Flashback Friday: Derrick Ward gashes Chicago Bears

The rivalry between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears dates back to their first meeting in 1925, with the Bears 19-7 winners at the Polo Grounds in New York City. Throughout such a storied history (they’ve played 57 times, Chicago is 33-22-2), there aren’t as many huge individual performances as you’d think. One outlier came during the Giants’ 2007 Super Bowl year, when Derrick Ward’s then-career day led Big Blue to a big win.

Giants @ Bears, 12/02/2007

Ward rushed 24 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. The Giants’ needed every bit to edge out a 21-16 win. Brandon Jacobs missed that game (hamstring) and Ward showed out, gaining 183 yards from scrimmage in all.

It was also his last game of the season. The oft-injured Ward left the game in the fourth quarter with what turned out to be a fractured left fibula. He was placed on injured reserve later that week, ending his season. Shaun O’Hara spoke to the New York Daily News, at the time, about Ward’s injury struggles.

"Derrick has been a really great player for us. The injury bug has been his biggest enemy. And I think that each and every one of us feels bad for him. We would love to change what happened to him."

Reuben Droughns scored a TD in relief, but imagine what could have been had Ward been able to stay healthy?

The 2016 Giants got their rushing attack on track against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, and hope to find similar success Sunday against a stout Bears’ defense.