Let the fans boo and the critics ramble. Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith refused to budge yesterday. He's sticking with Rex Grossman as his starting quarterback.

A day after the Bears wrapped up their second consecutive NFC North championship, Grossman's lowly performance in a 23-13 win against the Vikings was still the main topic. A 1.3 quarterback rating and three interceptions increased the clamoring for a change to veteran Brian Griese.

Grossman's shaky outing left many wondering if he could return to the way he played the first five weeks of the season.

"We are not making a change," Smith said. "Rex didn't play as well as he needed to yesterday."

In Grossman's first five games, he threw for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. But in a Monday night game at Arizona when the Bears rallied for a 24-23 victory, the Cardinals pressured Grossman into four interceptions, showing other teams how to attack the Bears. In the past seven games, he has eight touchdowns passes and 14 interceptions.

Browns

Derek Anderson, who replaced injured quarterback Charlie Frye Sunday and rallied the Browns to an overtime win against Kansas City, likely will make his first pro start on Thursday against the Steelers. Frye hurt his right wrist early in the first quarter against the Chiefs. Frye had an MRI exam yesterday. The club will announce those results today.

Broncos

Fullback Cecil Sapp will miss the rest of the season because of a broken left leg, but linebacker Al Wilson could return to practice this week after his neck was injured in the Broncos' loss to Seattle. Sapp is the fifth Denver player lost for the season.

Rams

Rookie tight end Dominique Byrd was charged with allegedly hitting a bar patron in the face with a drinking glass. Byrd was charged with second- and third-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Bengals

Rookie wide receiver Reggie McNeal was arrested in Houston and charged with resisting arrest after being refused entrance to a nightclub early Sunday.

Elsewhere

NBC has moved the Dec. 17 game in San Diego between the Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs to its nighttime slot.