Seattle Seahawks (8-7) will face off against the Chicago Bears (4-11) on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. EST, live-streamed on Amazon Prime. The Seahawks are favored to win by 3.5 points, according to BetMGM’s NFL odds. The spread figures reveal the Seahawks with a 6-8-1 record against the spread, while the Bears hold a slightly better 6-7-2 record. Historically, Seattle leads the series with an 11-8 record, although the Bears clinched a close victory in their last encounter, winning 25-24 in Seattle on December 26, 2021. Both teams come into this game underwhelmed; the Seahawks lost to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 last week, while the Bears were defeated by the Detroit Lions 34-17.
Examining the Seahawks’ performance, their offense ranks 14th overall, focusing primarily on passing, which is ranked fourth, despite their rushing game coming in at 30th. In scoring, they are positioned at 15th. Conversely, the Seahawks’ defense is ranked 17th overall, with the run defense at 18th and pass defense at 16th, managing to hold teams to the 12th least points scored.
On the other side, the Bears’ offense is struggling, placing 31st overall with 25th in rushing and 27th in passing; they share 25th for scoring. Their defense is not faring much better, sitting 26th in total yardage allowed, with a 13th tie for scoring defense. Both teams show distinct turnover differentials; the Seahawks are -7, while the Bears are at +8, meaning the Bears are managing to take care of the ball better than the Seahawks.
For the Seahawks, quarterback Geno Smith is a player to watch. Coming off a solid game against Minnesota, he completed 31 of 43 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns, although he also threw two interceptions, bringing his total to 15 this season. On the Bears’ side, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams demonstrated improvement against Detroit, throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns. As the first overall draft pick, he is on the verge of breaking records, with 3,271 passing yards already — the sixth-highest for Chicago in a single season. However, he’s faced a lot of pressure, being sacked 60 times, a troubling league lead.
A key matchup to focus on will be between Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Bears secondary. Last week, Smith-Njigba made a significant impact with eight receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. He has accumulated 1,089 receiving yards this season, joining an elite group in franchise history. The Bears recently saw their defensive strength crumble, allowing 865 passing yards and 102 points over the last three games since the exit of former coach Matt Eberflus.
In terms of injuries, the Seahawks might miss running back Kenneth Walker III due to an ankle issue sustained in the previous game. For the Bears, left tackle Braxton Jones suffered a season-ending injury with surgery expected, while guard Teven Jenkins is dealing with a re-aggravated calf injury.
Historical notes reveal that the Bears have had recent success against the Seahawks, winning the last two encounters after losing three previous matchups. In last season’s game, a late touchdown pass from Nick Foles secured their victory, showcasing resilience in a high-stakes moment.
Statistically, the Seahawks are still in playoff contention, trailing the NFC West leader by just one game. They have achieved four straight road victories, marking their best performance away from home since 2020. Meanwhile, WR DK Metcalf is inching closer to breaking franchise records for touchdowns and yardage. On the flip side, the Bears are struggling with a nine-game losing streak, which if extended to ten, would repeat last year’s dismal conclusion and mark a significant downturn in management under GM Ryan Poles.
For fantasy enthusiasts, it’s worth noting that the Seahawks heavily favored passing plays in their last match, which could bode well for Smith-Njigba’s chances against the Bears’ declining defense.
