Solider Field will host the NFC Conference Championship next week, pitting one of football’s oldest rivalries against each other for a chance to go to the Superbowl. The Bears will play division rival Green Bay on Sunday for the first time in an NFC Conference title game after walloping the Cinderella Seahawks 35-24 yesterday afternoon. Jay Cutler’s playoff debut went splendidly as the Bears built a 28-0 lead and never looked back. Cutler accounted for four touchdowns, including a pair of rushing touchdowns as the home team made easy work of stumbling Seattle.
Cutler connected with Greg Olsen for a 58 yard touchdown strike three minutes into the contest and Chester Taylor’s one yard run made it 14-0 in favor of Chicago after one quarter. Olsen finished with 113 yards, while Matt Forte rushed 80 yards on 25 carries. Chicago dominated both sides of the ball as the Seahawks couldn’t snap their eight game road playoff losing streak at a snowy Solider Field. Cutler continued to shred the Seattle defense by breaking tackles and finishing with 43 yards rushing on eight tries. The quarterback gave the Bears a three touchdown edge with a six yard hustle into the end zone in the second quarter. Cutler picked up where he left off after the break, scoring on a nine yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. The 70 yard scoring drive made it 28-0.
Seattle finally etched the scoreboard with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Seahawks scored ten straight points to cut into the Chicago lead. Olindo Mare knocked home a 30 yard field goal in the third quarter and Mike Williams provided Seattle with their first touchdown in the fourth. Seahawk signalcaller, Matt Hasselbeck, tossed two Williams for the two yard touchdown reception following a Bears’ turnover. It was one of three touchdown passes by Hasselbeck on Sunday. Chicago recoverd an onside kick with eleven minutes left in the game and needed just three plays to reach the end zone again. Cutler and Kellen Davis made it a 35-10 contest after hooking up for a 39 yard touchdown with 4:40 remaining. Seattle capped off a 74 yard, seven play drive with another Williams’ touchdown and drove the field for another 55 yards culminating in a Brandon Stokley nine yard touchdown catch. Twenty seven second remained on the clock, however, with Chicago still in the driver’s seat, ahead by 11. Chicago piled up 437 yards in the win and now face the Packers for the NFC title. Green Bay is on a roll, having knocked off the Eagles and Falcons. Winning on the road is clearly not a problem for the Packers.
Parting Points: Monday’s tune- “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by the Offspring
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