Some won't call it a domination because of the tack on points at the end, but for all intensive purposes, the Bears dominated the Seahawks Sunday at Soldier Field. Jay Cutler was the second QB in playoff history to run and throw for two touchdowns. Greg Olsen had a TD and had a career high for receiving yards. The offense racked up 437 yards of offense, the most by a Bears team in franchise history. Of that, 176 yards were on the ground. It may be the most telling number of any stat, really. For an offensive line that has been suspect all year, they may finally be pulling it together enough to get this team where it wants to go. Both Matt Forte and Chester Taylor showed some flashes Sunday afternoon. I know it was the Seahawks, but they didn't just barely win. They did it in convincing fashion.
The defense was on point like none other until, they went into the prevent defense and then had to recover a couple onside kicks. I'm not worried about them at all. In fact, while Julius Peppers was pretty quiet in the pass rush, Tommie Harris re emerged as a possible threat in the middle of that line. something the Bears had been waiting for all season. If he can return to anywhere near the form he was in four years ago, this team could have something with its front four.
And the special teams. What didn't they do well. Devin Hester had a couple solid returns and when he wasn't returning the ball, he was goating the Seahawks into kicking out of bounds. Most impressive though was the punting by Brad Maynard in the snow and wind on the Lake.
That performance sets up a showdown with the Packers for the NFC Championship. If the two meetings during the season were good, this one should be that much better. Put your 18 penalties excuses to bed. Don't count much on that Week 17 victory when the Bears' hearts were clearly not in it. Get ready for the mother of all show downs. There will be no smack talk from either side during the week. Both sides respect each other and this rivalry too much to degrade it like that. It's all respect and football.
What the teams are playing for is the Halas Trophy, named for the owner and founder of the Bears back in 1910. It has a new look this year.
I have a few things planned for this week and before you think I'm going I"m going to paint this solely in Bears love, just know I've reached out to a few of my friends in the media game and have some great stuff panned for later in the week that should show some great perspective on both sides.
Here's a look at the main pieces the rest of the week:
Wednesday: Media Day will give us another chance to hear what some of the key parties involved have to say about the game.
Thursday: Mail bag. I've reached out to a number of friends on both sides of the aisle who will make their prediction. These are from key media friends I have. So these should be good.
Friday: Wilber's Way Official Preview of the showdown. I already have received the five keys from a Packers fan explaining why his team will win the game. I'll pen the 5 reasons why the Bears win. Both will have score predictions.
Off to the Nussie Hunter feature of the day. I'm pretty sure if you've watched an NFL game during the playoffs, you've seen the commercial for the new Adam Sandler movie "Just Go With It" and had your jaw drop when Brooklyn Decker comes up. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. Here she is, just because you can't get enough!
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