By halftime, Rex had thrown an interception, his rating had dropped to a more Rex-like 55.4 and the Titans had made it a 7-7 game on a 10-yard Collins to Bo Scaife touchdown pass midway through the second quarter.

At the half, the Titans, who had come into the game averaging 149.1 yards per game rushing, third-best in the league, had been held by the Bears' defense to minus-5 on 13 carries. Collins, however, was making like Joe Montana –- 17 of 23 for 180 yards and a 110.8 rating.

On the first drive of the third quarter, the Titans made it 14-7, and made it look easy –- one running play for all of 2 yards, Collins a perfect 5-for-5 for 54 yards and his second TD pass of the day, 12 yards to Justin Gage.

The Bears kept going nowhere. After that first drive, for 75 yards, the Bears' next nine drives went for a net gain of 64 -– the nine drives ending in one interception and eight punts.

In part, that was on Grossman. In part, too, it was due to Tennessee punter Craig Hentrich. He punted eight times, the longest for 55 yards, the average 37.8, repeatedly giving Chicago poor field position, including one punt downed at the Bears' 2.

"I consider myself a defensive player," Hentrich said. "I take pride in pinning them back and letting the defense do its work."

As the third quarter wound to an end, the score still 14-7, snow began to swirl inside the stadium. That, at least, drew cheers from the Rex boo-birds.

An 11-play, 52-yard Tennessee drive made it 21-7 with 12 minutes to go.

The game seemed all but over. But the Bears made it 21-14 with 4:55 to go, Grossman scoring on a 1-yard run to cap a 68-yard drive that included a 29-yard connection with Hester.

The Bears' defense forced a Titans' punt and, with 3:23 to go, the Bears got the ball back on the Tennessee 41.

It was just a few steps north of this stadium last Tuesday, in Grant Park, that thousands gathered to hear the president-elect deliver a stirring election eve speech.

Yes we can, went the refrain that evening.

Could Rex?

No, he could not.

Four plays could not bring 10 yards, passes on third and fourth downs falling incomplete. For the game, Grossman finished 20 of 37 for 173 yards and a 64.4 rating.

"There were opportunities out there to make some plays and they weren't made, for whatever reason," he said later. "That was the difference in the game."

Collins finished 30 of 41 with the two touchdowns and no interceptions. His final rating: a stellar 108.7.

"I know they didn't run the ball that much but when you give up 7-yard passes, 10-yard passes and guys are running free and unblocked –- we're just not getting there," Bears' defensive end Alex Brown said, adding, "I don't know. I'm going to stop here before I say something I regret tomorrow."

It was way more fun over in that Tennessee locker room.

"I don't see any pressure," Titans' linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "We're in the driver's seat."

Is this, Collins was asked, the best time you've been on?

He said, "We're getting there."

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Halladay to Cubs? That’s unlikely College Football Talk: Weis to resign? That’s ‘not happening’ Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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