Seahawks at Bears
THE STORY: The Chicago Bears learned this week that quarterback Jay Cutler has an “outside shot” at returning from his thumb injury next weekend. While that would be a nice Christmas present for Bears fans, it may not matter much if backup Caleb Hanie can’t figure out a way to win a game. Chicago has dropped three straight with Hanie in control, pushing them behind the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons in the NFC wild card race. Making matters worse, star running back Matt Forte sat out last week with a knee injury and is doubtful for Sunday, when Chicago hosts the surging Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks’ dreams of a playoff berth are even more unlikely than the Bears, but at least they are playing like they want it with wins in four of their last five games. Marshawn Lynch is averaging 117.7 yards over the last six contests as the offense has started to catch up to the defense.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Bears -3.5, O/U 36.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (6-7): Seattle failed to record 14 points five times in its first eight games while starting out 2-6. That has turned around over the last five, with the Seahawks churning out 24.8 points behind heavy running from Lynch and efficient play from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who has posted his two highest-rated games of the season in the last two weeks. Lynch has seen his average number of carries more than double starting with a Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
ABOUT THE BEARS (7-6): While the loss of Cutler did not make things easier last week, the bigger issue was Forte’s absence. Backup Marion Barber was part of two plays that cost Chicago, once running out of bounds to stop the clock when they had the lead late and then fumbling in overtime when the Bears were approaching field goal range. Chicago has totaled 13 points in its last two games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Lynch has scored a touchdown in nine straight games, tying Shaun Alexander’s franchise record.
2. The Bears beat Seattle in the division round of the playoffs last season 35-24 behind four total TDs from Cutler.
3. Bears WR Sam Hurd was arrested Thursday on charges of masterminding a major drug operation. Hurd told a federal undercover agent he was looking to buy 5 to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week for distribution in the Chicago area.