Things are getting ugly in Chicago

Published on January 16, 2011 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

Breaking News: Marcus Trufant took a hard hit to the head after trying to tackle a 240lb Tight End, he is being carted off the field as this is written.

The Chicago Bears struck early and often, opening up a 21-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of their NFC divisional playoff game today at snowy Soldier Field.

Quarterback Jay Cutler hit tight end Greg Olsen with a 58-yard touchdown pass less than three minutes into the game, and the Bears used another Cutler-Olsen connection to set up another first-quarter TD.

The Bears added a third touchdown early in the second quarter, as the Seahawks struggled to move the ball against the vaunted Chicago defense in far-from-ideal weather conditions.

Game-time temperature was 25 degrees, with snow falling. The Seahawks punted on all seven of their first-half possessions.

The Bears had no such struggles. They gained 238 total yards to 96 for the Seahawks in the first half, and had 11 first downs to Seattle’s six. Neither team turned the ball over.

The Cutler-Olsen touchdown came on the their third offensive play of the game after the Seahawks received the opening kickoff, ran three plays and punted.

The second Chicago score, a one-yard run by Chester Taylor, capped an eight-play, 50-yard drive with 1:19 left in the first quarter. Devin Hester’s 26-yard punt return set the Bears up at midfield. A 33-yard Cutler-to-Olsen pass was the key play in the drive.

The Bears’ third touchdown, a six-yard scramble by Cutler on a third-down play, completed a nine-play, 63-yard drive with 10:01 left in the first half.

Seahawks tight end John Carlson was injured during the Seahawks’ second possession after catching a 14-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck, and was removed from the field on a stretcher.

Tags: Chester Taylor, Divisional Playoff Game, Game Time, Greg Olsen, Jay Cutler, John Carlson, Marcus Trufant, Matt Hasselbeck, Nfc Divisional Playoff, Quarter Td, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, Soldier Field, Stretcher, Three Plays, Tight End, Time Temperature, Weather Conditions, Yard Punt Return, Yard Scramble, Yard Touchdown