=== Playoff Chances ===

No worries yet, mate.  Down -1 with 13 games to go.   The leader, San Francisco, has a 1970's passing game and one game vs the Seahawks, that being up here in our house.

Granted, the Colts next week is a L until proven otherwise, and 1-3 will look kind of ugly, but on the other hand this team add Hasselbeck and Walter Jones is better than the other three teams in the division...

...............

The Seahawks went at it hammer-and-tongs with a fad pick for the Super Bowl, and:

Outgained them 346 - 318, including small margins in rushing and in passing, both

Had 19 first downs to 14 for the Bears

Converted 7 third downs to 4 for Chicago

Held the Bears to 3.0 yards per run play

...............

They did this without their team's franchise player, Matt Hasselbeck.  They did it without four more of their best players:  their two best OL's and their two best LB's.

So, I was pleasantly surprised.  The Bears were gangbangin', pursuing fiercely, hitting ferociously and routinely mass-blitzing a flustered Seneca Wallace.   But the Seahawks win the game if Mare hits a very easy 34-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

.

=== Pythag Dept. ===

The Seahawks, after 3 games, have scored 53 points and allowed 44, projecting to a 2-1 record (coming against one terrible team and two apparent contenders).

They've collected 1,075 yards and allowed 944.  Again a 2-1 record, given a bounce of the ball or two.

Those bounces of the ball?  Let's say the Bears' spectacular diving interception of Wallace deep in Seahawk territory, or a missed Mare field goal or two, or a Wallace pass or two that was thrown a foot or two high.

Was a bit worried before the game, but right now it looks like 2009 should be a thoroughly enjoyable season.

.

=== Line of Scrimmage ===

After a clean sheet Opening Week, the 49'ers brought the Hawks back to earth with a physical beating.   I've seen previous Hawk seasons folded, spindled, and mutilated by one savage pounding, after which the club never regained its belief.  

For example, the 1987 Bo Jackson game, the Hawks were 7-3 going into a Monday night game, favored, flying high... the Raiders simply destroyed the Seahawks who finished the year 9-7.

Mike Holmgren's first year, 1999, the Seahawks started 8-2 (!!), then were exposed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .... Kitna 19 for 44, 197 yards, 0 TD's, 5 ints ... it was as if Tampa taught the NFL how to beat the Seahawks, since an 8-2 team then went 1-6 from there.  OUCH.

Frank Gore's two 80-yard rambles last week looked uncomfortably like Bo Jackson running out of the Kingdome, but...

....................

... the Seahawk defensive line went all Clubber Lang in the center of the boxing ring, and stood Da Bears up.

The punch-drunk Bears offense declined to try to run on 4th and 6 inches when they passed for their first TD, because they knew they were going nowhere but backwards.   ... Their first 3rd-and-short in the 4th quarter, they go ahead and send Wolfe off tackle, who loses a yard.

Kearney got pressure several times, beating his man both outside and inside, and got a sack for a fumble.   A team missing its star LB's is getting big contributions from about 6 defensive linemen.

.....................

So, gimme Hasselbeck back, with the attack dogs on defense, and I like the Hawks' chances against the NFC West.

Jim Mora Jr. would rather have a real victory (STL) than a moral victory (CHI).   But he'd also rather have a moral victory (CHI) than a moral and real defeat (SF).

That'll do for me too,

Dr D