Alan Abrahamson • E-mail

CHICAGO - The Tennessee Titans may or may not threaten the 1972 Miami Dolphins. But after running their 2008 record to 9-0 with a disciplined 21-14 victory over the Chicago Bears, it has to be clear to all doubters that these Titans are a first-rate football team, one that showed Sunday they are not only tough but versatile.

The Bears took away Tennessee's running game, holding the Titans to just 20 yards rushing. So Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins threw for 289.

Kyle Vanden Bosch, a stalwart on Tennessee's defensive line, didn't play because of a groin injury. His replacement at right end, Dave Ball, registered one of the Titans' two sacks of Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman.

The Titans decisively won the battle of field position, controlling Devin Hester, the Bears' All-Pro return threat, and thus the game.
Grossman, subbing for Kyle Orton, will almost surely never be confused with Joe Montana. But the few Rex apologists might note that he had precious few chances Sunday. After the Bears' first drive went for a score, seven of the Bears' ensuring 12 drives began with Chicago pinned back at or inside its own 15.

As the game drew to a close, Jevon Kearse, the Titans' defensive end, turned his uniform number, 90, to "9-0," with a little well-placed tape.

It's fun around the Titans' locker room right now. The Vince Young drama earlier in the year? Seems a long time ago.

"I'm enjoying it," Collins, who has seen the highs (a Super Bowl run with the New York Giants) and lows (Oakland Raiders) of professional football, said afterward, sporting a gash across the bridge of his nose — a story that prompted him to laugh in telling it.

"I shot a buck the other night with a muzzle loader," he said, a six-pointer on Friday, "and the thing kicked back and popped me."

"I got him," Collins said of the deer.

Not to look too far ahead but, at 9-0, the Titans have games remaining with, in order: Jacksonville, the New York Jets, Detroit, Cleveland, Houston, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Which of those games is not winnable?

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"It's not an issue," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said of being 9-0, clearly seeking to temper expectations.

He also said: "It's nice to be able to win a ballgame when you don't play well. We sucked."

Then again, it helps when the other team starts Rex Grossman.

Bears fans are no dummies. Having seen Rex's limitations over the past two seasons, 3,209 tickets in a stadium that seats just over 60,000 went unused Sunday. When you go into a game 5-3, atop your division and more than 5 percent of your fans don't bother showing up -- that's telling.

So, too, was an entirely unscientific survey of the seats below the Soldier Field press box, which showed fans sporting multiple current and former Bears jerseys: Matt Forte, Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester, Lance Briggs, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary.

And one guy, just one, in a Rex Grossman jersey.

Who cheered long and loud on Chicago's first drive, the Bears going 75 yards in 14 plays, the drive keyed by a 4th and 1 play at the Tennessee 15, Chicago running back Forte ripping off an eight-yard run.

Three plays later, Grossman hooked up with Forte for a 5-yard TD, Rex putting the ball where only Forte could get it. Rex on the drive: Six of 9, a passer rating of 118.3.

On the first play of Chicago's second drive, Marty Booker covered on the left sideline, Rex played it smart — throwing the ball out of bounds. Maybe, just maybe, this was a new, different, better Rex.

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