jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman followed the action live as the Jaguars took on the Bears in Chicago. Here's what he wrote.
Pregame - 10:08AM
Hi and welcome to the press box at Soldier Field. Baby, it's cold outside, and I don't mean Pittsburgh-like cold. That game in Pittsburgh last December is like summer compared to what the Jaguars will face today in Chicago. The temperature at 10 a.m. was 10 degrees. You're better off reading my blog than sitting in the stands today. Welcome aboard.
Pregame - 10:24AM
Today's game will rank as one of the coldest in Jaguars history. Do you know the hottest game in Jaguars history? It's a tie between three games, each with a temperature of 88 degrees at kickoff. One of those three was played right here at Soldier Field on opening day in 1998. I'll never forget the look on coach Tom Coughlin's face when a reporter asked him if his players had trouble with the heat.
Pregame - 10:28AM
The new Soldier Field is, in a word, weird. The architect was clearly going for something when he put this one on paper, but I'm not sure what it was he had in mind. The outside appearance has been described as appearing as though a flying saucer landed in old Soldier Field. The inside is even more confusing. I'm trying to warm to it but my initial reaction is disappointment.
Pregame - 10:32AM
I have a particular problem today. The press box and radio booths are on opposite sides of the field, which is like nothing I've ever encountered. Please be patient with my return from the pregame radio show for the opening kickoff. I'll get back as fast as I can.
Pregame - 10:50AM
David Garrard will be making his 19th start in the last 20 games. The Jaguars are 9-9 in his last 18 starts.
Pregame - 11:06AM
I wouldn't call the turf frozen, but it's the closest thing you'll ever find to cement with grass on top of it. The field has been rolled tight so that the grass, what's left of it, is pushed down into the dirt. A guy on a tractor is dragging the field, attempting to encourage the grass to stand up, I guess. Let me put it this way: Players will feel it when they hit the ground today.
Pregame - 11:17AM
The rule on sideline heating equipment is the home team has to supply the viisiting team with whatever equipment the home team has on its sideline. I see "Hot Seats" on both sidelines but I also see what appears to be two warmup tents behind the Bears bench.
Pregame - 11:29AM
Jaguars inactives are: Greg Jones (ankle), Thomas Williams, Tim Shaw, Drew Miller, Mike Walker, Troy Williamson, Tony McDaniel and Mkristo Bruce.
Pregame - 11:51AM
The current temperature is 16 degrees with a wind chill of five degrees.
Pregame - 11:55AM
I'm getting the feeling that we're going to lose the sun. If we do, it's going to feel even colder. I don't wish to obsess about the cold but it is the story today, especially considering that one of the teams is from Florida. This cold is going to challenge the Jaguars. It's going to define, in my opinion, their love for the game.
Pregame - 11:58AM
I'll be starting my walk over to the radio booth soon. In other words, the blog is going to be "dead" until I return, which won't be until kickoff. I'll hurry. I promise you I'll hurry, for no other reason than to return to the warmth of the press box.
14:54 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
The Bears won the coin toss and deferred. The Jags will start at its 32.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
Interception by Danieal Manning. David Garrard threw it right to him. The pass was intended for Jerry Porter. Manning returned the interception to the four but we have a touchback. I'll explain in the next entry.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
We're gonna have a challenge. The officials ruled that the ball came loose before Manning's knee hit the ground. The officials said the ball hit the pylon. It did not. The Bears are going to get the ball back at the four.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
It was a third-down play. Garrard didn't see Manning, who was just standing in one spot waiting for Porter to cross. The Bears are going to win the challenge. I guarantee it.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
It was Tony Pashos' arm that hit the pylon. The officials should've seen it. This is a terrible waste of time. It was plainly obvious.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
Duh! The call is being reversed.
13:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 0
The return is 42 yards. The ball is on the five, not the four.
12:36 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Touchdown! Kyle Orton to tight end Desmond Clark. I'm surprised they threw. The ball was on the two and it was just second down. That's too easy.
12:36 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
The Jags will give it another try. This time they'll start from their 25.
11:50 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Dump pass to Maurice Jones-Drew, who gains 19 yards and then flattens a safety at the sideline.
11:50 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Jones-Drew is clearly this team's big-play receiver.
11:17 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
The temperature at kickoff was 19 degrees with a wind chill of five degrees.
09:56 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Garrard sneaks for three yards and a first down at the Bears 42.
09:16 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
The Jaguars are running the ball well. I see a good line surge and hard running by Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor.
09:16 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
It's third and three; a big play.
07:55 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Taylor right up the middle gets the first down and more to the 26. That ties Taylor with O.J. Simpson for 17th place all-time.
