2 Minute Drill: Bears 35, Seahawks 24

Published on January 17, 2011 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

Quarterback Jay Cutler not only passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns, but he outrushed Seattle by himself and scored twice on the ground.

• Tight end Greg Olsen caught three passes for 113 yards, and his 58-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was second-longest postseason pass Seattle has ever allowed.

Play of the game

Chicago’s first third down of the game may also have been its most important. With the score tied 0-0, quarterback Cutler threw to Olsen who had gotten behind strong safety Lawyer Milloy. The result was a 58-yard touchdown, the second-longest pass ever allowed by Seattle in a playoff game. That play occurred 2:52 into the game, and the Bears held the lead the rest of the way.

Turning point

The Bears had the ball at Seattle’s 3-yard line later in the first quarter when Cutler threw a quick pass straight to safety Jordan Babineaux. Babineaux saw the ball after it was released, and couldn’t respond in time to intercept a pass he very well could have returned for a touchdown that would have tied the game. Instead the pass bounced off Babineaux’s hands incomplete, and the Bears scored four plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run from Chester Taylor.

Seahawks surprises

Seattle rushed for 34 yards against the Bears, a team they gained 111 yards rushing in the regular-season game on Oct. 17.

The Seahawks had three sacks in the game, half the total they had against Cutler in the regular-season meeting when Seattle took a blitz-heavy approach.

The Seahawks 11-point loss was actually their smallest margin of defeat this season.

Seattle allowed 10 or more points in the first quarter for the third consecutive playoff game.

By the numbers

43 – rushing yards by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

34 – rushing yards by Seattle’s entire team combined.

21 – points Seattle trailed by at halftime.

20 – points, the largest deficit the Seahawks overcame to win a game either postseason or regular season.

8 – consecutive road playoff losses for Seattle.

Quoteworthy: S Jordan Babineaux said, “We let this one get away from us, and the Bears are not that much better of a football team than what the stats and the score say.”

Injury report

Seahawks — TE John Carlson and CB Marcus Trufant suffered concussions that knocked them out of the game. They remained in Chicago overnight for evaluation. FB Michael Robinson suffered a rib injury, but X-rays were negative for a fracture. RB Justin Forsett suffered an ankle injury, RB Marshawn Lynch a shoulder injury. TE Cameron Morrah suffered a turf-toe injury that limited his availability.

Tags: Blitz, Chester Taylor, Consecutive Road, Entire Team, First Quarter, Four Plays, Greg Olsen, Jay Cutler, Jordan Babineaux, Lawyer Milloy, playoff game, Playoff Losses, Rushing Yards, Sacks, Season 8, Season Game, Strong Safety, Tight End, Turning Point, Yard Touchdown Reception