The Bears didn’t have any rust to knock off, after a playoff bye weekend.

Heading into Sunday, teams that hosted a Divisional Playoff game at home after a bye were 11-11 over the last five seasons. The Atlanta Falcons – the NFC’s top seed – were the latest victim, losing 48-21 to the Green Bay Packers Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.

But the Bears, as they have been the entire season, were defiant and easily defeated the Seattle Seahawks 35-24 at Soldier Field.

It wasn’t that close.

Any concern that the Bears might be distracted by the Packers’ thumping of the Falcons – which means, with a win, the NFC Championship game would be at Soldier Field next Sunday – was quickly dismissed.

The Bears couldn’t have executed a better start, forcing a three-and-out and needing just three plays to take a 7-0 lead when quarterback Jay Cutler completed a 58-yard touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen.

By halftime, the rout was on, with the Bears taking a 21-0 lead and then scoring midway through the third quarter before the Seahawks finally got on the board with a 30-yard field goal.

Unlike the Falcons, the Bears clearly capitalized on their extra week. The Seahawks – coming off one of the great playoff upsets ever, upending the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints – were confident because they had beaten the Bears Oct. 17 at Soldier Field, 23-20.

But that was a different team.

This Bears team has an offensive identity, and their offensive line is vastly improved. The only similarity: the Bears defense is still a daunting unit, one that clearly had an off day against the Seahawks in the first match up. By halftime, Olsen had more net yardage (113) than the entire Seahawks offense (96).

As if that wasn’t enough, the hard-hitting Bears regrettably sent two Seahawks off the field on stretchers: tight end John Carlson, who starred at Notre Dame, and cornerback Marcus Trufant.

And, not to be outdone, the Bears special teams had one of its better games. Punter Brad Maynard downed two punts inside the five – both by backup cornerback Corey Graham – and Devin Hester had two solid punt returns, including a 23-yarder.

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was 26 of 46 for 258 yards (55 coming on the last two plays) with three touchdowns and no interceptions. But through three quarters, he was 13 of 26 for 93 yards. Meanwhile, running back Marshawn Lynch, who had one of the brilliant postseason runs ever against the Saints – couldn’t break any tackles, finishing with was limited to two yards on four carries.

The Seahawks finished with 26 yards on 11 carries, half of which came on an end around by former Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate.

The Bears offense did it all.

They were efficient on the ground, surpassing 125 yards and Cutler was 15 of 27 for 274 yards with two touchdowns. Interestingly, though, Cutler also gained 46 yards on five carries, including two for touchdowns.