Sidney Rice of the Seattle Seahawks scores the game winning touchdown as he’s tackled by Major Wright of the Chicago Bears in the end zone. (Credit: David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (AP)– Perfect at home, the Seattle Seahawks managed a win on the road for a change.
They needed overtime to do it, and the extra time spent might help them make the playoffs.
Russell Wilson connected with Sidney Rice for a 13-yard touchdown with 7:33 left in overtime to lift the Seahawks to a wild 23-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
LISTEN: Highlights Of Bears-Seahawks
Unbeaten in five home games, the Seahawks finally figured a way to win on the road after dropping five of their first six, and knocked off the NFC North leaders in the process.
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Seattle (7-5) leads the NFC wild-card chase and, despite its frequent struggles on the road has won three in a row in the regular season at Soldier Field
This one sure was dramatic.
Seattle took a short-lived lead late in regulation on rookie Wilson’s 14-yard pass to Golden Tate, only to watch the Bears’ Robbie Gould boot a 46-yard field goal as time expired to send it into OT.
The Seahawks (7-5) started with the ball on their 20, and it ended with one final flourish.
Rice hauled in a pass from Wilson and took a shoulder-to-helmet hit from Major Wright that appeared to knock him out as he lunged into the end zone. He stayed down for several minutes but eventually walked off the field.
That gave the Seahawks their only road win other than a victory at Carolina.
They pulled it out even though Marshawn Lynch was held in check with 87 yards rushing. He had a touchdown in the second quarter, but also fumbled on the game’s opening possession, leading to a score for Chicago.
Wilson threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns and was particularly cool down the stretch, sending Chicago (8-4) to its third loss in four games. Making matters worse for the Bears, the injuries mounted.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) and cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) were hurt on the winning drive. Receiver Earl Bennett (concussion) and safety Chris Conte (illness) left earlier in the game. The Bears had already ruled out return specialist Devin Hester (concussion) and guard Chris Spencer (knee) after they were injured against Minnesota. Throw in the torn ACL guard Lance Louis suffered against the Vikings, and the Bears were a short-handed bunch.
Even so, they had their chances.
Jay Cutler threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Marshall added 165 yards receiving, but the Bears came up short late in the game and in OT.
They were leading 14-10 when Adam Podlesh pinned Seattle on the 3 with 3:40 remaining. Wilson orchestrated a dramatic drive, capping it with a 14-yard pass to Tate that gave the Seahawks a 17-14 lead with 24 seconds left in regulation.
The Bears weren’t finished, though.
Cutler hit a leaping Marshall with the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas on him for a 56-yarder that put the ball on the Seattle 30. Gould then nailed a 46-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
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