Stormin Norman Rumack

Even with their playoff win over the Saints last week, 41-36, it’s still a bit difficult to set aside Seattle’s regular season record of 7-9. Having said that, the Seahawks also defeated the Bears 23-20 in week six, when Chicago was 4-1. They sacked Jay Cutler six times. As noted by ESPN.com, Marshawn Lynch rushed 17 times for 44 yards in that game, while Mike Williams caught 10 passes for 123 yards. The Bears were without Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs in that game. Seattle did not make any turnovers in that match, and Jay Cutler had just returned from being sidelined with post-concussion symptoms.  The Bears very tough defense, completed the season tied for third with 35 takeaways. Chicago became a much stronger team later in the season, in rushing for more than 100 yards in eight of their last nine games, as opposed to their first seven, when they only reached that mark twice. In the 2006 playoffs,  the Bears beat the Seahawks 27-24 in overtime, before losing the Colts in the Super Bowl, 29-17. Seattle has lost all seven of its road playoff games since winning its first one, 27-20 over Miami in December of 1983. Of interest, the Bears were 2nd in stopping the run, and 20th in defending the pass. The Seahawks were 31st in rushing, 19th in passing, 27th defending the pass, and 21st against the run.

Bears 27 Seahawks 20