5 things to watch for in Friday's Bears vs. Seahawks matchup

Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears is hit by Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on December 2, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.



CHICAGO -- We can breath again, 12s. Nothing like a 41-14 victory to assuage the fears of the team's first preseason loss in 2 years.

But we hardly have time -- nor care -- to soak in a lopsided preseason win. The march toward September continues. And there are still plenty of questions to be answered in Friday's Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Q13 FOX.

Top 5 things to watch for in Friday's Seahawks vs. Bears matchup

5.  How long will the starters play? -- The third preseason game may be the most important of the year, if that can really be said about any game that doesn't count in the standings. Often considered a "dress rehearsal," practice before the third preseason game is more structured, the starters play longer, the plays are more complex.

Watching how long the starters play may -- repeat, MAY -- be a good indication of how comfortable the coaches feel with them. The longer the go, they more questions remain.

4. Percy Harvin. And Percy Harvin -- Ah, Percy. Can you think of any other player the Seahawks could have given up a first-round draft pick for, missed the majority of a regular season, and then be forgiven and largely loved by the fanbase?

There's just something about Harvin that has everyone watching and hopeful. This is largely because he hasn't lived up to his potential yet. "His presence on the field changes everything," Danny Kelly from Field Gulls recently wrote. Even if he's not touching the ball, the defense undeniably shifts. Don't go to the fridge to grab a beer while he's on the field.

3. Will Kam Chancellor play? -- Kam Chancellor, a face on the Legion of Boom's Mount Rushmore, has been out after undergoing offseason hip surgery to fix a minor problem allegedly plaguing him since college. The surgery has reportedly been a success, with Chancellor saying his hip "feels different, feels good."

And as his hip reaches 100 percent, rumor has it he might see some playing time this weekend. We doubt it, simply because he's an experienced player with little to prove. But watch for number 31 nonetheless.

2. Jay Cutler's arm vs. the Legion of Boom -- We have a web-staffer here who is a diehard Bears fan. His favorite line is, "Cutler can throw seven touchdowns in a game. But he can also throw seven interceptions."

A gunslinger like Cutler is a good test for the Legion of Boom. Expect Sherman, Thomas and company to be all over the field as they face off against Cutler, star wide receiver Brandon Marshall and others.

1. Who plays with who?  -- The third preseason game typically represents a shift in how coaches evaluate. Eyes tend to move from individual player performance to how players move together as a unit. It's the third game where one sees team depth truly come to form.

Starters play with starters, second team plays with second team. Practice squad players and soon-to-be-cuts make their final push to keep a locker at the VMAC. For many, this game is all out with everything on the line. And that's fun to watch.

 Game coverage starts at 6 p.m. on Q13 FOX.