NFL Playoff Predictions: 10 Things To Watch for in the Seahawks vs. Bears Game

The matchup no one but the most diehard of Seahawks fans predicted now is upon us. The Seahawks travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in a playoff game every analyst is afraid to touch.

After last week, you have to take the Seahawks a lot more seriously, but then again, the Bears finished 11-5, have a great defense and now have had a week off.

The Seahawks finished 7-9, have a weak defense, but upset the defending Super Bowl champions last weekend.

One of the Seahawks seven wins did come against Chicago, but the Bears are a much better team than they were in Week 6.

So here are 10 things to look for in this week's contest.

10. Massive Seattle Blitzing

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CHICAGO - OCTOBER 17: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears is sacked by Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on October 17, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Seahawks defeated the Bears 23-20. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Bears offensive line has been known to give up a sack or two . . . or nine.

The Seahawks pass defense is ranked 27th in the league, but after last week, throw the stat book away. Look for the Seahawks to try and throw everything but the kitchen sink at Jay Cutler.

When Cutler gets under pressure, he can make some hasty (meaning bad) decisions.

9. Don't Look For A Lot Of Third Downs From Seattle

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throws the ball in the second half against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Phot

NFL.com's Mike Lombardi broke the Seahawks-Saints game down in several ways, but one thing he pointed out was that Pete Carroll beat Sean Payton at his own game by playing "CFL Rules."

That is, the Seahawks did everything they could to avoid third down, trying to get a huge chunk of yards on first down and to play for the next first down on second down.

That kept the pace of the game more frantic and it kept the Saints defense off balance.

Since that worked well last week, expect Carroll to try that again.

8. Jay Cutler To Be Quicker With His Reads

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver as David Harris #52 of the New York Jets rushes at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Get

While the Bears offensive line isn't the best in the league, Jay Cutler holds on to the ball too long, and as Herm Edwards so smartly pointed out on ESPN on Thursday: "If your quarterback holds onto the ball too long, he's going to get sacked."

Of course, Professor Edwards also has told us "Hello? You play to win the game!"

However, Edwards isn't wrong, even if he sounds like he's channeling Dan Fouts in the announcer's booth.

With this much media attention on how long Cutler holds the ball, you can expect that to be addressed in the film room and the practice field this week.

7. More Seattle Deep Balls

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a 45-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley #15 in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on Janu

The only way to keep a defense honest is to throw the deep ball more than once a century. One of the reasons Marshawn Lynch had such a good day last week was the Saints weren't all crowded up on the line waiting for him.

You still have to make tackles, obviously, but if Hasselbeck keeps stretching the field, that automatically opens up the running game.

6. Cutler Needs To Attack Seattle's Secondary

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears is congrtaulated by quarterback Jay Cutler #6 after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt

As noted previously, the Seahawks do not have a good pass defense. Expect Cutler, who will be getting rid of the ball quicker, to try and exploit that secondary on a regular basis during the game.

5. Special Teams Madness

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears runs against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

It's Devin Hester versus Leon Washington in the battle of the return specialists.

Punts and kickoffs should be as exciting as anything else in this game because Hester is one of the best in the league and Washington has kept the Seahawks in a lot of games through his runbacks, three of which this season were for touchdowns.

4. Smash-Mouth Bears Football

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball after making a catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Because Cutler was taking so many sacks, the Bears smartly have started using Matt Forte more. Combine that with the coming out party by Marshawn Lynch last week and you can expect to see a lot of running plays called and a lot of pileups.

3. Julius Peppers

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears rushes against D' Brickashaw Ferguson #60 of the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Gett

Julius Peppers will be hunting Hasselbeck this weekend. Of that you can be sure of.

Watch where Peppers lines up every play because keeping No. 90 from sacking Hasselbeck will be the offensive line's No. 1 priority.

2. Marshawn Lynch

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattl

Marshawn Lynch had the best run of his career last week versus the Saints. Don't think he doesn't want to follow that up with an even bigger run this week.

The Bears defense is much better than the Saints', though, so he's got his work cut out for him.

The Bears can tackle better, that's for sure.

1. Pete Carroll

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the Seahawks 41-36 victory against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by

Pete Carroll did what many felt was just about impossible last week when he got his team to overcome the odds and beat the Saints.

How Carroll manages the emotions and expectations of the players this week will be another real test for the veteran coach.

The Bears are ready: The question now is if the Seahawks can bring the same level of energy to Chicago as they did in their home field.

We'll find out this weekend.

For a look at my predictions for this game, plus the other playoff games, check out Will Tom Brady And Aaron Rodgers Step Up This Weekend?