Stingy defenses guide Bears, Eagles

CHICAGO -- In the middle of January on a field known for cold-weather football, Brian Urlacher and Jeremiah Trotter will shrug off the elements and race to wherever the football might be.

With vapor rising from their helmets, the middle linebackers of the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles will exhort their teammates and deliver punishment to ball carriers, receivers and maybe even quarterbacks.

They are at the center of two defenses that figure to control Saturday's NFC playoff game, two defenses that were the hardest to score on in the NFL this season.

Chicago's Urlacher and Philadelphia's Trotter know one another after meeting at the Pro Bowl last season. They'll be back in Hawaii again next month, but not until one of their teams advances at least as far as the NFC title game.

"I love to watch him play. He runs around and he's fast and he's a playmaker," Trotter says of Urlacher.

"I respect his game and I'm sure he respects mine."

The Bears (13-3) gave up just 203 points during the regular season. The Eagles (12-5) yielded 208, and then smothered Tampa Bay 31-9 in the first round last week.

And playing at Soldier Field shouldn't make any difference for Philadelphia. Not only will it be a homecoming for quarterback Donovan McNabb, who once played there for a prep championship, but the Eagles -- especially their defense -- have flourished on the road, winning seven of eight during the regular season.

They allowed just 20 second-half points during their road games and gave up just four touchdowns all season away from Veterans Stadium.

Blocking the Eagles and handling their schemes will be a huge assignment for the Chicago offense, which features NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas.

"They try to make you think too much," Bears center Olin Kreutz said. "They come from all over the place. We've got to beat the blitz to beat these guys. They're going to catch you a few times here and there, but hopefully you can beat them every once in a while."

With hard-rushing end Hugh Douglas, who made 9 1/2 sacks, and a strong secondary that includes Troy Vincent and Brian Dawkins, the Eagles' defense has not allowed a touchdown in three playoff games over the last two years.

"I'm sure for us, a lot of their blitzing will be to disrupt the running game and put pressure on me," Bears quarterback Jim Miller says. "These are the things they've done all year and they've been very successful."

The Bears' defense has been their best offense at times this season, scoring five touchdowns. Two came on interceptions by Mike Brown to win back-to-back games, and Urlacher had a 90-yard fumble recovery for another TD.

With massive tackles Ted Washington and Keith Traylor clogging the middle, Urlacher and fellow linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Warrick Holdman have more freedom from blockers.

"Our linebackers are as fast as anyone in the league. We can run with everybody," says Urlacher. "We know we've given up some yards, but it doesn't matter as long as they don't score."