The Bears crushed the Seattle Seahawks 37-6 in Week 4 of the regular season in a sack-filled game that stamped them as a force in the NFC. The Seahawks, like the Panthers last season, would like nothing better than a playoff rematch to reverse that result in a game that matters far more.
The Seahawks were without reigning MVP Shaun Alexander when they lost to the Bears, but the defeat was still a woeful end to a 3-0 start. Because the NFC West was only slightly tougher than the NFC North, the Seahawks were able to lose three of their final four and still win the division with a 9-7 mark.
SEAHAWKS PASS OFFENSE VS. BEARS PASS DEFENSE
Personnel: Matt Hasselbeck can choose from five legitimate receiving threats (Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, D.J. Hackett and Darrell Jackson). The Bears sacked Hasselbeck five times and Ricky Manning Jr. intercepted him twice in October. Matchup of Mark Anderson/Alex Brown vs. LT Walter Jones is a key.
Production: The Seahawks’ passing attack ranks 20th (190.9 yards per game) but had 26 TDs, tied for fifth-best in league. Their 49 sacks allowed are the most for a playoff team.
And so … : Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren will take short gains for ball control. Early Bears scores will free up pass rush.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS.
SEAHAWKS RUN OFFENSE VS. BEARS RUN DEFENSE
Personnel: Alexander missed six games in the middle of the season and has been a shadow of his ’05 MVP self. The Bears are undersized at DE, but the interior play of Alfonso Boone, Tank Johnson and Ian Scott rates an edge over the Seahawks’ offensive line.
Production: The Seahawks lost to three of the four top-10 run defenses they faced. Alexander had 201 yards vs. the Packers and 140 vs. the Chargers but no more than 92 in any other game.
And so … : Alexander carried 20 times in eight of his 10 games, but the Seahawks’ O-line is not at a level to control the Bears.
EDGE: BEARS.
BEARS PASS OFFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS PASS DEFENSE
Personnel: How much Rex Grossman learned from the closing weeks of the season could decide the playoffs. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant is coming off an ankle sprain and starting CB Kelly Herndon is out with a broken ankle. Bears have speed in Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley.
Production: Grossman picked on the Seahawks for 232 yards and two TDs without a turnover. The Seahawks’ secondary is vulnerable, but Pro Bowl LB Julian Peterson has 10 sacks.
And so … : The Seahawks will need to blitz to pressure Grossman, which will leave them vulnerable to Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones.
EDGE: BEARS.
BEARS RUN OFFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS RUN DEFENSE
Personnel: Jones was most of the rushing offense in Week 4 and now has a beefed-up Benson to share the job of pounding a defense that is 22nd against the run. DT Rocky Bernard is the Seahawks’ best inside force and MLB Lofa Tatupu is Brian Urlacher’s Pro Bowl backup.
Production: The Bears simply loaded up and pounded the Seahawks for 143 yards on 38 carries with Jones and Benson accounting for 35 of the runs. The Seahawks are not big up front so the Bears must control their LBs.
And so … : If the Bears remain committed to the run, the Seahawks should buckle. The Seahawks gave up 95 yards in the second half as the Bears ran 21 times.
EDGE: BEARS.
SPECIAL TEAMS (KICKING)
Personnel: The Seahawks got solid play from rookie P Ryan Plackemeier, but the Bears have the veteran edge with Brad Maynard. K Robbie Gould rates better than Josh Brown.
Production: Brown converted only 71 percent outside 30 yards to Gould’s 87 percent.
And so … : The Seahawks’ only points in the first game were Brown FGs. A close game belongs to the Bears.
EDGE: BEARS.
SPECIAL TEAMS (KR, COVERAGE)
Personnel: Devin Hester is the NFL’s top returner, but he must keep his cool in his first playoff game.
Production: The Bears did not allow a kick or punt return for a TD while getting six from Hester. Nate Burleson took one punt for a score, but the Seahawks are nothing special returning or covering kicks.
And so… : Does anyone get an edge on Hester this season?
EDGE: BEARS.
COACHING
Holmgren has more playoff experience than Lovie Smith, whose Bears finally should be motivated.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS.
