Gould kept the Bears on track for their first Super Bowl since 1986

Gould struck after four minutes and 58 seconds of the extra period to send the Bears into next week's NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints.

The successful kick ended the Bears' three-game home play-off losing streak.

In the American Conference, top seeds the San Diego Chargers lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots.

Rookie Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 31-yard field goal with 1:10 left to put the Patriots ahead and counterpart Nate Kaeding was then short and wide on a 54-yard attempt with three seconds remaining.

The Bears, who have not reached the NFC Championship game since 1988, tied Seattle with less than five minutes to play in regulation thanks to a brave 41-yard Gould field goal into a howling wind.

I knew I hit it solid - I didn't even watch the end of it Robbie Gould

Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman, who completed 21 of 38 passes for 282 yards, then orchestrated a seven-play, 34-yard drive in sudden-death overtime, putting Gould in a position to be the hero.

And Gould was equal to the challenge, sending the crowd wild as they revelled in Chicago's first home play-off win since 1991.

"I knew I hit it solid - I didn't even watch the end of it," Gould said about his match-winning kick, which equalled the longest field goal of his career.

Chicago will play the revitalised Saints next Sunday for the right to advance to the Super Bowl in Miami on 4 February.

The Saints edged out the Philadelphia Eagles by an identical 27-24 on Saturday.

The Patriots, winners of three of the past five Super Bowls, will face Indianapolis next Sunday after fighting back from a 21-13 fourth-quarter deficit against the Chargers.

Reche Caldwell, who signed as a free agent with the Patriots after spending four seasons with the Chargers, caught a four-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the fourth quarter to pull the Patriots within 21-19.

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Running back Kevin Faulk then scored the two-point conversion on a direct snap to tie the game.

After the Chargers came up empty on their next possession, New England's two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Tom Brady directed his 24th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.

On a 3rd-and-10 play, Brady lofted a 49-yard pass down the right sideline for Caldwell, who beat cornerback Quentin Jammer to set up the field goal.

"That was as tough a game as I can remember playing," said Brady.

"We haven't made many big plays this season, but Reche ran a great route and I just put it up there for him.

"That was very special for that to come with the game on the line."

QB Phillip Rivers, who had a below-par day, completed three passes to get the Chargers to New England's 36-yard line but Pro Bowl kicker Kaeding hooked his field goal try.