CHICAGO — The Seattle Seahawks managed to revitalize their dwindling playoff aspirations by securing a narrow victory over the struggling Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Following this win, the Seahawks will be hoping for a victory from the Arizona Cardinals against the Los Angeles Rams in the upcoming weekend.
Riq Woolen played a pivotal role by intercepting Caleb Williams’ last-minute pass, as the Seahawks edged past the Bears with a score of 6-3, marking Chicago’s 10th consecutive loss. Jason Myers contributed to the scoreboard by successfully kicking field goals during the game’s opening drive and toward the end of the second quarter. Seattle’s defense was formidable, achieving seven sacks, with Leonard Williams accounting for two of them. Woolen’s late interception sealed the match for Seattle.
In the final moments, Chicago (4-12) faced a fourth down at Seattle’s 40-yard line with just 20 seconds left on the clock. The Seahawks executed a blitz, and Woolen leapt in front of a pass intended for Keenan Allen at the 22-yard line, thereby ending Williams’ record-setting streak of 353 passes without an interception for a rookie.
Seattle’s head coach, Mike Macdonald, expressed a focus on controlling what they can in the coming weeks, emphasizing the importance of mental and physical preparation for the next game. “We know what’s coming next week. We’re going to spend this weekend getting our minds and bodies and spirits right,” he stated, with aspirations for the division championship.
Quarterback Geno Smith threw for 160 yards, helping the Seahawks secure a much-needed victory after two consecutive losses. They entered the game trailing the NFC West-leading Rams by just one game with two regular-season games left to play. Smith acknowledged their playoff hopes, maintaining optimism about controlling their destiny.
To advance to the playoffs, the most favorable scenario for Seattle involves the Rams losing to the Cardinals on Saturday, followed by a win against Los Angeles to conclude the season. Smith remarked on their previous control of their playoff fate before setbacks against Minnesota. “Honestly, we shouldn’t be in this position,” he commented, while voicing his support for the Cardinals in the upcoming match.
On the other side, the Bears continue to struggle under general manager Ryan Poles, recording two double-digit losing streaks in his three seasons. They faced a crippling 10-game losing streak two years ago as part of a franchise-worst 14-game slide that spilled over into 2023. Fans expressed their frustration by chanting “Sell the team!” during the game as Chicago’s offense faced severe challenges.
While the Bears’ defense performed admirably, the offense could not find a rhythm. Leonard Williams extended his own franchise record with 67 sacks, surpassing Chicago’s previous record of 66 sacks allowed in a single season achieved in 2004. Williams recognized the effects of the hits they endured but expressed hope for growth from the challenging season.
In the matchup, Smith completed 17 of 23 passes, leading the Seahawks to a solid 6-1 record on the road. Noah Fant contributed with 43 receiving yards, while Zach Charbonnet added 57 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the Bears have struggled since interim coach Thomas Brown replaced the dismissed Matt Eberflus, dropping to 0-4 under his stewardship.
Caleb Williams finished the night with 16 completions on 28 attempts for 122 yards, a significant reduction from his previous week’s performance where he threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the top NFC team. The Bears struggled offensively, mustering only 179 total yards and converting just 5 of 15 third downs. Tight end Cole Kmet acknowledged the shortcomings without crediting the Seahawks’ defense. “It was all us, honestly,” Kmet remarked, emphasizing the recurring theme of offensive failures that have plagued the team.
Myers set the tone early with a 27-yard field goal, but Chicago responded with a 42-yard kick from Cairo Santos late in the first half. Myers later added a 50-yarder just before halftime, leading to a 6-3 Seahawks advantage into the locker room.
Injury concerns arose for the Seahawks as they placed running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve due to an ankle injury sustained last week, following complications that had kept him sidelined earlier in the season. Additionally, cornerback Josh Jobe faced a knee injury during the game.
Looking ahead, the Seahawks will play against the Rams next week while the Bears are set to face the Green Bay Packers.
