Win over Bears gives Seahawks confidence

RENTON, Wash. - Before their stunning upset of New Orleans to open the NFL playoffs, the Seahawks' most complete performance of the season came in a Week 6 victory at Chicago.

So maybe that's why there is a general feeling of comfort about the Seahawks returning to Chicago for Sunday's NFC divisional playoff.

Although they will be decided underdogs again, and the Bears were a far different team three months ago, the Seahawks already know they can win at Soldier Field, having beaten the Bears, 23-20, in mid-October.

And these Seahawks are on a roll, a general idea that seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago when they capped a stretch of seven losses in nine games with three straight duds against San Francisco, Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

A win over the Bears would give Seattle its first three-game winning streak since 2007.

Suddenly, these Seahawks are a confident group at ease with their place. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck even pointed it out yesterday, noting that Seattle's first goal for the season was winning the NFC West and re-staking claim to a division it controlled during the middle part of the last decade.

But there wasn't much said about what comes after winning the division.

"We never talked about what was beyond that, but we all know that there's just great stuff beyond that," Hasselbeck said. "So here we are, and to have a second-round playoff opportunity is really exciting and that's what we care about right now."

To that point, the Seahawks returned to work after a day away. Coach Pete Carroll even got some down time, spending Sunday with one eye on the two playoff games - with extreme interest in Green Bay's win over Philadelphia - but much of the day also was spent hanging out with his grandson.

But their preparations for the Bears begins with October's win and the familiarity of having played in Chicago.

In a season with few impressive performances, Seattle's upset of the Bears stands out. Coming off a bye week, the Seahawks rolled into Chicago and picked up their first road win over a team with a winning record in three seasons.

The Bears' Matt Forte was held to 11 yards rushing on eight carries, and the Bears went 0-for-12 on third down.

"We had a good experience, we know that. That's not a battle cry or anything, that doesn't mean anything," Carroll said. "We just know where we're going, we know what it feels like, we know where we're going to practice the day before the game, and we'll know the sights and sounds of that stadium.''