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Seahawks Come On Strong In Second Half, Beat Bears 38-14

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 18: Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks runs after an interception during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 18, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 18: Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks runs after an interception during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 18, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)
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The Seahawks apparently made some solid adjustments at the half after going into the locker room down 14-7, scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half to run away with a solid road victory, 38-14.

The first half was decidedly ugly - the Seahawks were sluggish on offense and looked vaguely similar to the Week 2, Week 3 version of this team. Tarvaris Jackson looked unsure, holding on to the football too long, the run game was picking up inches, not yards, and there was a marked timidness in their game. The way things started, it looked like it would be a very long game - 84 total yards in the first half on 29 plays. Tarvaris Jackson was 4 of 12 for 51 yards and a fumble in the endzone that the Bears recovered for a touchdown. The Hawks rushed for 34 yards on the ground on 16 carries, a 2.1 average.

The defense fared a little better than the O in the first half, holding the Bears' offense to only 7 points; Earl Thomas picked off a Kam Chancellor-tipped pass in the Bears' endzone and Chancellor stripped Johnny Knox for a fumble that the Seahawks recovered. The defensive turnovers allowed the Seahawks to stay in the game, down only a touchdown at half. That said, the Bears' offensive numbers in the first half were decent - 88 yards rushing on 21 attempts, 92 yards through the air with Caleb Hanie going 7 for 12, with a TD and an interception.

The second half was another story though. The Hawks took the kickoff to start and put together a five-play, 80-yard drive that finished with a Marshawn Lynch TD to tie the game at 14. They wouldn't look back after that.

Chicago's eight second half possessions would look like this - interception at their own 28, punt from their 23, punt from their 15, punt from their 19, punt from their 33, interception at their 30, interception at their 29, and end of game.

Seattle got two touchdowns from Marshawn Lynch, one by Red Bryant on an interception, one by Michael Robinson on a nice underneath pass by Tarvaris Jackson, and one from Brandon Browner on a pick-six. Steven Hauschka tacked on a field goal.

On the game, Seattle's defense forced five turnovers - four picks and a fumble recovery. Tarvaris Jackson finished 19 for 31 for 227 yards, a touchdown and no picks, though that one fumble in the endzone was costly. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 42 yards on 20 carries, and punched it in twice. Lynch now has 1,011 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns on the season.

Overall, the second half was a thing of beauty for the Hawks. They wore down the Bears defense despite a miniscule 1.8 yards per carry on the ground, picking up key first downs and a few explosive plays to maintain possessions. They won the time of possession battle 31:37 - 28:23, and won the turnover battle 5-1, putting them at +14 on the season.

Winning on the road in this fashion is always a good thing, despite the Bears' issues with injuries on offense.

More coming soon, but let's hear your thoughts...


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