The Chicago Bears walked into a heavyweight NFL showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. But quarterback Caleb Williams and company immediately pulled off a rare feat 19 years in the making on Monday.
Williams helped orchestrate a 17-play, 80-yard drive. Culminating in a one-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden to put the Bears up early 7-0. But ESPN Insights shared this historical nugget now attached to the Bears.
“The Bears scoring drive lasted 17 plays, their longest opening drive since 2007 against the [Green Bay] Packers,” the account posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.
Chicago added another rare accolade too against the defending Super Bowl champs.
“They are the first team to score a TD on their opening drive against the Seahawks since the [San Francisco] 49ers in 2025 Week 1,” the account added.
Chicago coach Ben Johnson called 10 passing plays on that drive. Tight end Colston Loveland tallied for 27 receiving yards on two catches during that drive. And Williams-to-Burden occurred on a second-and-goal from the one, with the QB needing to roll to his right before firing the ball into the end zone.
Article Continues BelowCaleb Williams 🎯 Luther Burden III 🙌
The Bears strike first against the defending champion Seahawks on Monday Night Football! pic.twitter.com/H5y3NoIyLO
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 3, 2026
Johnson is known more for playing at a fast paced. All while also running unorthodox schemes to keep the defense on their toes. But the Bears trusted a more downhill approach mixed with intermediate throws to move the ball down the field.
Seattle then forced Chicago to punt on the next two offensive series. The Bears later put together a seven-play, 47-yard drive that led to a 44-yard field goal from Cairo Santos to make it 10-3.