07:55 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Now he's past Simpson.
07:16 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
It's third and eight. Garrard needs to convert.
06:37 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 0, CHI: 7
Batted down at the line. Josh Scobee will be kicking into the wind from 42 yards. It's good.
06:28 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
I didn't see a receiver open on that third-down pass. I think Garrard was checking it down to Jones-Drew, who was well short of the sticks.
06:20 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
Orton swings the ball out to Forte for a first down; no pressure. I wanna see pressure today. Derrick Harvey is playing against a stiff.
06:00 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
Forte goes big right up the middle. He's a good-looking back who hits the hole hard and glides through his cuts.
05:13 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
Orton picks up the corner blitz and finds Devin Hester for a first down. Orton is so much better than Rex Grossman.
04:04 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
Forte gets five on third and five. He's a big, straight-up runner. First down at the Jaguars 20.
Forte gets five on third and five. He's a big, straight-up runner. First down at the Jaguars 20.
02:22 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
Orton to Marty Booker for 12 yards and a first down at the five.
01:03 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 7
The Jaguars hold on third and goal from the nine. Robbie Gould is on for a chip-shot field goal attempt. It's good.
00:19 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
The Jaguars are about to be outscored in the first quarter for the eighth straight game and for the 11th time in the last 13 games. That's not a formula for success.
00:14 left in 1st Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
I just saw Gould go into the warmup tent. Why don't the Jaguars have a warmup tent? I don't know the answer. I'm just asking the question.
15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
The first quarter has ended. The Jaguars have a second and seven at their 35.
15:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Fred just passed Corey Dillon. He's 16th now.
14:04 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
This Weatherford guy can punt. He hit a bomb and killed it out of bounds at the Bears 15. The punt was 47 and he was kickin' a rock.
14:04 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Forte gains 13. He has seven carries for 50 yards.
13:24 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
I wouldn't call Forte a straight-line guy but he doesn't get off the line by much. He just has a knack for getting it done.
12:44 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Orton to tight end Greg Olsen in the flat and nobody was there. Olsen gets 26.
11:32 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Forte dropped it on third down. The Bears have to punt. The Bears are attack the flats.
11:21 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Brad Maynard knocks the ball out at the eight. The Jags need to be careful with the ball here.
11:21 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
As cold as it is, there aren't many no-shows in this place. This is a real football town.
11:21 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
I like the Jags running game today against a tough Bears run-defense. It's third and one.
10:06 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
No gain by Jones-Drew; punt time.
09:02 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Down go the tents. I'd like to think I had something to do with that. I think they had Sunday Ticket in there.
09:02 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Wait! One of the tents is still up. This is an outrage. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that tent now.
07:39 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Derrick Harvey with a couple of nice rushes on that series. The Bears punt and kill it at the six.
07:23 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
It looks like they're using the other tent to warm helmets.
07:23 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Forget the average. The Jags are running well. They just need to mix in some passing.
06:05 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
A yard shy again. They have to punt. They're shying away from the pass.
04:53 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Hester breaks it big. It was a low punt and it was not covered well. The right side was wide open and Hester takes it to the 22.
04:53 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Harvey makes a tackle for a big loss. He's having his best game as a pro.
03:33 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 10
Field goal time. The Bears have gotten very conservative and has wasted some very good field position. Gould is good from 36.
02:36 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
Nearly intercepted. Marcedes Lewis got clobbered. He was covered by three guys. The pass shouldn't have been thrown. The Jaguars passing game is nonexistent. More on that later.
02:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
Garrard has a 1.2 passer rating. He's only completed two passes, both to Jones-Drew. Folks, I've been watching the receivers and they are nowhere. The Bears have one of the worst pass-defenses in the league and the Jaguars receivers can't get open.
02:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
When the Bears load the box, which they have, the Jags have to throw. You can't be afraid to pass.
02:00 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
Another dump to Jones-Drew. I can't remember one time when I thought to myself that Garrard should've thrown it to a particular receiver because he was open.
01:31 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
On third and nine, not one guy was open and it forced Garrard to check it down to Jones-Drew, who dropped it. What has happened to this pass-offense?
01:17 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
The Bears have it at their 27 with 1:17 to play. Weatherford kicked it real short. He's been inconsistent today.
00:42 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
Orton to Hester over the middle. It was a sharp pass. Time out, Bears, at the Jaguars 29. I like the looks of Orton.
00:29 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 13
Justin Durant breaks up a pass in the end zone. It's third and eight.
00:18 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 19
Touchdown! Orton to Olsen for 22 yards and the score. Olsen made an outstanding catch. He got hit high by Reggie Nelson and Olsen still managed to catch the ball and reach it across the goal line. It's going to be reviewed to see if Olsen reached the ball across before his knee hit down.
