CHICAGO — The worst team ever in the NFL playoffs didn’t look anything like that the last time it came here.
On Oct. 17, Matt Hasselbeck completed 25 of 40 passes for 242 yards
and a touchdown and Seattle sacked Jay Cutler six times in a 23-20 victory over the NFC Central champs but propelled the Seahawks no further than 7-9.
So even after a 41-36 upset of the defending-champion Saints last weekend, there is almost universal disbelief Seattle still is alive. Though eight Saints touched Marshawn Lynch on the sublime 67-yard run that won the wild-card game, the Seahawks remain on their feet somehow. The Bears are rested, but if Seattle is more bruised, it continues to feel no pain.
“We have to prepare for anything because they have nothing to lose,” said Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who never has lost a postseason game because he never has been in one. Cutler, colder than his personality through much of the season, improved after offensive coordinator Mike Martz dedicated to Matt Forte and the run.
“In the last five games [5.8 yards per carry], I don’t know if there’s a back playing better,” Martz said. “He has always been very impressive, but about five weeks ago, something happened.”
One thing that happened is the offensive line, which had injuries and generally struggled, has come together. That’s a good thing for a favorite that hasn’t been in the playoffs since the Super Bowl XLI loss to the Colts, playing a game in 18-degree weather, on a notoriously-slick field, and with a quarterback of no postseason track record.
Cutler had to throw the ball 47 times in that October Seattle loss.
“We have no choice but not to let that happen again,” Forte said. But if Hasselbeck, who threw four touchdown passes last week in perhaps the best performance of a fine career, wings it 47 times tomorrow, it wouldn’t necessarily mean the Seahawks were struggling, but perhaps thriving. Opponents averaged 33.7 points per game in Chicago’s final three games at home.
So this pumpkin that the Seahawks ride in on has all-weather radials and Lynch’s set of golden slippers. They might be happy to be here, but that’s no reason for the Bears to be happy to see them.
“It’s very important to get pressure on [Hasselbeck], get him to move his feet.” said ace linebacker Lance Briggs, who didn’t play the first game. “Shut the run down, make them one-dimensional, make [Hasselbeck] beat us.
“These are things we’ve needed
to do all year long.”
NUMBERS TO KNOW
The Bears gave up 27 sacks in their first six games, including six to the Seahawks, and 29 over the past 10.
BEST BATTLE
Bears edge pass rushers Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije likely will flip-flop against Seahawk left tackle Russell Okung, who will undergo ankle surgery following the season. If this is no battle at all, Seattle has no chance.
CUT TO THE CHASE
After starting 46 games at Vanderbilt and compiling an 11-35 record (best showing 5-6 in 2005), Cutler went 2-3, 7-9, and 8-8 in two-plus seasons as the Broncos starter without making it to the playoffs. After being traded to the Bears, Cutler went 7-9 in 2009 and again failed to qualify.
“I’m probably not the first quarterback who hasn’t been to the playoffs in his first five years and probably won’t be the last,” Cutler said. “We’re in a good situation now, just have to take advantage of it.”
Since 2003, quarterbacks playing their first postseason games are 5-19.
COLD, HARD REALITY
Seattle punter Jon Ryan made the Bears start six times within their own 20 in the October win, but also gave up a fourth-quarter, 89-yard touchdown return to Devin Hester that almost enabled the badly outplayed Bears to pull it out.
The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result. But Ryan said the wise guys who can’t understand why anyone ever would punt the ball to Hester never had to kick in the cold.
“It’ll be 20 degrees, and you’ve got a frozen ball,” Ryan said. “You could aim out of bounds and have it go 20 yards.
“There’s a smaller margin of error, the sweet spot gets smaller. But I’m not saying I’m not going to kick the ball out of bounds at all.”
JAY’S PREDICTION
A most imperfect team had to play a virtually perfect game — no turnovers — to win at Chicago in October. Yet, that was Seattle’s only win on the road against a team with a winning record in three seasons. The Bears are wary, rested, healthy, at home and running the ball well, the classic recipe for postseason success.
BEARS 30, SEAHAWKS 28
jay.greenberg@nypost.com
