Today in 2003 - Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions

November 8, 2003 – Yes, we have another entry featuring the Chicago Bears.  Today in 2003, the Chicago Bears visited Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions in a Week 10 divisional matchup.

The only scoring in the first quarter was a 24 yard field goal by Jason Hanson and Detroit led 3-0.  In the second quarter, the Bears got on the board with a Paul Edinger 43 yard field goal.  The Lions answered with a 25 yard field goal by Hanson.  Detroit led at halftime 6-3.

In the third quarter, Chicago took the lead on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Chris Chandler to Desmond Clark.  Detroit responded with Hanson’s third field goal of the day, this one from 30 yards.  At the end of the quarter, Chicago led 10-9.

Hanson kicked a 48 yard field goal, his fourth, and Detroit took the lead to stay.  The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 12-10.

For the Bears, Chris Chandler passed 16-28 for 149 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.  Desmond Clark had 4 receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.  Alex Brown had a sack. 

For the Lions, Joey Harrington passed, 24-38 for 238 yards.  Scotty Anderson had 5 catches for 77 yards.  Kalimba Edwards had a sack.  Boss Bailey and Barrett Green each had half a sack.  Corey Harris had an interception.

Both teams went to 3-6.  The Bears finished the season at 7-9.  The Lions didn’t fare as well.  They finished the season at 5-11.

Trivia

• This was Steve Mariucci’s first season coaching the Lions.  He coached the team from 2003-05.  He was the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 1997-2002.
• This was Dick Jauron’s last season coaching the Bears.  He coached the team from 1999-2003.  He was the interim head coach for the Lions in 2005, when Mariucci was fired.
• Jauron played for the Lions from 1973-77.
• Bears assistant coach Todd Haley is now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, and Patrick Manelly are the only members of the 2003 Bears who are still with the team.
• Jeff Backus, Dominic Raiola, and Jason Hanson are the only members of the 2003 Lions who are still with the team.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on November 9,

1952 – New York Giants 23 – San Francisco 14

1975 – St. Louis Cardinals 24 – Philadelphia 23

1981 – Dallas 27 – Buffalo 14

2003 – Jacksonville 28 – Indianapolis 23

2003 – Dallas 10 – Buffalo 6

2008 – Atlanta 34 – New Orleans 20

2008 – Minnesota 28 – Green Bay 27

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions - November 9, 2003.

Today in 2002 - Philadelphia Eagles vs Chicago Bears

Today in 2002, the Philadelphia went to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears in a Week 8 contest.

The first quarter went scoreless.  In the second quarter, Paul Edinger kicked a 30 yard field goal to put Chicago on the board.  The Eagles answered with a 5 yard touchdown run by Donovan McNabb.  The Bears responded in kind with a 6 yard touchdown run by Anthony Thomas.  Edinger kicked a 53 yard field goal and Chicago led at halftime 13-7.

The second half belonged to David Akers.  In the third quarter, he kicked field goals from 23 and 36 yards to tie the game.  He repeated the same performance in the fourth quarter, kicking field goals from 27 and 22 yards.  The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Chicago Bears 19-13.

For the Bears, Jim Miller passed 19-35 for 205 yards.  Anthony Thomas had 16 rushes for 52 yards and a touchdown.  He also had 4 receptions for 52 yards.  Phillip Daniels had 2 sacks and Brian Urlacher had 1.  Mike Brown had an interception.

For the Eagles, Donavan McNabb passed 18-33 for 209 yards and an interception.  He also had 9 rushes for 46 yards and a touchdown.  Hugh Douglas had 2 sacks and Blaine Bishop had 1.

The Bears went to 2-6 with the loss.  They finished the season at 4-12.  The Eagles went to 6-2.  They finished the season at 12-4 and lost the NFC Championship game to Tampa Bay 27-10.

Trivia

• This was Dick Jauron’s fourth season coaching the Bears.  He coached the team from 1999-2003.
• This was also Andy Reid’s fourth season coaching the Eagles.  He coached the team from 1999 and is still head coach today.
• The Bears’ wide receivers coach is now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Todd Haley.
• There were five future or current head coaches on Andy Reid’s staff: Offensive coordinator Brad Childress (Vikings 2006-10),defensive backs coach Leslie Frazier (Vikings 2010-2011), linebackers Ron Rivera (Panthers 2011), quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur (Browns 2011), and defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo (Rams 2009-11).
• Rivera and Frazier were teammates with the Chicago Bears from 1984-85.
• Jauron played for the Detroit Lions from 1973-77 and the Cincinnati Bengals from 1978-80.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on November 3,

1968 – New York Jets 25 – Buffalo 21

1968 – Houston Oilers 27 – Cincinnati 17

1974 – Oakland 28 – Denver 17

2002 – St. Louis 27 – Arizona 14

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Philadelphia Eagles vs Chicago Bears - November 3, 2002