The Hawks Nest: Sexy Rexy and Da Bears vs. Seahawks Preview (Plus Ask SSR Questions!)

Can you believe it? The last 2 Super Bowl losers are a combined 9-9, and will play a key pivotal matchup in Seattle this Sunday.

Rundown:

Who: Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks

When: 1:15 PM PST

Where: Qwest Field

TV: FOX

Commentators: Matt Vasgersian (YES!), JC Pearson (DAMMIT!)

Weather conditions: High 30s to low 40s, chance of rain or rain/snow mix.

The Seahawks are coming off a 24-0 win over San Francisco Monday night at Qwest. Da Bears beat that other bay area team 17-6 at Oakland with Gross Wreck everything at the helm for the 2nd half.

Seahawks Offense:

1. Mo Morris. He will be the likely starter with Shaun Alexander still hurt. Last week he had 28 carries for 87 yards and the first rushing TD for Seattle since September 16th. Keep giving him the rock to balance out that elite passing game, that will have Deion Branch back. The main weakness is his fumbling, he fumbled once in the 49ers game.

2. Leonard Weaver. Continue the fullback screens and running him on short yardage plays. Last week they didn't need him, but the Bears are a much better team than SF, so watch out for Weaver.

3. Spread those receivers. A 5 WR set with Bobby Engram, DJ Hackett, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and Ben Obumanu (or Courtney Taylor, or Seneca Wallace) is possible. Matt Hasselbeck has been on the money this season, and if he attacks that depleted Bears pass defense, it will be a long day for Chicago.

Seahawks Defense:

1. Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian. Last year, Seattle got hammered by Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian in the playoffs and in the regular season 37-6 loss. This year, they have not had the big impact because of the QB play (although Muhammad caught the winning TD at Philly that saved their season). This will be a big job for DB's Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant.

2. Don't allow the deep ball. Seattle actually leads the league in TD passes allowed (5), and have allowed them in 3 out of 9 games. The longest pass play they have allowed all season is 46 (Joey Galloway on opening week). The one problem however, is that Seattle is doing this cover 3 crap and allows receivers to get open 20 yards down the middle.

3. Hassle Wrecksman. Rex Grossman under pressure is the greatest thing for Seattle. He can't run, he tends to panic, and throw dumbass picks. Seattle is 4th in the league in sacks (23), right behind Chicago.

4. Contain Cedric Benson.....actually, almost everyone has done that....so....contain him.

Seahawks Special Teams:

1. Placky and Josh Brown better not kick to Hester. Devin Hester is a monster, we know that, and the Seahawks punt team has been awful. Ryan Plackemeier has had 2 punts blocked, a bad snap, and if he kicks to Hester, then we're done. Same goes for Josh Brown on kickoffs.

2. Nate Burleson. He is becoming an electrifying returner, who has scored twice on kick and punt returns in the last 3 weeks. Burleson has redeemed what was once a return team that had friggin Jimmy Williams.

Bears Offense:

1. Run the football. It has been confirmed that Chicago has Rex Grossman as QB. That's suicide right there. So run the football against the 15th ranked rushing defense in the league. Cedric Benson has not been spectacular, but as long as you keep a drive alive, this small Seattle defense gets fatigued.

2. Devin Hester. If only he was a between the tackles runner. The guy is awesome, and him against the Seahawks defense would be deadly.

3. Save Grossman's ass. That offensive line is murdering their QB's. As long as that offensive line is stout, Grossman COULD do something competent.

4. Crowd noise. This is Rexy's first time in Seattle for his young career. How can 68,000 people be so loud? Coffee and beer do the trick. We'll see how he does in a very hostile environment.

Bears Defense:

1. Stop the pass, win the game. Coach Walrus mentioned something about passing the ball a crap load, but if that offense can't click in the passing game, the running game still blows. That is the only key really needed for Chicago.

Bears Special Teams:

1. Devin Hester. Do I need a friggin reason?

Prediction: Seattle 23 Chicago 16

And now it's time for the question period with SSR.

Will Alexander recover from the injuries, curses, etc, that he has been going through the past few years, and get back over 1,000 rushing yards next year? Or is he all downhill from here? - Behbigben15

I believe that the injuries ended his career. That foot is still broken you know. Maybe Seattle should look at a Johnathan Stewart or Steve Slaton in the draft.

How in hall did the Seahawks lose to the facking Cardinals (other than I didn't watch the game). I mean seriously - HOW can you think they are going to do ANYTHING this season if they can't beat the Cardinals (the LA Clippers of the NFL -sorry, LASB) - Manny Stiles

Shaun Alexander fumbled and Mack Strong screwed up the block.....end of story. Don't worry, Arizona @ Seattle will decide the division.

Why will the Seahawks lose this Sunday? - Oh No Romo

Holmgren will ruin my day and run left tackled on 4th and 7.

If they're called the Seahawks, why do they play on land? - Oh No Romo

Seattle has been a frickin lake these past few days.

Who wins in a cage match, Hasslebeck or Seneca Wallace? - ONR

Wallace hands down.

Why haven't they started Seneca Wallace? - ONR

Because Hasselbeck, unlike your crummy QB's, is good.

Do the Seahawks players drink Starbucks on the sidelines instead of Gatorade?- ONR

We have Tully's coffee here and Jones soda, Starbucks is for the fans at a cheap price of $500.

Why doesn't anybody want to win the NFC West?- ONR