2001 Chicago Bears season

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, and the Bears' first playoff appearance since 1994. 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

Additions	Subtractions
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)	TE John Allred (Rams)
	DB Ray McElroy (Lions)

Undrafted free agents

2001 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Chris Brown	Tackle	Georgia Tech
Conrad Emmerich	Fullback	Northwestern
Rick Gilliam	Guard	West Virginia
Devin Lemons	Linebacker	Texas Tech
Chris Johnson	Fullback	Kansas State
David Mitchell	Cornerback	Ohio State
Vitaly Pisetsky	Kicker	Wisconsin
Garrett Soldano	Linebacker	Western Michigan
Ryan Ward	Tackle	New Hampshire
Sam Young	Cornerback	Illinois State

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

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Attendance
1	September 9	at Baltimore Ravens	L 6–17	0–1	PSINet Stadium	69,365
2Template:Efn-ua	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
17Template:Efn-ua	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 2 3 4 Total Bears 3 0 3 0 6 • Ravens 0 3 7 7 17 Date: September 9 Location: PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland Game start: 1:02 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 2:56 Game weather: , wind , relative humidity 66% Referee: Joseph Rider TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 3 0 7 0 10 • Bears 0 0 3 14 17 Date: September 23 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: Rain • Wind Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers (Fox): Daryl Johnston, Troy Aikman, Dick Stockton, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 10 0 21 31 Falcons 0 0 0 3 3 Date: October 7 Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: indoors (dome) Referee: Bill Carollo TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, John Jurkovic, and Buck Lanford Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 5

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 6 0 7 13 • Bears 3 10 7 0 20 Date: October 14 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: • Wind Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 6

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 3 7 7 7 24 Bengals 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 21 Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: • Wind Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger, and Dan Jiggetts Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 7

1 2 3 4 OT Total 49ers 14 0 14 3 0 31 • Bears 0 9 7 15 6 37 Date: October 28 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: , wind Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green, and Dan Jiggetts Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

Week 8

1 2 3 4 OT Total Browns 7 0 14 0 0 21 • Bears 0 7 0 14 6 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: , wind Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, and Armen Keteyian Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total • Packers 0 10 7 3 20 Bears 6 3 3 0 12 Date: November 11 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Game start: 1:02 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:59 Game attendance: 66,944 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 10

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 7 17 3 27 Buccaneers 3 6 0 15 24 Date: November 18 Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida Game start: 4:15 p.m. Elapsed time: 3:18 Game attendance: 65,612 Game weather: , relative humidity 56%. wind Referee: Tony Corrente TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden, and Ron Pitts Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 11

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 0 10 0 3 13 Vikings 0 0 3 3 6 Date: November 25 Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota Game start: 8:35 p.m. Elapsed time: 3:09 Game attendance: 64,214 Game weather: None (domed stadium) Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire, and Suzy Kolber Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 12

1 2 3 4 Total Lions 7 0 3 0 10 • Bears 0 3 0 10 13 Date: December 2 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Game start: 1:03 p.m. Elapsed time: 3:14 Game attendance: 66,944 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Terry McAulay TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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. 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 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 7 0 7 • Packers 7 0 7 3 17 Date: December 9 Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin Game start: 1:02 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 3:02 Game attendance: 59,869 Game weather: , wind , humidity 63%, wind chill Referee: Ron Winter TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total Buccaneers 0 3 0 0 3 • Bears 3 10 7 7 27 Date: December 16 Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Game start: 1:02 p.m. Elapsed time: 3:04 Game attendance: 66,944 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden, and Ron Pitts Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 15

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 3 7 0 10 20 Redskins 7 3 3 2 15 Date: December 23 Location: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland Game start: 1:01 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 3:08 Game attendance: 78,884 Game weather: , wind , humidity 43% Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 16

1 2 3 4 Total • Bears 14 3 0 7 24 Lions 0 0 0 0 0 Date: December 30 Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan Game start: 1:03 p.m. Elapsed time: 3:09 Game attendance: 76,067 Game weather: None (domed stadium) Referee: Tony Corrente TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger, and Jennifer Hammond Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

Week 17

Jacksonville Jaguars (6–9) at Chicago Bears (12–3)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	0	6	7	13
Bears	3	10	10	10	33

at Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois

• Date: January 6, 2002
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. (Originally scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on September 16, 2001)
• Game weather: Partly Cloudy; ; wind 14
• Game attendance: 66,944
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• TV announcers (CBS): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, and Bonnie Bernstein, original announcers for September 16, 2001: Gus Johnson, Brent Jones, Sam Wyche
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information
Jaguars Mark Brunell 19/36, 189 Yds, 2 TD, 3 INT Stacey Mack 11 Rush, 66 Yds Keenan McCardell 9 Rec, 93 Yds, TD Bears Jim Miller 19/28, 159 Yds, TD Anthony Thomas 33 Rush, 160 Yds, TD D'Wayne Bates 4 Rec, 50 Yds

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.

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result
Divisional	January 19, 2002	Philadelphia Eagles	L 19-33

1 2 3 4 Total • Eagles 6 7 7 13 33 Bears 0 7 7 5 19 Date: Saturday January 19, 2002 Location: Soldier Field Game start: 3:37 Elapsed time: 2:58 Game attendance: 66,944 Game weather: , wind , wind chill Referee: Bill Carollo TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

External links

• 2001 Chicago Bears Season at www.bearshistory.com