After an electrifying win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints, the much maligned champions of the NFC West shocked the world and earned a trip to the Windy City for a rematch with the Bears. After the Packers won and sent the 'Hawks to Chicago, fans in both cities were thrilled: Seattle, because they had already beaten the Bears at home earlier this season and Chicago, because they had drawn the worst playoff team of all time.
The 'Hawks are once again double digit underdogs. It's clear that nobody (with the possible exception of T.O.) thinks the blue and green have a shot. They'll say that we exploited an awful Saints defense and got lucky. They'll say that the pass rush of the Bears is just too much for a patchwork offensive line to pick up. They'll say that the Tampa 2 coverage will suffocate a Seattle receiving corps lacking a deep threat and that Matt Forte will beat up on an overrated defense.
But we in Seattle know better. We know that the earlier victory over the Bears was no accident. We know that it was more than just shoddy defense that allowed the 'Hawks to advance. Throughout the season, we were granted tantalizing looks at a teaming exploding with possibilities. After making over 200 roster moves during the off-season, nobody knew what to expect. In the early parts of the season, we saw a team brimming with confidence, a team that was afraid of no one. As the season progressed, the 'Hawks regressed. That swagger that Pete Carrol had instilled was lost along the way. By the end of the year, it seemed as if the right thing to do was to roll over and get a better draft pick, a viewpoint reinforced by a Seattle Times poll (I was among those who agreed).
But then, in a game that truly emphasized the drastic changes that had taken place over the last season, the 'Hawks came to play against the Rams. What could better highlight the massive amounts of roster turnover more than a 61-yard completion from Charlie Whitehurst to Ruvell Martin? After earning their playoff berth, the 'Hawks offense flipped on "Beast Mode" and beat the Saints.
The bottom line is, these Seahawks are not the same ones that staggered through the regular season. No, you're not crazy for thinking the 'Hawks have a legitimate shot. Here's a position-by-position preview for Sunday's match-up:
Quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck has made 11 career playoff starts. Jay Cutler, on the other hand, has a few less (zero, to be precise). Two QB's with a penchant for turnovers will be on display Sunday. Which ever one makes fewer mistakes will win the game. Although I do not expect Hasselbeck to match last weeks stellar effort against the Saints, I can't see Jay Cutler outplaying him. Advantage: 'Hawks
Running Back
Matt Forte finished with over 1,000 yards rushing this season after essentially being ignored for the first half of the season. The guy is good, no doubt about that. However, he should not strike fear into the hearts of Seattle fans. He's not overly quick or strong. Despite being 6'2" and weighing in at 220 lbs, Forte does not run defenders over. In contrast, Marshawn Lynch (a.k.a. Beast Mode) most certainly will use his strength. The 'Hawks' running game has really came into its own over the past several weeks, and nobody in the league is hotter than Marshawn Lynch. Advantage: 'Hawks
Wide Receiver
This is, without a doubt, an area of weakness for Chicago. Featuring Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, and Earl Bennett, this is a unit with a lot of speed and no size. The Seahawks, although they aren't great either, are certainly better, with Mike Williams leading the way. Williams torched the Bears in Week 6, catching ten balls for over 120 yards. The emergence of Ben Obomanu and Brandon Stokley as legitimate targets will also help this time around. Advantage: 'Hawks
Tight End
I'll keep this brief: this game features two talented, underused tight ends. Olson, however, is the better of the two. Advantage: Bears
Offensive Line
A few weeks ago, this would have been an easy decision. Then again, a few weeks ago, we wouldn't be talking about the Seahawks playing in the divisional round of the playoffs. After struggling all year, the 'Hawks line has really come together recently. Led by rookie tackle Russel Okung, they've paved the way for Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch, while also stepping up their pass protection against the Saints' vaunted blitz scheme. The Bears have struggled with pass protection all year, although their run blocking has been fairly good. Although this is close, because of their recent play, the 'Hawks get the nod. Advantage: 'Hawks
Defensive Line
The Seahawks have a good defensive line, to be sure. With Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, and Raheem Brock, the 'Hawks have found a group that creates pressure and stuffs the running game. However, they cannot compare to the Bears' defensive line. Julius Peppers is very, very good and will surely occupy two blockers on every single play. The other three are solid, complimenting Peppers nicely. Advantage: Bears
Linebacker
Again, the 'Hawks have nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, linebacker is a position of strength, with Lofa, Curry, and Hawthorne. However, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher are two of the best in the game. Advantage: Bears
Secondary
Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings are just not very good. Lawyer Milloy does not have the speed he once did and Earl Thomas....well actually Earl Thomas is fantastic. If only he had some help (read: Paul Allen, go sign Asomugha!). The Bears, on the other hand, are solid. Advantage: Bears
Special Teams
Two outstanding special teams units will clash on Sunday, as Leon Washington and Devin Hester put their talents on display. Both are top-end return men, although Hester is now officially the best to ever do it. Advantage: Bears
The Pick
Although I have the Bears winning more categories, I'm going to go with my heart and pick the 'Hawks to win. If there's one thing I've learned from years of being a sports fan, it's that you don't pick against a hot team in the post-season. I think Hasselbeck will play well enough to propel the 'Hawks to the NFC Championship game (say it out loud and try not to sound like a crazy person). 'Hawks 27, Bears 19
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