We'll never know because Berry decided to put a young, inexperienced, frail, inferior, record-setting sack-prone kid with the flu in there.
The Bears were very good...they were also full of themselves, immature and nervous to start the game. Three of McMahon's early throws could, or should, have been pick sixed.
For four previous games, the Pats' D & ST & running game carried us, but they needed our real leader and QB in there, from the start, not after it was out of hand.
I tend to agree with you, 0.0 chance - only with Eason starting.
Had to look this up but consider:
Starting Oct. 13th the Bear's D points allowed:
10 7 9 10 3 0 0 38 10 6 17* 0 0 10**
* This was the last game of the season, #1 seed wrapped up by a country mile, Detroit scores 2 TD in 4th quarter last game junk time
**Fumble by Walter Peyton gave Pats 3 points, other 7 happened 4th qtr junk time
One game over nearly 4 months where a team scored more than 10 only once (the shock game by Marino where Marino's OLine did an amazing job of giving him time to throw multiple long passes - I believe it was 2 passes over 30, 1 over 40, 1 over 50 - and the Bears' backup QB,McMahon got hurt, turned it over 4 times). Over that long span allowing no more than 10 points except once and had 4 shutouts including shutting out the AFCDG Giants (who had scored 400 points that year) and AFCCG Rams (who had 11 wins and was second best D). Incredible.
Look I was one of those that thought "if Grogan" but some reality eventually set in. I do think it probably wouldn't have been as lopsided with Grogan and maybe the utter miracle would have been a tad more in reach, however, Grogan took over in the 2nd quarter and I think broke midfield twice all game: to the Bears 43 and a TD drive in the 4th quarter when the Bears were up by around 40 points.
This game was bigger than the QB. Patriots were making mistakes and playing timid if not afraid in multiple spots. This was never going to be a Patriot win -- this was the Bears' year, period.