Seahawks Creep Closer With Fourth Quarter Touchdown, Trail Bears By 18

The Seahawks are now just three possessions back of the Bears, thanks to a clutch drive and some head-scratching play-calling from Mike Martz.

Matt Hasselbeck found Mike Williams for a two-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-10 early in the fourth quarter, bringing the Seahawks within dreaming distance of the NFC Championship Game.

They can thank Martz, the Bears’ offensive coordinator, for the opportunity. The Bears inexplicably ran a halfback pass for Matt Forte, likely expecting the Seahawks to be caught off-guard; they weren’t, and Forte chucked a wobbly pass directly into Aaron Curry’s arms. Curry returned the interception into Bears territory, and the Seahawks capitalized for their first touchdown on the day, but that drive had almost as much to do with Martz’ generosity as it did with Seattle finally solving parts of the Bears defense.

But the Seahawks might also be kicking themselves for choosing to kick a field goal down 28-0. Had they gone for it and gotten a touchdown on that drive, this might be a 14-point game now. Of course, that might also have scared Martz enough to not try a halfback pass in the fourth quarter of an NFL playoff game.

The Bears are still throwing with less than 10:00 left on the clock, though, meaning that Jay Cutler could still gift-wrap an interception and make this closer.