Seahawks vs Bears Prediction

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS +8.5 AT CHICAGO BEARS -8.5

The Seattle Seahawks, who are presently 10-7 after winning a game most people believe they should have lost - last weekend’s NFC Wild Card 21-20 defeat of the Dallas Cowboys - move on nevertheless to face a much tougher assignment, the 13-3 Chicago Bears in balmy Chicago. The forecast for Saturday is 28F and the field might be a little damp after Friday rain if it is not frozen. The Bears will be rested after a bye-week gained by winning the NFC North division with the greatest of ease, and Seattle may be still holding their collective breaths after what happened last week.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo’s botched hold of a 19-yard field goal with 1:19 left to put Dallas up 23-21 will straight up go down in history as one of the worst ways that an NFL season has ended for any team. Consider it a definitive reminder for teams remaining in the playoffs for now and years to come: make sure the ball is at least kicked. Dallas may be crying after this game is over because few are giving the Seahawks a chance in this one even with Rex Grossman once again showing inconsistency at quarterback.

Grossman, the troubled Bears’ starter, has publicly acknowledged that he is doing everything that he can to figure out why he shows so much inconsistency at his position with everyone else on his team playing so well. He finally discarded the notion that he cannot stay healthy, as he started every game during the regular season for the first time in his four-year career and posted career-highs in everything. But his label as a mistake-maker continues.

In the season finale, Grossman had, to put it mildly, a bad game. Playing the entire first half at home, he had more interceptions than completions, believe it or not. He went 2 for 12 for 33 passing yards and three picks, with two being returned to the house for touchdowns. A zero quarterback rating and some serious boos to go along with a 23-0 halftime deficit against Brett Favre and his Packers. Grossman's head coach, Lovie Smith, ended the misery by pulling him for Brian Griese at half, and Favre and the Pack won 26-7 in what may have been Favre's last game.

The Bears have proven that they can win with Grossman playing like crap; with a fly-around defense; the duo of Jones and Benson, and Devin Hester.

The Chicago defense ranked 3rd in the NFL in points allowed, with a mere 15.9 average. Running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson were one of few duos in the league to combine for over 1800 rushing yards. And punt/kickoff returner Devin Hester was a first-year nightmare, returning two kickoffs, three punts and a missed field goal for touchdowns to set an NFL record for special team returns for TDs as a rookie. He is the next coming of Deion Sanders and the Seahawks should try everything in their power to not allow him to post many returns in this contest.

Seattle will once again look to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander to get the job done, but the 8.5 pointspread at the time of writing is an indication of their chances in this one, even with Grossman playing the way he is. There won’t be any Super Bowl parties being held in Seattle this post-season, either.

PREDICTION: Seattle to cover (but Chicago should win)

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Anthony Oxley is a freelance columnist and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker room.

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