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Grossman's late strike lifts Bears over Raiders

Nov 12, 2007 - 3:07 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Rex Grossman got a chance to get back in the lineup and showed he wants to stay there.

Grossman, playing in relief of an injured Brian Griese, threw a 59-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian with 3:11 to play as the Chicago Bears struggled to a 17-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Cedric Benson tacked on an insurance touchdown with a 3-yard run with 1:39 to play as the Bears (4-5) sent the reeling Raiders (2-7) to their fifth consecutive defeat.

"It's a great feeling," Grossman said. "It's one of those things that you hope comes around but you don't hope it's an injury. You just want to get back in there."

Grossman, who was benched following a 34-10 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week Three, finished with modest stats - 7-of-14 for 142 yards and the TD - but delivered when it counted most to keep the Bears from fading into playoff oblivion.

"Of course you feel good for him," said Bears coach Lovie Smith of Grossman. "You hate that he went in under those circumstances. It's good to see him come in, do some good things and have success."

The touchdown came just 52 seconds after Sebastian Janikowski had given the Raiders a 6-3 lead on a booming 52-yard field goal with 4:03 to play.

Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye then came up with the big play on defense, sacking Raiders quarterback Josh McCown and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Israel Idonije at the 3-yard line.

Benson burst into the end zone on the next play to cinch it for the Bears, who couldn't moved the ball throughout until the late flurry.

"We're gonna figure out how to finish these games and figure out all these fourth-quarter games to put'em away when we have a chance," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said.

Griese was knocked out of the game with a left shoulder injury when he was sacked by linebacker Kirk Morrison with 1:32 left in the first half.

Grossman, ironically, fumbled the snap from center on his very first play. He did manage to recover both the loose ball and his composure.

"Once I was back in there, it took a while to get into the flow of the game and get into the rhythm of the game," Grossman said. "To be able to help your team win in a situation like this, it's indescribable."

For most of the contest, the offenses provided as much excitement as watching cement harden.

Janikowski put Oakland on its first possession, converting a 37-yard field goal with 9:18 left in the opening quarter.

On the Raiders' subsequent eight possessions, six ended with punts, one by a fumble and one at halftime. None of the drives went more than seven plays.

"A disappointing loss after an inability to move the ball on offense," Kiffin said.

The Bears weren't much better. They got their only first-half points on a 32-yard field goal by Robbie Gould with 6:51 left in the second quarter as the teams went to the break tied at 3-3.

"A win is a win, and anytime we get a chance to get a win, especially on the road and the way we have been playing ... it is big," Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "It's going to be big if we get two in a row. We would be back at .500 and who knows what could happen after that."

Chicago punted on seven of its first nine drives, and its chance to take the lead went by the boards when Gould was short on a 53-yard field goal attempt with 11:36 left in the third quarter.