Bears Kicker Robbie Gould Sends the Team to the NFC

Robbie Gould, who was selected to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl this year, kicked his way into the Chicago Bears record books with 26 consecutive field goals during the 2006 regular season. The lingering question in the minds of Bears was, "Can Robbie Gould do it in the clutch?"

The 25-year-old kicker, a former construction worker, had ample opportunity to answer that question on Sunday.

A 49-yard field goal off the leg of Robbie Gould capped a nerve-racking 27-24 Chicago Bears overtime win over the Settle Seahawks in round two of the NFC playoffs on Sunday. That tied Gould's career long set earlier this season. It was enough to launch the Bears into the NFC Championship game against New Orleans when the Saints come marching on to Soldier Field on Sunday, January 21, 2007.

It was the Chicago Bears first postseason victory since 1994, when they defeated division rival Minnesota Vikings, 35-18, in a Wild Card game. Next Sunday will be the first appearance by the Monsters of the Midway in an NFC title game since 1988.

Chicago Bear fans' playoff anxieties over Good Rex/Bad Rex were assuaged, at least until the post-victory buzz wears off, by a 21 for 38, 282 yard performance that included a perfect 68 yard TD pass to Bernard Barrien in the 2nd quarter. It was a beauty. Grossman's one interception, which went right through the hands of wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad deep in Seattle territory, and an earlier fumble did not detract from an overall solid game by Chicago's bipolar quarterback.

"So much fun I want to do it again," said Rex Grossman, grinning ear to ear on the sidelines after the first playoff win of his NFL career. "We win one game and we're in the Super Bowl," he added during the post-game press conference, "two wins away from having a ring on my finger for the rest of my life."

His Seahawk counterpart, Matt Hasselbeck, hassled a Chicago Bears defense that had more holes than swish cheese by leading the Seattle Seahawks for TD drives in each of the first three quarters. But the Bears defense showed up when it mattered most, holding the Seahawks scoreless the rest of the way.

At a low point for both starting QBs, Matt Hasselbeck and Rex Grossman traded interceptions at the start of a frenetic 4th quarter.

With the Seahawks clinging to a 24-21 lead two minutes into the final quater, the Bears stood poised to take the lead at Seattle's 10 yard line. Grossman's pass to Muhsin Muhammad was intercepted by Pete Hunter and run back to the Seattle 21 yard line.

The very next play from scrimmage, Hasselbeck returned the favor when his pass intended for former Chicago Bear Bobby Engram was picked off by Ricky Manning, giving Rex Grossman and the Bears offense a new set of downs at the Seahawks 32 yard line. No good came of it.

After the two teams exchanged a set of three-and-outs, Rex Grossman and the Bears put together a 12-play, 48-yard drive featuring some impressive ball carrying by running back Cedric Benson. That got them close enough for a 41-yard field goal by the hero of the day, Robbie Gould, who tied the game 24-24 with 4:24 left on the clock.

That was clutch kick number one for Robbie Gould. His next chance to answer skeptical Chicago Bears fans would be the biggest kick of his career.

With 10:02 remaining in OT, with winds swirling at Soldier Field, Robbie Gould sent the pigskin soaring through the goal posts and his Chicago Bears on to the NFC Championship.

"A year ago I'm pounding nails. Now I'm hitting game-winning kicks and going to the NFC championship game," an elated Robbie Gould -- whose last name rhymes with "gold" -- told the press after the game. "I didn't even watch the end of it. I hit it right where I wanted it to go."