Bears rip Seahawks; face Pack for NFC title
Tight end Kellen Davis #87 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with Chester Taylor #29 after scoring on a 39-yard catch in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks. (Jan. 16, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
CHICAGO - The NFL's oldest rivalry has a new grand prize: a spot in the Super Bowl. Maybe even with an anniversary reprise of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" if the Bears can get past the Packers.
"It's a big deal. We have a lot of history with them," Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said Sunday after a 35-24 victory over Seattle set up an NFC Championship Game matchup with Green Bay. "We don't like them, they don't like us."
Jay Cutler ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Chicago dominated from the outset. The Bears built a 28-0 lead, but it was against the first-ever division winner with a losing record, making it difficult to measure how good they are. The NFL will find out Sunday against the Packers, who have beaten the Eagles and the top-seeded Falcons on the road this month.
The last time Chicago won the NFL title, Walter Payton, Jim McMahon and Mike Singletary did the "Super Bowl Shuffle" all over their opponents. That was 25 years ago, and to compare these Bears with the wild bunch that won Chicago's only Super Bowl is a stretch.
The next game will be the biggest in the Bears' 90-year series with the Packers. They will play for the 182nd time, but it's their first meeting for the NFC title.
"It just doesn't get any better than for the NFC Championship coming down to the Packers on our turf this time," coach Lovie Smith said. "The Packers and Bears to finish it up."
Cutler made it possible as much as anybody. And he did it with nimble feet as well as precise throws, running for 6- and 9-yard TDs.
"It was fun," he said with a smile. "That first one was called. Second one was kind of improv."
The Bears shut down a team that scored 41 points against New Orleans last week. The Seahawks gained only 111 yards through three quarters, and all of their points came after the outcome was decided.
"Now we're back, playing together, hopefully peaking at the right time," Urlacher said.
Cutler, in his first playoff game since high school, showed none of the wild swings that often have marked his five-year career. His shifty moves on a 6-yard run made it 21-0.
When asked about the Packers, Cutler said, "We're familiar with each other, so nothing's going to be new. We have our hands full."
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