Hawks wake up the echoes, and they're not good ones

CHICAGO — This game was a chance to declare themselves the once-and-future kings of the NFC.

This was the Seahawks' prime-time opportunity to define their personality, to waltz into their bye week with a stranglehold on their conference.

Instead they anointed the Chicago Bears. They left little doubt about who, at the end of the first quarter of the season, is the best team in their conference. The Bears were tougher, smarter, meaner, better Sunday night.

From beginning to end, this season's first showdown was a mowdown.

"I think we're a better football team than we were tonight," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said of his team's 37-6 debacle. "But it is what it is."

Remember Jacksonville 2005?

Back when there still were so many doubts about the Seahawks? Before the defense grew up? Before Matt Hasselbeck undeniably became the next great quarterback in the West Coast system?

Remember last season's opening-day loss to the Jaguars?

Before the Hawks learned how to win on the road? Back when their receivers were dropping passes? Back when they still were the "Same Old Seahawks"?

Remember Jacksonville?

So much good has happened to this team since that 26-14 loss 13 months ago that it's hard to remember the doubts that hung insistently around the team and the franchise at the beginning of last season.

But that feeling was back Sunday night. For the first time in 13 months, the Seahawks got thumped.

"We just got beat tonight, man," left tackle Walter Jones said. "It's still a long season, but they [the Bears] just came out and did what they had to do."

The Seahawks made all the mistakes.

Their defense broke down. Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman shredded — yes, shredded — the Hawks' secondary for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Seattle's secondary was punished by Chicago wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian.

The offense's new four-wide-receiver set didn't look as dazzling, didn't seem as unstoppable, as it did a week earlier against the New York Giants. Trying to make something happen, Hasselbeck made mistake after mistake.

With the whole football world watching, without MVP running back Shaun Alexander, the Hawks didn't merely lose a game, they resurrected a flashback to how bad things used to be. For one Sunday, at least, these new, self-confident Hawks looked a lot like their uncertain former selves.

This wasn't just a defeat. It was a clenched-fist wake-up call. An alarm that a whole lot of work needs to be done on both sides of the ball if the Hawks want to entertain thoughts of another Super Bowl.

"This was just one bad performance," wide receiver Bobby Engram said. "Give the Bears credit. They played well, and I don't think we played so well. But the bottom line is, we're still 3-1."

And the Hawks still reside in the NFC West, where, with San Francisco, St. Louis and Arizona, the living is easy.

"They [Hawks] are a lot better than they played tonight, and we realize that," Grossman said. "They're a lot better team than coming in here and getting beat 37-6."

Nate Burleson dropped another pass. Itula Mili and Darrell Jackson dropped passes. Maurice Morris did a poor imitation of Alexander, running for only 35 yards.

The banged-up offensive line was so ineffective, Chicago was able to pressure Hasselbeck with only its front four linemen. He was sacked five times. Even Jones allowed a pair of sacks.

Marcus Trufant and Kelly Herndon were burned badly on a pair of Bears touchdown passes. The Bears, who haven't had a running game, rushed for 143 yards.

Hasselbeck had his worst performance since Jacksonville, some 22 games ago. The game turned on his two first-half interceptions.

Not to be an alarmist, but Hasselbeck has thrown seven interceptions in the last three games. He didn't throw his seventh interception last year until Nov. 13.

"That's the most pressure Matt's felt in a while," Holmgren said.

This team isn't a finished product.

Hasselbeck is learning what he can do with new receivers Deion Branch and Burleson. The offensive line is adjusting to life without left guard Steve Hutchinson.

The defense, which virtually was impenetrable for the first 11 quarters of the season, has allowed 64 points in the last five.

"We took it on the chin tonight," Holmgren said.

Losses in October showdowns, however, have a way of losing their sting by late December.

They aren't the same old Seahawks who tormented Seattle for so many seasons before last year.

But these 60 sorry Sunday minutes were a reminder that they aren't close to being the 2006 Super Bowl Seahawks, either.

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists