Seahawks Defense Shines in Slugfest Victory Over Bears
CHICAGO — On a chilly Thursday night, the Seattle Seahawks took to the field against the Chicago Bears, not necessarily needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, their offense seemed to take that notion a bit too literally, playing with a lack of discipline and effectiveness that left fans scratching their heads. Despite the offensive struggles, the Seahawks managed to eke out a victory, thanks largely to a defense that was as fierce as the offense was forgettable.
The game ended with a narrow 6-3 result, a scoreline that wasn’t sealed until Riq Woolen intercepted a desperation heave from Caleb Williams. This interception was a fitting end to a game dominated by Mike Macdonald’s defense. It was a game that shouldn’t have been as close as it was, considering the Bears had only four wins and were on a nine-game losing streak. Yet, the Seahawks’ win means they remain in the playoff conversation, at least for now.
The Seahawks’ path to the playoffs is clear: they must win the NFC West. Their best shot at achieving this is for the Los Angeles Rams to lose on Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals, and for the Seahawks to beat the Rams next week at So-Fi Stadium. For that to happen, Geno Smith and Seattle’s offense will need to perform much better than they did on Thursday night.
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
QB Breakdown: Geno Smith’s performance was underwhelming, completing 17 of 23 passes for 160 yards without a touchdown. On a wet, mid-40s night, he managed to avoid interceptions, which have been his Achilles heel in 2024, but he was nearly picked in the red zone on Seattle’s opening drive. One of the three sacks he took was due to holding onto the ball too long, resulting in a fumble that Seattle recovered. Smith tends to play better indoors, so the upcoming game at So-Fi Stadium might be more to his liking, especially with $6 million worth of contract incentives and a potential playoff berth on the line.
Promising Trend: The Seahawks’ pass-rush was relentless against Williams, who entered the game as the NFL’s most sacked quarterback. Seattle pressured him on 10 of his first 20 dropbacks and maintained the pressure throughout the game, finishing with seven sacks from six different players. Uchenna Nwosu, in particular, recorded his first sack of an injury-plagued season.
Promising Trend, Part 2: The Seahawks found some success on the ground against a below-average Bears run defense. They nearly matched their previous week’s total of 59 rushing yards on their opening field-goal drive alone, finishing with 122 rushing yards on 25 carries. Zach Charbonnet led the way with 57 yards on 15 attempts, stepping up after Kenneth Walker III was placed on IR. The run game, though inconsistent, was one of the few bright spots for Seattle’s offense.
Pivotal Play: Late in the third quarter, tight end Pharaoh Brown was stripped by cornerback Kyler Gordon, who returned the ball for what was initially ruled a touchdown. This would have given Chicago a 10-6 lead, but officials ruled Gordon was down by contact. Seattle’s defense eventually bailed out Brown by forcing a punt, with Nwosu’s sack for a 14-yard loss helping to stall the drive. — Brady Henderson
Next Game: at Los Angeles Rams (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)
Chicago Bears (4-12)
Slow starts have plagued the Bears all season, with only 20 points combined over 16 first quarters. Chicago general manager Ryan Poles attributed these issues to training camp, suggesting that some things weren’t addressed or detailed enough.
On this particular night, Chicago’s offense was a mess. Caleb Williams averaged 1.3 air yards per completion, his lowest mark of the season. Behind an offensive line missing key players like Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins, Williams struggled. The Bears converted only 33% of their third down attempts and looked listless in seven drives that ended in punts.
The Bears’ 10th straight loss against Seattle means they will wrap up a disappointing season in Green Bay in Week 18.
Describe the Game in Two Words: Hard watch. The Bears couldn’t find traction offensively, averaging just 3.1 yards per play. Their best drive, which accumulated 67 yards and consumed 7:47, resulted in a field goal after a holding penalty negated a touchdown. The defense kept things close, but it was an ugly Thursday night game for both teams.
Troubling Trend: Caleb Williams has taken a beating this season, being sacked seven times in this game alone. This brings his total to 67 sacks this season, the second most by a rookie QB behind David Carr’s record-setting 76 in 2002.
Most Surprising Performance: The Bears’ defense registered three sacks for the first time since Week 12. Former Seahawks defensive end Darrell Taylor recorded his first sack since the season opener, while Byron Cowart notched his first full sack since December 2020. — Courtney Cronin
Next Game: at Green Bay Packers (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)
Originally Written by: Brady Henderson,Courtney Cronin
