It wasn't easy -- nothing ever is with the Seahawks, so that's not a surprise -- but Sunday's 23-17 overtime win over the Bears was without a doubt the most important win to date for Seattle.
The win should do wonders for the team's confidence as the Seahawks did three big things against the Bears: They won on the road; they won on the road against a potential playoff team; and they overcame adversity to win on the road against a potential playoff team.
Lets get to the grades.
Offense: A
The offense wasn't perfect on Sunday, but it was perfect when it had to be, which is why it gets an "A." QB Russell Wilson threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a career-high 71 yards in the win. The rookie quarterback was almost flawless down the stretch, with both touchdown passes coming at pivotal times. Wilson's first touchdown pass was a 14-yarder that went to Golden Tate that gave Seattle a 17-14 lead with only 24 seconds left in the game. After the Seahawks the blew the late three-point lead, Wilson came through again in overtime with a 13-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to WR Sidney Rice that set off a Seahawk celebration at Soldier Field. On the running side of things, Marshawn Lynch didn't break the 100-yard mark, but the Seahawks averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry against a Bears defense that went into the game as top-10 against the run. Previous game's grade: B-
Defense: C
The defense didn't play horribly, but it blew a three-point lead with only 24 seconds left in the game, which doesn't grade out well in our book. After Wilson hit Tate with a touchdown pass that gave the Seahawks a 17-14 lead, it looked like Seattle would escape Soldier Field with only its second road win of the season. However, the defense made things interesting by allowing the Bears to go on a three-play, 58-yard drive in 24 seconds to set up Robbie Gould's game-tying, 46-yard field goal. In three games this season, the defense has now given up a score in the game's final 20 seconds that has allowed an opponent to tie or take the lead. Previous game's grade: D
Special teams: A
Punter Jon Ryan continued his really good season with another solid effort on Sunday. Ryan punted the ball five times -- and while he only averaged 39.6 yards per punt -- he pinned the Bears inside their own 20 three times, forcing Chicago to start drives at its 11, 5 and 6-yard lines. Kicker Steven Hauschka was perfect in the game, hitting two extra points and nailing a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. Previous game's grade: A
Coaching: A-
The coaching staff went into Sunday's game knowing it wasn't going to be easy to run the ball, so it did something it hasn't done all season: Let Wilson air it out. The gamble paid off big time, as Wilson threw for 293 yards while tossing a career-high 37 passes. Wilson was smart with the ball too, when he couldn't find an open receiver, he tucked the ball and ran, something that frustrated the Bears throughout the afternoon. Previous game's grade: B-
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @JohnBreech and @CBSSeahawks.