00:18 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 19
It was a simple post route. It should've been defended better. They won't reverse this one.
00:18 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 19
Right now, Garrard has a 0.0 passer rating. Orton is at 116.2. This is a far cry from this time a year ago, when Garrard was the toast of the league. What's gone wrong? The ruling on the field stands.
00:01 left in 2nd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
A completion to Jones-Drew gets Garrard off 0.0. He's up to 7.0. Jones-Drew has all four catches. I see wide receivers jogging. I saw one loaf on that play.
Halftime
The Hail Mary is incomplete. It took Garrard's passer rating up to 7.6. That's the end of the half. I'm gonna get a dog.
15:00 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Bad dog. Even worse kickoff coverage. Manning returns it 52 yards to the Jaguars 40.
12:46 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Interception by Gerald Sensabaugh. Orton was going for the kill shot and Sensabaugh was playing his eyes. That's Sensabaugh's fourth interception of the season. He's having a nice season.
12:37 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
I am going to watch the Jaguars receivers closely, to see if they run any harder than they did in the first half. I don't need to see the tape. I know what I saw.
12:37 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Garrard had Lewis open but his pass was batted down at the line.
12:32 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Sacked! Uche Nwaneri allowed it.
11:54 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Incomplete on third down. I saw more jogging.
11:54 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Nice punt. Bears start at their 33.
10:21 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
If Hester had hands he'd be dynamite. Fourth down.
10:07 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Finally a reception by a receiver other than Jones-Drew. Garrard goes to Reggie Williams for four yards.
08:40 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
The slant is back; to Matt Jones for 13 yards.
08:40 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Batted down at the line. I don't know what's causing that to happen.
07:24 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Nice deep throw to Lewis. It's a gain of 27 to the Bears 29.
06:20 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Third and two, now fourth and two.
04:50 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Juggled by Montell Owens; ruled incomplete. Garrard put it right on the money. There's no challenge by Jack Del Rio.
04:50 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Del Rio is challenging. I don't think he'll win this challenge. It appears to me the ball hit the ground as Owens went out of bounds. Oh, well, might as well give it a try. It's not as though you're going to need times out.
04:50 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
I just saw it again; no chance.
04:50 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Play stands as called. Ball goes over on downs to the Bears.
Three and out. The Bears have pulled the plug.
02:37 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
They were going to try a fake punt play but the Jags were called for delay. Cleo Lemon sneaked into the game as an up back in punt formation. Oh, well.
00:56 left in 3rd Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Three and out; this has turned into a hard game to watch.
15:00 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
We're in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars have a second and eight on their 38. The Jags have only thrown for 90 yards today and wide receivers have combined for just three catches for 29 yards. That won't get it done in any league.
14:26 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Fred is running hard. I gotta give him credit. On a cold day, he's still giving it all he has.
13:39 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Garrard to Porter over the middle to the 10-yard line. That was well executed; 28 yards.
12:54 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 3, CHI: 20
Taylor and Jones-Drew are both running with everything they have. I'm impressed.
12:09 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 9, CHI: 20
Touchdown! Garrard swings it out to Jones-Drew on the right. OK, we have a game. Let's see if the defense can get a stop.
12:02 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 20
The Bears have to be aggressive. They can't mail this one at this point.
12:02 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 20
They go right to the slant for a first down at the Bears 42.
10:53 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 20
Orton to Hester. He beat Brian Williams. I didn't like the coverage from the start; single-high safety with man coverage on both wide outs. Orton checked off to Hester. He saw it and liked it.
08:58 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Gould from 35 yards; it's good. The Bears are a classic cold-weather football game, but I don't think they have the defense to make it work.
08:58 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
This is it right here for the Jags. They must score a touchdown on this drive.
08:15 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Sacked on third and nine. The Jags have to punt. This one is slipping away.
07:25 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
The Bears are throwing?
06:55 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
It's third and two. A first down here will all but clinch the win. The Jags must hold.
06:11 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
They held.
06:02 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Porter has a groin strain; won't return. The Jags take possession at their 19.
05:23 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Fourth down. The Jags are going for it.
05:23 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Complete to Jones for a first down at the 32.
04:49 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
The Jags are moving but too slowly. They need a big play.
04:13 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Too much nibbling. It's just stats padding.
03:41 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Sacked; he was on Garrard like a shot.
03:20 left in 4th Qtr -- JAX: 10, CHI: 23
Fourth down; short of the sticks. The ball will go over to the Bears and I'm outta here. Thanks for joining me today.
