An uneventful first half saw the hosts go up 3-0 on a 50yd O. Mare FG. That looked like it would be all of the scoring until Jay Cutler found his rhythm and conducted a masterful 2-minute drill...only to throw it all away by throwing an INT that was returned 90+ yds for a TD. Instead of going into the break up 7-3, the Bears faced a daunting 10 point deficit on the road.
The 3rd quarter started out like more of the same relatively tame football, with little hint of the chaos that would follow. Nobody scored until the Bears finally scratched out a FG with 3:00 left in the quarter. Seattle answered immediately, with the hertofore ineffective Julius Jones busting lose for a 45 yd TD run.
With 2:00 and change left in the 3rd, the Bears were down 17-3...
(cue NFL Films music)
And then came Hester. Demonstrating his patented combination of elusiveness and speed, Hester returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yds for his 3rd kick return TD of the season.
After a 3-and-out by the home team, Matt Forte opened what would become a legendary 4th quarter by busting around Orlando Pace for a huge 72-yd TD run. Only one man had a chance at him, but no single tackler was bringing down the big fella from Tulane on this day.
Seattle wouldn't go down without a fight, however. On the next drive Matt Hasselbeck miraculously unloaded a ball with Adewale Ogunleye draped all over him and found Nate Burleson for a 64-yd bomb.
But Forte would not be denied. A Bears drive that nearly chewed up far too much clock was capped off by Forte's second TD of the day, drawing the Bears even with 1:41. The Bears D stood tall, sacking Hasselbeck on a critical 3rd down and forcing a punt.
Cutler took over with :30 remaining on his own 20. On the first play from scrimmage the Seahawks gambled with a heavy blitz. The only option available was a swing pass to Forte, who slipped out of the hands of one defender and blasted down the sideline for the 78-yd game winning touchdown!
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Crazy game, obviously. Pretty sure that I woke the house when Forte busted loose. Forte ended up with 119yds rushing and 113yds receiving. He did everything but pack up the equipment truck.
Sadly no good highlights because so many of the scores were so long that the replays were truncated LOL
