"The skies should be clearer Sunday than they were for the Seahawks' last trip to Chicago, which was for a January playoff game that took place amid snow flurries.

The temperature is almost certain to be warmer than it was five years ago for Tarvaris Jackson's NFL debut, and for that Seattle's quarterback is thankful.

"I was checking the weather throughout the whole week," Jackson said. "It's supposed to be pretty good."

The forecast is for sunshine and a game-time temperature in the 40s for the game Sunday in Chicago, a site that both the Seahawks and their quarterback know well. Jackson began his career with the Vikings, who play the division-rival Bears twice a year, and he attempted his first regular-season pass in Chicago.

Seattle has its own bit of history with the city. This will be the Seahawks' third game at Chicago in the span of 15 months. They beat the Bears at Soldier Field in Week 6 last year and lost a division playoff game in January.

"We've had a great day there," coach Pete Carroll said. "And we've had a day we'd like to forget. We know the spectrum."

Seattle played under the sun in October, and in the snow in January, but never in weather as cold as Jackson's NFL debut Dec. 3, 2006. Jackson was a rookie with Minnesota, the Vikings' second-round draft choice and their third-string quarterback that afternoon."