Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Bears kicker Robbie Gould celebrates his game-winning 49-yard field goal with teammate Brad Maynard.

Earlier, as Gould made a field goal that would have tied the game, Seattle’s Leroy Hill was called for jumping up and trying to induce a false start. Instead of the three points, the Bears got 5 extra yards on the penalty and a first down at the Seattle 13.

But Grossman’s pass went off Muhsin Muhammad’s shoulder pad and Pete Hunter, who had been working in a mortgage office before being signed before the playoffs, intercepted early in the fourth quarter.

Hasselbeck gave it right back on first down when his pass was intercepted by Ricky Manning Jr. at the 32. The Bears couldn’t convert and punted.

Seattle moved swiftly to the Bears 21 on the opening series of the second half, but Briggs knocked Alexander back for a 1-yard loss on third-and-1. Josh Brown connected on a 40-yard field goal that got the Seahawks within 21-17.

Alexander showed at times why he was the 2005 MVP. In the second quarter, he broke off a 13-yard run, and on fourth-and-1 from the Bears 4, he bulled his way into the end zone to make it 14-14 with 2:29 left in the first half. The score was set up by Grossman’s fumble.

But the Bears didn’t run out the clock. Grossman rebounded from the turnover, finding Muhammad for 21 yards and Davis with an 18-yarder to the 16.

Muhammad grabbed another pass to the 7, and Thomas Jones ran in for the score on fourth down for a 21-14 lead.

Jones opened the scoring with a for a 9-yard TD to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive that opened the game.

Seattle got even early in the second quarter. Hasselbeck hit passes of 24 and 14 yards to Darrell Jackson, the Seahawks’ leading receiver who’s been bothered by a sore toe. Nate Burleson powered his way into the end zone to complete a 16-yard scoring pass play.

The tie lasted 18 seconds. Grossman hit a streaking Bernard Berrian in stride behind rookie corner Kelly Jennings, who was picked on all day, for a 68-yard TD pass.

Notes: The Bears are in the NFC title game for the first time since Jan. 8, 1989, when they were beaten by the 49ers. ... Bears specialist Devin Hester, who set an NFL record with six kick returns for TDs this season, almost had another in the fourth quarter. His 63-yarder was called back for an illegal block on Manning Jr.

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