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Bears seek to snap home playoff losing streak

Jan 14, 2007 - 5:09 PM Seattle (10-7) at Chicago (13-3) Sunday 1:00 pm EST NFC Divisional Playoff

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bears have lost their last three postseason games at Soldier Field. To end that skid, they must beat the defending NFC champions.

The top-seeded Bears meet the fourth-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs on Sunday afternoon.

The winner will face the second-seeded New Orleans Saints.

The Bears lost at home to the Carolina Panthers, 29-21, last January in the divisional playoffs, marking their third straight home postseason defeat.

Chicago had the best record in the NFC this season, but quarterback Rex Grossman has caused plenty of angst in the Windy City. He was intercepted 11 times in the Bears' three losses and finished 24th in quarterback rating.

In last year's playoff loss to Carolina, Grossman completed 17-of-41 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown with an interception.

Chicago's winning formula is predicated on the NFC's stingiest defense, led by Pro Bowl linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, the return ability of rookie Devin Hester and a solid running game.

The Bears allowed just 15.9 points per game and forced a league-high 44 turnovers. Rookie defensive end Mark Anderson led the team with 12 sacks and cornerback Charles Tillman and nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. each had five interceptions.

Hester set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns - three on punts, two on kickoffs and one on a missed field goal.

Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson form a potent backfield combination. Jones led the team with 1,210 rushing yards.

The Seahawks are looking to make a return trip to the Super Bowl, but will have to win two road games, starting with this one at Soldier Field.

But the Seahawks struggled to a 21-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round last week. Dallas was ready to kick the go-ahead 19-yard field goal with 1:19 left, but Tony Romo botched the snap and was tackled by Jordan Babineaux short of the first down.

Matt Hasselbeck, a Pro Bowl starter, threw two interceptions that led to field goals for Dallas. He has been picked off 10 times in seven games since returning from a four-game absence with a sprained knee ligament.

The Seahawks will also need more from 2005 rushing champion and MVP Shaun Alexander, who missed six games with a broken foot this season and was held to 69 yards on 24 carries in the playoff win over Dallas.

Alexander did not play when the Seahawks were walloped by the Bears, 37-6, here on October 1.

Grossman threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, including a 40-yard score to Bernard Berrian.

"Seattle is a lot better than what they showed that night," Grossman said. "We knew we were going to have see them again down the road and sure enough we're going to have to beat them again to get to where we want to go."

Berrian had three catches for 108 yards, Jones rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns and Robbie Gould kicked three field goals for the Bears.

Anderson recorded two sacks and Manning Jr. had two first-half interceptions to set up a field goal and touchdown to pace the Bears' defense.

Hasselbeck was sacked five times and completed 16-of-35 passes for 196 yards with two interceptions.

"They were the best defense we saw all season," said Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who has 12 playoff wins.

The Bears last reached the NFC championship game in January 1989.