The Bears began the season with many unanswered questions on offense as QB Rex Grossman started the season on the bench with another injury forcing the Bears to start rookie Kyle Orton. In Week 1 the offense would manage just 7 points spoiling a great day from the defense as they were beaten by the Washington Redskins 9-7. A week later in their home opener they relied on their running game as Thomas Jones rushed for 139 yards and 2 Touchdowns, while the defense played big again with a Mike Brown interception return as the Bears slammed the Detroit Lions 38-6. The Bears offense would sputter the next two weeks as the Bears dropped to 1-3. However, despite their lackluster offense the defense led by LB Brian Urlacher would begin to resemble the old monsters of the midway as the Bears started winning games on the backs of their defense, which did not allow more than 17 points for the next 8 weeks putting up numbers like their great Super Bowl XX Championship Team which was honored all season. After the Bears winning streak ended with a 21-9 loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Kyle Orton was benched in favor or Rex Grossman who led the way in the Bears next two wins as they went on to capture their 20th Division Championship in team history at 11-5, with Brian Urlacher being named Defensive Player of the Year and Lovie Smith being named NFL Coach of the Year. After a bye in the first week of the playoffs the Bears faced the Carolina Panthers with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line. During the regular season the Bears completely shut down the Panthers in a 13-3 win. However, the Panthers would show early that it would not be as easy this time as Steve Smith scored on a 55-yard TD catch just 55 seconds into the game. The Panthers would eventually take a 13-0 lead before the Bears finally broke through late in the 2nd Quarter. However, the usual Bears tough defense looked vulnerable all day as the Panthers made it 16-7 with a 37-yard FG as the first half ended. The Bears would get with in two points on a 1 yard TD catch by Desmond Clark, but the Panthers would answer again. The same pattern would repeat in the 4th Quarter as the Bears could not get over the hump, losing 29-21.