2001
  9. ↑ "Celebrating 20th anniversary of Bears' miracle wins". Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – November 11, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  11. ↑ Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 18th, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  12. ↑ Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – November 25th, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  13. ↑ Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – December 2nd, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  14. ↑ Dowbiggin, Bruce; ‘Lions give futility a whole new meaning: After an 0-11 start, the history books beckon for woeful NFL franchise’; Calgary Herald, 15 December 2001, p. D3
  15. ↑ Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – December 9th, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  16. ↑ Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears – December 16th, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  17. ↑ Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins – December 23rd, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  18. ↑ Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – December 30th, 2001. Retrieved 2018-Sep-14.
  19. ↑ ‘Miller dominates Lions; QB throws two TDs in Bears’ win’; The Windsor Star; December 31, 2001, p. C1
  20. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears - January 19th, 2002 | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
Wikiquote has quotations related to 2001 Chicago Bears season.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.