Seahawks vs. Bears on ‘Monday Night Football’: What to watch, prediction

First it was the Seahawks making the big move in the NFC this week, on Tuesday acquiring six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts.

Then it was the 49ers a few hours later also dealing with the Colts to bring back two-time All-Pro defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.

Then it was the Bears on Thursday giving up two first-round picks to Tennessee to get Jeffery Simmons, in the conversation for the best defensive tackle in the NFL today.

It was a sign not only of how competitive the NFC is shaping up to be but also of how all three teams feel they harbor legitimate Super Bowl hopes.

Two of the three — the Bears and Seahawks — get a chance for some immediate returns on their investment when they play Monday night at Lumen Field (the 49ers are on their bye).

Nelson is expected to start at left guard, with Grey Zabel moving to the right side, while it’s also expected that Simmons will get some snaps.

But there’s more intriguing about this game than any potential Nelson-Simmons matchups.

Can a Seattle defense allowing the fewest yards in the NFL slow down a Bears offense gaining the third most?

Can Nelson help Seattle’s run game get going against a Bears defense allowing the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL and now adding Simmons?

Let’s preview the game:

Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks

When, where: 5:15 p.m. Monday, Lumen Field.

TV: ESPN with Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst) and Laura Rutledge and Lisa Salters (sidelines).

Most recent game in series: The Seahawks beat the Bears 6-3 in Chicago late in the 2024 season. Chicago won the last meeting in Seattle, 25-24, on Dec. 26, 2021 when Jimmy Graham scored the winning TD for the Bears with 1:01  remaining in what was Russell Wilson’s second-to-last home game as Seattle’s quarterback.

Point spread: Seahawks favored by 3.

Key injuries: The Seahawks ruled out left tackle Charles Cross (ankle) and receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee), who each were injured in the 20-3 win over the Chiefs last Sunday — left tackle Charles Cross (ankle) and receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee). Josh Jones will start for Cross and Tory Horton will take on a more sizeable role to fill in for Shaheed. Seattle expects to get back running back Zach Charbonnet, who was cleared to play. Jadarian Price may also be ready after he practiced this week and has no injury designation.

The Bears will be without tight end Cole Kmet, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in their 30-24 win over the Pats on Oct. 22, while running back Kyle Monangai is also out with thumb and toe issues.

The big story

Mike Macdonald’s defense vs. Ben Johnson’s offense

Macdonald and Johnson were each on Seattle’s shortlist of successors for Pete Carroll following the 2023 season.  Macdonald, who had been the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens got the job while Johnson, then the offensive coordinator for the Lions, was hired the following year by the Bears. Each has quickly reshaped their teams in their own image — the Seahawks are allowing the fourth-fewest points in the NFL at 17.9 and the Bears are scoring the eighth most at 25.7 while scoring 30.75 in the four games started by quarterback Caleb Williams.

While Johnson’s teams have been known for a high-flying passing game and trick plays, the Bears also lead the NFL in both rushing attempts (246) and rushing yards (1,080), led by the 476 of D’Andre Swift. Seattle, meanwhile, has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 straight games, extending a franchise record.

“They scheme it up well, they’re not afraid to call it often and frequently, and they’re committed to it,” Macdonald said of the Bears rushing attack. “It’s a pretty good recipe for a good run game.”

Said Williams of Seattle: “Obviously that’s the best defense in football right now, stats-wise and players and scheme. It’s going to be fun for us. It’s going to be a challenge for us and we accept that challenge.”

Key matchup

Seahawks guard Quenton Nelson vs. Chicago defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons

Nelson and Simmons may know each other better than they do any of their new teammates. The two faced each other 13 times during their years with the Colts and Titans, each members of the AFC South.

Simmons’ teams won seven of the 13 games, including the most recent meeting, a 26-20 Tennessee win in Nashville on Oct. 18. Colts GM Chris Ballard was fired the following day with Indy standing at 2-4, which helped lead to the team’s fire sale this week.

Nelson, though, had his usual strong game. While Simmons had five hurries and a sack, Nelson gave up just one hurry in the game, earning a grade of 79.2 from Pro Football Focus and 84.6 pass blocking.

Key player

Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori

Emmanwori played every snap during Seattle’s 20-3 win over the Chiefs last Sunday for just the third time in his career, playing 16 on the line, 16 in the box as a linebacker, 20 as a nickel corner and one as an outside corner. That allowed the Seahawks to stay in stable personnel for much of the game but still deploy a lot of different looks to keep the Chiefs off balance.

Emmanwori’s ability to defend equally well against the run and pass makes it work.

Figure Johnson to throw some wrinkles at the Seahawks to try to see if they can find some advantages the Chiefs couldn’t.

Key number

180

As much notice as Seattle is getting for its run defense, its pass defense has been just as good. Seattle has held each of its first seven opponents to fewer than 180 yards passing, the first team to do so since the 1984 Cleveland Browns (oddly, that team started 1-8 and fired head coach Sam Rutigliano and finished 5-11). That streak will be tested by Williams, who has thrown for 269 or more in the three full games he has played this season.

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Two other key questions

Can Sam Darnold continue last week’s resurgence?

Darnold had one interception against the Chiefs, his eighth of the season, tied with New England’s Drake Maye and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert for the most in the NFL. Otherwise, it was his best game of the season as he executed a scheme calling for a lot of quick passes with some deep shots mixed in. He completed a season-high 71.4% of passes (20 of 28) for a season-high 9.2 yards per attempt and didn’t take a sack for the second time this year. The Bears are tied for the most turnovers forced with 10 and will try to pressure Darnold into some mistakes.

Who will get the carries for the Seahawks?

The Seahawks entered the weekend with optimism that at least one of Charbonnet or Price will return Monday night, it not both. Emanuel Wilson has started the last four games and had Seattle’s first 100-yard game of the season against the Chiefs — with exactly 100 yards. Wilson seems sure to still get some carries as the Seahawks may ease the others in.

Prediction 

This is Seattle’s third straight primetime game and fourth straight against a team that can be considered a legit Super Bowl contender. The Seahawks showed they are still on that level with their dominant win over the Chiefs and they are never better than on Monday night — 31-13 all-time, best in NFL history. The Bears are good, but there’s no reason to bet against that history now.

Seahawks 23, Bears 16