It has not been a great season for the Chicago Bears offense as they rank toward the bottom in most offensive categories. As they prepare to take on the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, fans need to be grateful for this year’s Bears offense. 15 years ago, the Bears and the Dallas Cowboys battled on Thanksgiving in what featured the worst quarterback performances in recent league history.
Heading into the 2004 Thanksgiving matchup, both the Cowboys and Bears had combined for 13 losses. The Cowboys had one of the worst pass defenses in the league. The Bears offense ranked last in every major offensive category heading into the game. Four quarterbacks would play in the game with none of them passing for 100 yards. The longest offensive play of the day was a 33-yard touchdown run by Cowboys running back Julius Jones. The longest pass play of the day for either team was just 23 yards.
Chicago would have Craig Krenzel start the game but was sidelined midway through the second quarter due to a heel injury. Krenzel would pass for just 46 yards on five completions while being sacked twice. His longest pass of the day was 13 yards, and four of his five passes went to either running backs or fullbacks.
Backup Jonathan Quinn came in and fared no better against Dallas’ defense. Quinn became the starter earlier in the season due to a season-ending knee injury to Rex Grossman in week three. Following three games of being highly inaccurate and extremely immobile in the pocket, Quinn was benched. Against the Cowboys, he was again highly inaccurate completing 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards including two fourth-quarter interceptions. Late in the second quarter, Quinn and the offense had an embarrassing eight-play drive that only netted four yards.
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On a second and 36 with 16 seconds left in the first half, the Bears called a screen pass to running-back Thomas Jones that was set up perfectly. There was not a single defender in front of Jones or his blockers for 10 yards. Quinn proceeded to throw arguably the worst pass in Bears history as he lofted the pass over Jones, the offensive linemen that were out front, and into the hands of an approaching linebacker five yards away. Linebacker Dexter Coakley dropped the easy interception out of sheer surprise that the ball had reached him.
Announcers Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Chris Collinsworth all were in disbelief and mocked the Bears offensive struggles throughout the game. They applauded the Bears’ choice to run the ball on third and 10 to play for a field goal with the game tied at seven midway through the third quarter. The Fox halftime crew which included legendary head coach Jimmy Johnson were highly critical of both offenses and went as far as to say that both teams should not let their quarterbacks throw a single pass in the second half.
Quinn’s longest pass of the day was a 23-yard completion to wide receiver David Terrell. Chicago’s backup quarterback would throw two terrible interceptions late in the game including a pass to Terrell who from the snap was never visibly open. Quinn was also sacked four times as he failed to maneuver around whatsoever in the pocket.
For Dallas, head coach Bill Parcells started Drew Henson who at the time was highly touted football and baseball prospect. Henson struggled as he completed four of 12 passes for 31 yards. He was intercepted by Bears cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who returned the interception 41 yards for a touchdown. Parcells would bench Henson at halftime due to ineffective play.
Parcells turned to 41-year old Vinny Testaverde in the second half who did just enough to help beat the Bears 21-7. Testaverde, although throwing an interception, led Dallas on two touchdown drives late in the game. He would finish the day with nine completions for 91 yards and touchdown.
Following the game, The Bears would place Krenzel on IR, sign journeyman Jeff George, bench Quinn again, and start Chad Hutchinson for the remainder of the season. The 2004 Thanksgiving game would be the last game for every quarterback that played, except for Testaverde who would play for three more seasons. Earlier that Thanksgiving Day, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning passed for six touchdowns against the Detroit Lions in a 41-9 victory.
It is important for Bears fans to put the offensive woes of the 2019 Bears into perspective. The 2004 Chicago bears team featured four starting quarterback that combined for nine passing touchdowns. Chicago has been historically bad offenses, but the worst was seen on Thanksgiving 15 years ago which is why it is important to give thanks that the 2019 team is not that bad.
