News / Sports
NFC Playoffs from Sunday: Gould’s 49 Yard Field Goal in Overtime Lifts Chicago Bears Past Seattle Seahawks 27-24
The Chicago Bears will be hosting the NFC Championship Game next weekend after Robbie Gould kicked a 49-yard field goal in overtime to beat the Seattle Seahawks.
It was Gould’s 41-yard field goal with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter that tied the score at 24-24 and forced overtime.
The Bears had a strong game from their inconsistent quarterback Rex Grossman. In their most significant game of the year Grossman led the Bears on three touchdown drives while throwing for 282 yards and a touchdown.
Thomas Jones put the Bears on the board first with a 9-yards touchdown run in the opening quarter.
Seattle answered in the second quarter with a 16-yard strike from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to Nate Burleson and the game was tied 7-7. Sixteen-seconds later the Bears were back on top 14-7.
On their first play after receiving the kickoff Grossman found Bernard Berrian on a 68-yard touchdown pass and the fans in Soldier Field were preparing for the New Orleans Saints next week.
The Seahawks defensive effort paid off late in the second quarter when Grossman fumbled while being sacked and Seattle recovered on the Bears 29-yard line. Shaun Alexander then tied the scoring for the Hawks with a 4-yard touchdown run.
Chicago seemed to have their offense clicking in the first half and they made sure to close the second quarter with a bang. Thomas Jones scored his second touchdown of the half with a 7-yard touchdown run and the Bears went into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
When the two teams came out for the second half it appeared as if they both left their offense behind. Seattle managed a 40-yard field goal from Josh Brown in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 21-17 and then scored on a 13-yard touchdown from Shaun Alexander. Up 24-21 and holding the Bears to no offense in the third quarter it appeared as if the Seahawks were making a bid to return to the NFC Championship game.
The Bears weren’t willing to cash in their 13-3 season and although it took nearly 25 minutes of second half action they finally dented the board on Gould’s 41-yard field goal and the game was tied, and headed to overtime.
Seattle won the toss and received in overtime but couldn’t manage any offense and were forced to punt. With Chicago taking over on their own 34-yard line and facing a third-and-ten Grossman found Rashied Davis on a 30-yard pass to set up Gould’s game winner.
The Bears will now host the New Orleans Saints nest week to determine who will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. For the Bears, they haven’t played in the Super Bowl since 1986 while the Saints have never played in the NFC-AFC match-up.
