Chicago ? The Chicago Bears’ defense didn’t have to play like monsters to move into the NFC championship game.

The defense made enough big plays to give the offense the chance it needed in overtime to pull out a 27-24 playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

“We won, that’s how I evaluate it,” All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher said.

Urlacher had plenty of help.

Late in the fourth quarter, linebacker Lance Briggs pumped his fist and jumped around after stopping Shaun Alexander on fourth-and-one. Then in the closing seconds of regulation, Tank Johnson shot through the line and sacked Matt Hasselbeck.

The defense made the stops when it counted, but the offense came through, too, thanks to Robbie Gould’s game-winning 49-yard field goal and to quarterback Rex Grossman’s decent play.

The defensive stars were Briggs and Johnson.

Briggs and Chris Harris stopped Alexander on third-and-one for no gain at the Chicago 44, and Briggs then hit him for a two-yard loss just after the two-minute warning.

After the Bears went three-and-out, Seattle drove from its 20 to the Chicago 45, where Johnson came up big.

Hasselbeck seemed to have all the time he needed on third-and-10, but Johnson sacked him for a nine-yard loss with two seconds left to keep the Seahawks from moving within field-goal range.