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Bears sticking with Grossman against Rams

Dec 6, 2006 - 12:02 AM Chicago (10-2) at St Louis (5-7) Monday 8:30 pm EST

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Lovie Smith is showing plenty of infatuation with Rex Grossman.

Smith is sticking with Rex Grossman as his starting quarterback when the Chicago Bears visit the St. Louis Rams on Monday night.

Despite the Bears already having wrapped up the NFC North title and owning the conference's best record, there have been major concerns about Grossman, who has eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his last seven games.

Grossman hit a new low in last Sunday's 23-13 win over Minnesota, accumulating a 1.3 rating after completing just 6-of-19 passes for 34 yards and three interceptions.

"We are not making a change. It was a bad game for us, bad game for Rex," Smith said.

Grossman is hoping he has found the solution to his problems.

"I'm thinking too much, trying to analyze things too much and making it more complicated than it is," said Grossman, who threw for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first five games. "It's a lot easier when you just go and play and react."

If Grossman continues to struggle, Smith could turn to veteran Brian Griese, who has made 72 starts in his nine-year career.

This contest marks a return to St. Louis for Smith, where he was the defensive coordinator for two seasons before being hired as Bears coach in 2004.

While Grossman and the offense have been inconsistent, there are no such problems on the other side of the ball. Chicago ranks first overall in scoring defense, allowing just 12.5 points per game.

Chicago could clinch a first-round bye with a win.

In the win over Minnesota, the Bears intercepted Brad Johnson four times, one of which was returned 54 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. Rookie Devin Hester also brought back a punt 45 yards for a score.

Smith could opt to pound the ball with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson against the Rams, who rank 31st against the run. St. Louis has allowed a 100-yard rusher in six of its last seven games.

The defensive struggles are a major reason the Rams have lost six of their last seven games following a 4-1 start under first-year coach Scott Linehan.

Last Sunday, Marc Bulger completed 27-of-45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions in a 34-20 loss to Arizona.

Bulger also showed his frustration with the Rams' recent play.

"There's more than one guy in this locker room that could care less that we're losing, or thinks it's OK to make mistake," Bulger said. "When we get embarrassed and you think it's OK and keep making the same mistakes, it's not OK."