It took a 97-yard touchdown drive with less than 30 seconds to go to put the Seahawks back in the driver's seat. A 17-14 lead with 24 seconds remaining looked all too good for Gus Bradley's defense.

Heading into Chicago's last drive, they had only allowed seven points in the second-half, yet quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall decided to make things incredibly interesting for Pete Carroll's club.

In the midst of a collapsed pocket, Cutler threw a bomb down the right sideline, which was timed perfectly as Marshall hauled in the grab for 56 yards. Two plays later kicker Robbie Gould proved that he is indeed as good as Gould.

His 46-yard field goal sent the game to overtime, however, rookie quarterback Russell Wilson decided to take back any momentum that was lost on the Bears final drive. Seattle elected to receive the kickoff knowing it would take a touchdown on the opening drive to send Chicago packing.

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St. Louis is 4-6-1 heading into Week 13, which means it is facing a must-win game. Every game from here on out is essentially a must-win if the St. Louis Rams want a shot at making the playoffs. Six losses seems like it will be the cutoff point for the NFC playoff picture.

Think about it; the Seattle Seahawks currently hold the No. 6 seed and are already at five losses. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC playoff picture as well with the same records, Seattle will need to win four of its final five games.

The Rams' remaining five games look like this—they play San Francisco, Buffalo, Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Seattle. The 49ers and Vikings games are at home with the other three being on the road. It's ironic that three of the five remaining games are against clubs that I mentioned above being in the hunt for that sixth playoff spot.

However, it all starts with the 49ers this week. If they knock off San Francisco, they control their own destiny the rest of the way. Coach Jeff Fisher has to be pleased with his team's play last week and should be pleased with their draw the rest of the way out.

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The Seahawks are 6-5 and clinging to the No. 6 playoff seed in the NFC for dear life. We are all aware of the impending suspensions of cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman. It appears as if they will appeal and plead their case; however things don't seem favorable according to NFL insider Peter King:

Which only really means one thing—the appeals process could be dragged out so that both players finish the regular season, yet it's likely they won't be able to make a postseason appearance if they do indeed lose their appeal.

The question I pose is this: As a follower of the Seahawks, would you rather have Browner and Sherman available at the end of the regular season, or during the playoffs? There's no right or wrong answer, I just think it would be smart to sit both players right now.

That way they can help the Seahawks get into the playoffs and, if they do make it, then decide what's best for the team.

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For the first time since his benching, quarterback Alex Smith spoke to the media on Thursday. It was clear that disappointment and defeat had taken over Smith's mood. When No. 11 was asked if he regrets telling team officials about his blurred vision, here's what he had to say: “No, I’m not looking back on that."

Even though he is disappointed over being benched, he knows that he needs to start preparing for his next opportunity on the field. That next opportunity could come in relief of Colin Kaepernick if he gets hurt, or next season with a different team.

Smith's salary for next season is only guaranteed if he is on the 49ers' roster April 1. And by the look of things, that won't be happening. He is owed $7.5 million in base salary and another million in bonus money. 

For any player in his position, it would be a tough pill to swallow. When Smith says he hadn't done anything to lose his job, he's got a very valid point:

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Jim Harbaugh has made it official as the 49ers head into Week 13—Colin Kaepernick will get the green light against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick will make his third consecutive start of the season and second consecutive start on the road.

The last time the Rams and 49ers squared off, they ended in a tie. As I mentioned multiple times before, no NFL game should ever end in a tie. The NFL should be implementing the playoff rule to reflect the regular season rule, or they should adopt the same overtime rules as college football.

Regardless, that's a topic for another day. Currently, San Francisco holds the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff race and will need to win Sunday if it wants to keep that spot. Chicago will be looking to knock off the Seahawks in an effort to grab that No. 2 spot.

But before we move full-speed ahead into Week 13, let's take a look at the good, the bad and everything in between from Week 12.

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Even though San Francisco had its bye week during the month of November, it didn't stop Aldon Smith from being honored for the first time ever as NFC Defensive Player of the Month. In three weeks, Smith managed to pile up nine sacks, 18 tackles and two forced fumbles.

As the 49ers headed into their bye week during the first week of November, Smith had 7.5 sacks. By month's end, he has climbed to the top of the ladder and is leading the NFL in sacks with 16.5. The next two closest players are J.J. Watt with 14.5 and Von Miller with 14.

Smith's 16.5 sacks puts him just six away from tying Michael Strahan's single-season sack record—there's no question he could eclipse that mark by season's end. With five games remaining, he needs to average about a sack and a half a game to break the record.

His 14-sack season from a year ago has already been a thing of the past. It's safe to say Smith and Miller will be battling annually for the single-season sack record. Both players have the ability to do it, yet it always helps to have a little luck on your side when it comes to registering quarterback sacks.

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It finally appears as if we can put the Colin Kaepernick-Alex Smith starting quarterback nonsense behind us. Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh announced that Kaepernick would indeed be the starter heading into Week 13.

Let's be honest, did anyone really expect Smith to get his job back? Kaepernick is the 49ers' future, and Harbaugh realized that it makes no sense to delay the future for a guy who is limited in what he can do. Smith will never have the same physical tools as No. 7, and there's no reason to go back to a guy who doesn't give you any better chance to win.

With Kaepernick being named the starter, only one question remains: What does all this mean for Alex Smith? Well apparently, Smith needs to continue to prepare as if he were the starting quarterback, and here's why.

Wednesday Coach Harbaugh was asked—just to clarify, you're saying Colin Kaepernick is the starting quarterback moving forward. It's not a one week thing? Here's what he had to say (h/t Matt Maiocco, CSNBayArea.com): "I wouldn't assume anything. I know you probably will, but I'd assume nothing."

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The last five days have not treated the Seattle Seahawks well. Miami rallied late in the fourth quarter to overcome a 21-14 deficit with less than eight minutes left to play and then later on that day Seattle found out that cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman would both be facing suspensions for four games due to failed drug tests.

Last weeks' loss dropped the Seahawks to 6-5 with five games left to play. The 'Hawks are currently holding onto the sixth seed in the NFC playoff race and need to win at least three or four more games to keep a tight grip on that No. 6 seed.

Per Sporting News, both cornerbacks will be on the field come Sunday, which will only help Seattle's playoff run. Heading into Week 13, Pete Carroll's club enters familiar territory: 2012 marks the third year in a row where the Seahawks have to travel to Soldier Field in the Windy City.

Let's take a look where this team stands after Week 12.

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