Date: Oct. 1
Time: 8:15pm NBC
Why to tune in:
This is the only other contest on the NFL schedule besides San Diego-Baltimore that features two undefeated teams. Seattle is coming off of a waxing of the Giants at home last week while the Bears squeaked by a tough Vikings team. Last season, both of these squads were ranked 1-2 in the playoffs and if Chicago hadn’t lost to Carolina in the Divisional Round – this would have been the NFC title match. Both teams are averaging 24-plus points a game, but defensively they are equally as strong. The wildcard in this contest is that Seattle will be without reigning MVP Shaun Alexander in its backfield against an already stingy Bears run defense.
When the Seahawks have the ball:
There were rumors earlier in the week that Alexander was going to be healthy enough to play, but head coach Mike Holmgren squashed those thoughts immediately. Seattle is good, but not good enough to risk losing Alexander for an extended period of time – especially with a bye week coming up. Maurice Morris will lineup in the backfield and butt heads with the number four run defense in the league. The Bears are only giving up an average of 82 yards a game on the ground and DT Tommie Harris has been a big part of their success. Harris is disrupting opponents by having a successful running game by breaking through the interior of their line and forcing backs to try and run outside. The Seahawks offensive line is going to have its hand full with defensive ends Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye in pass protection. If Morris can’t get going, QB Matt Hasselback (who is throwing the ball extremely well this season) is going to have to rely on one of his many weapons in the passing game. Darrell Jackson is fighting through injuries and is having a nice season while newly acquired Deion Branch is still trying to fit into Holmgren’s system. Branch should eventually be very productive, but if he’s slow to develop, Hasselback still has receivers Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson. The key on defense for the Bears is going to be the secondary staying disciplined. The front seven is certainly good enough to keep Morris in check, so it’s going to be up to the defensive backs to take away Hasselback’s targets.
When the Bears have the ball:
QB Rex Grossman is continuing to show the Chicago coaching staff that he was the right choice over Brian Griese in the preseason. Grossman is displaying great touch in the deep game and is getting all of his targets involved throughout the game. Muhsin Muhammad is proving to be Grossman’s go to guy, but Benard Berrian is explosive down the field and is excelling at creating separating at the line of scrimmage. Although the Bears have been balanced on offense, they still aren’t running the ball with a great deal of success. That plays into the hands of the Seahawks, because much like Chicago, Seattle’s front seven is good enough to take away the Bears run game without any needed help from the safeties. Without having to worry at all about helping defense the run game, free safety Ken Hamlin is rebounding nicely from a fractured skull he suffered in a bar fight last season and contributed with two interceptions against New York last week. Watch for the Seahawks to make Chicago one-dimensional and get Grossman to force passes into double coverage, which will lead to a possible key turnover for Seattle. A big weapon for Chicago might be tight end Desmond Clark, who up until this year hasn’t been much of a factor. Clark is starting to build a nice relationship with Grossman and that might be key in a match up with SS Michael Boulware, who isn’t overly impressive in pass coverage.
Prediction:
Something just doesn’t sit right with me as I watched Seattle relax on defense and allow the Giants to get back into the game last weekend. The Seahawks knew the Giants had to get back into the game through the air and still couldn’t stop New York. I think these teams match up real well against each other, but not having Alexander in the run game is going to make the Seahawks too one-dimensional in my opinion. Chicago plays extremely well at home and I’m still not sold that Seattle can beat a tough opponent on the road. If this game was in Seattle and Alexander was going to be running the ball for the Seahawks, I would probably predict a different outcome.
Chicago’s defensive backs aren’t going to wilt the way the Giants secondary did last week: Bears 23, Seahawks 17.
