CHICAGO — The defense, the running game, the sleet and snow at Soldier Field. It was the perfect scenario for the storied Chicago Bears to secure a long-awaited return to the Super Bowl.

This picture has an historic element, too: Da Coach this time is Lovie Smith. His opponent is his mentor, the Indianapolis Colts' Tony Dungy. They are the first black head coaches to reach the big game in its 41 years.

"Being the first black coach to lead this team, of course our players knew about it and they wanted to help us make history," Smith said after a 39-14 rout of the New Orleans Saints for the NFC championship Sunday. "So I feel blessed to be in that position.

"I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy."

To do that, the Bears will have to beat the Colts in two weeks in Miami. Indianapolis rallied to defeat New England 38-34 for the AFC crown.

"It means a lot," Dungy said of his part in creating history. "I'm very proud to represent African-American coaches, but more than that it's about the Indianapolis Colts."

Smith's team erased so many questions about its true strength. That might seem odd for a team that is 15-3, but Chicago's inconsistencies meant no comparisons were made to the 1985 squad that shuffled through the NFL for the Bears' only Super Bowl crown.

That doesn't mean the Ditka-McMahon-Payton-Fridge wild bunch isn't on the minds of these Bears.

"For our franchise, this is big," All-Pro middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "They are a big part of this city, and what they did in '85 is huge. We have an opportunity to do that right now. We're excited to have the opportunity to kind of put the ('85) guys in the background for a little while."

The only way to really do that would be by beating Peyton Manning and the Colts, who oddsmakers have made a 7-point favorite. If the Bears can force turnovers — they had four against the Saints — get sacks (three) and stop the running game (56 yards) the way they did Sunday, their 10th NFL title could come with it.

For now, they can celebrate owning the George Halas trophy that goes to NFC champion, an award named after their founder. It was presented to Halas' daughter, Virginia McCaskey, after the game as the Soldier Field fans chanted "Super Bowl, Super Bowl."

"You could see it in her face how excited she was," said Smith, hired three years ago. "This was a dream for her."