<P> Indianapolis started out the season winning their first nine games, but ended up losing four of their next seven and finished with a 12--4 record, giving them the #3 playoff seed . Thus, having to play in a wild card playoff game . In the playoffs, they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 23 - 8, defeated the Baltimore Ravens 15 - 6 in the divisional round, and advanced to Super Bowl XLI with a 38 - 34 win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game . </P> <P> Chicago finished the season with an NFC best 13--3 record and advanced to the second Super Bowl in franchise history . They defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27 - 24 in the divisional round of the playoffs, and the New Orleans Saints 39 - 14 in the NFC Championship game to advance to Super Bowl XLI . The team excelled on defense, ranking third in fewest points allowed (255) and second in fewest points allowed per drive . They also ranked second in scoring (427 points), although only tenth in points per offensive drive thanks to a league leading 65 points scored on defensive or special teams plays . </P> <P> The Bears offense was led by quarterback Rex Grossman, the team's first round draft pick in 2003 . Over the previous three seasons, Grossman had played in just 8 regular season games due to injuries, but he recovered to start in all 16 games in 2006 . By the end of the season, he finished with 3,193 yards and 23 touchdowns, the most by a Bears quarterback since 1995 . Grossman had difficulty avoiding turnovers, however, and threw 20 interceptions and lost five fumbles during the year . In the last seven games of the season, he turned the ball over 18 times . Many fans and sports writers expected head coach Lovie Smith to bench him at some point, but Smith insisted that Grossman would be the starter throughout the entire season . </P> <P> Receivers Muhsin Muhammad (60 receptions, 863 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Bernard Berrian (51 receptions, 775 yards, 7 touchdowns) provided the main deep threat on the team, along with tight end Desmond Clark, who caught 45 passes for 626 yards and 6 touchdowns . Chicago's running game was led by running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson . Jones rushed for 1,210 yards and caught 36 passes, while Benson rushed for 647 yards and scored 6 touchdowns . </P>

When was the last time the bears went to the super bowl