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Gould kicks 49-yarder in OT; Bears reach NFC title game

Jan 14, 2007 - 11:44 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Robbie Gould kicked the Chicago Bears into the NFC championship game for the first time in 18 years.

The Pro Bowler booted a 49-yard field goal 4:58 into overtime to lead the top-seeded Bears to a 27-24 victory over the fourth-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoffs.

Gould had tied the game with a 41-yard field goal that snuck just inside the left upright with 4:24 left in regulation.

"As a kicker, you want these opportunities," Gould said. "Just got to take advantage of the opportunity that you get and mentally focus."

"Robbie Gould is a Pro Bowler and you can see why," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Not only the one to win the game but the one to tie it was big."

The Bears (14-3), who had lost their previous three playoff games at Soldier Field and last won a postseason game in January 1995, will host the second-seeded New Orleans Saints (11-6) in the NFC championship game next Sunday.

Chicago last reached the conference title game in January 1989, losing to San Francisco, 28-3.

The Seahawks (10-8) were trying to become the first defending NFC champion to return to the Super Bowl since the 1997 Green Bay Packers. That team was also coached by Mike Holmgren.

"The finality of losing a playoff game this week hurts," Holmgren said.

Most of the attention before the game was focused on Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, who caused plenty of angst in Chicago due to his propensity to commit turnovers. During the regular season, Grossman was intercepted 20 times and lost five fumbles. But he also threw for 3,193 yards and 23 touchdowns.

The Rex Factor was certainly a positive for the Bears on Sunday even with two turnovers - one interception and a fumble. Grossman overshadowed that by passing for 282 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown to Bernard Berrian in the second quarter. Berrian finished with five catches for 105 yards.

But Grossman's biggest pass came in overtime. On a 3rd-and-10 play, Grossman lofted a 30-yard pass over the middle to Rashied Davis, who held on to the ball after getting hit by safety Ken Hamlin.

"That was a great route (by Davis)," Grossman said. "All I had to do was hold the safety with a fake and he (Davis) hit the seam."

"Rex was waiting for a big play to come my way and I'm just elated about it," Davis said. "This is unreal for me."

Four plays later, Gould made the winning kick. Gould was named to his first Pro Bowl this season after leading the league with 143 points. He made his first 24 field goal attempts this season and 32-of-36 overall.

Seattle won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive. But after getting just one first down, the Seahawks punted from their own 48.

Ryan Plackemeier averted a strong rush by Israel Idonije but was able to get off only an 18-yard punt that sailed out of bounds.

Three plays later, Grossman connected with Davis to set up the winning kick.

"He's (Grossman's) been roasted the past couple weeks over all different kinds of things," Smith said. "He is our quarterback. There was a lot of pressure on him and our entire team."

Chicago's Thomas Jones was held to 66 yards on 21 carries, but got into the end zone twice. His second touchdown - a seven-yard run with 48 seconds left in the second quarter - gave the Bears a 21-14 halftime lead.

Shaun Alexander rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns for the Seahawks. He did not play back in Week Four due to a broken foot when the Seahawks were walloped here by the Bears, 37-6.

However, Alexander was tackled for a two-yard loss by Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs on a 4th-and-1 play at the Chicago 44 just after the two-minute warning. On the play, Matt Hasselbeck bobbled the snap before handing off to Alexander, who was immediately taken down by Briggs.

"We mishandled the snap from center and they got penetration," Holmgren said. "It wasn't clean and when you have a short yardage situation where you are going for it, it had to be clean."

"It (the crowd) was loud. I didn't know if I couldn't get the cadence," Hasselbeck said of the mishandled snap.

The Seahawks got the ball back and moved to the Chicago 45 with 24 seconds left, but Hasselbeck was sacked by defensive tackle Tank Johnson for a nine-yard loss.

Josh Brown kicked a 40-yard field goal and Alexander scored on a 13-yard run in the third quarter to give the Seahawks their first lead, 24-21. The Seahawks were facing 3rd-and-10 when Alexander ran up the middle on a draw play for his 13-yard touchdown with 4:57 left in the third quarter.

Cedric Benson was the key to Chicago's game-tying drive. The second-year back caught three passes for 24 yards and rushed four times for 14 yards to help set up Gould's 41-yard field goal.

"This game, it helps your team grow," Benson said. "It says a lot about your team and makes it easier to go into the next game ready for New Orleans."

Jones scored on a nine-yard run to cap a game-opening 12-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 6:25.

Hasselbeck connected with Nate Burleson on a 16-yard touchdown six seconds into the second quarter to tie the game.

Just 18 seconds later, Grossman hit Berrian with a 68-yard touchdown over the middle.

However, Grossman fumbled after being sacked by linebacker Julian Peterson and defensive tackle Chuck Darby recovered for the Seahawks at the Chicago 26.

Five plays later, Alexander scored on a four-yard run to tie the game again with 2:29 left in the second quarter.

But Grossman bounced back on Chicago's next drive with a 21-yard pass to Muhsin Muhammad and an 18-yard pass to Davis. That led to a seven-yard touchdown run by Jones with 48 seconds remaining in the half.

Former Bear Bobby Engram caught three passes for 32 yards on the drive that set up Brown's field goal with 9:56 left in the third quarter.

Grossman's lone interception came early in the fourth quarter when his throw went off Muhammad's shoulder pad and was picked off by Pete Hunter, who returned it 16 yards to the Seattle 21.