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Griese makes first start for Bears

Sep 30, 2007 - 12:22 PM Chicago (1-2) at Detroit (2-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- Brian Griese takes over at quarterback for the Chicago Bears on Sunday when they visit the Detroit Lions in an NFC North matchup.

Griese is replacing the much-maligned Rex Grossman, who had been under fire for his penchant of committing turnovers. Little had changed this season. Grossman was off to an awful start, with just one touchdown pass and six interceptions in the first three games while his quarterback rating (45.1) has dipped well below the speed limit of the city's highways.

Bears coach Lovie Smith, a staunch defender of Grossman in the past, finally made the switch to Griese on Wednesday.

"Offensively, we're not getting a whole lot done," Smith said. "It's not one person. I just think we need a breath of fresh air."

Griese has not started since he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005.

Last season with the Bears, the 32-year-old Griese saw spot duty in five games, completing 18-of-32 passes for 220 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

In his 10th NFL season, Griese has thrown 104 touchdowns and 80 interceptions in 81 career games with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay and Chicago.

In Sunday night's 34-10 home drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, Grossman finished 15-of-32 for a season-high 195 yards with three interceptions.

The Lions (2-1) also are trying to rebound after absorbing their first loss, a 56-21 beating on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles torched Detroit's defense for 28 straight points in a span of just over seven minutes to take a 35-7 lead 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter. Running back Brian Westbrook and wide receiver Kevin Curtis scored three TDs apiece and became the second pair of teammates in NFL history to eclipse the 200-yard mark in total yards from scrimmage in the same game.

That more than offset a stellar effort by Lions wide receiver Roy Williams, who had nine receptions for 204 yards, including a 91-yard TD pass.

Quarterback Jon Kitna completed 29-of-46 passes for 446 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Detroit may get a boost to its offense from running back Kevin Jones. A No. 1 pick in 2004, Jones saw his first action last week since undergoing football surgery late last season. He had three carries for five yards, including a 2-yard TD run.

Chicago has won the last four games in the series, sweeping the Lions the past two seasons.