The Chicago Bears have demonstrated quite a bit of explosiveness this season, especially when Caleb Williams is under center and running back Kyle Monangai is healthy and in the lineup. Williams has been in the lineup for the past two games and has demonstrated no ill effects from the hamstring injury that sidelined him earlier in the year.
Monangai has missed the last three games and while he is improving, there are no guarantees that he will be back in the lineup for this game.
The Seahawks have not been at their best in the first half of the season and they take a 4-3 record into this home game. They are coming off a key Sunday night victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in which their defense performed at a peak level. They will need that kind of effort against the Bears.
Sam Darnold was one of the keys to Seattle's surge to last year's Super Bowl title. He has not been as efficient this season, as interceptions have been an issue. The Bears defense got a huge lift from their ability to create takeaways last year. They have not been as proficient in that area this season — minus-1 on the takeaway/turnover table — but they have been a middle-of-the-pack defense that has been moderately capable this season.
This game could come down to turnover differential, and if the Bears are going to win on the road, they have to gain an advantage in this area.
Williams will throw for 250 yards and 2 TDs
Williams has demonstrated that he can rise to the occasion and handle pressure. He has an excellent partnership with head coach Ben Johnson, and it appears that those two will allow the Bears to remain contenders in the division and the NFC for several years.
Williams has all the tools that an outstanding quarterback needs, and as the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, nearly all scouts and personnel specialists were predicting great things for him.
However, Williams struggled in his rookie season under former head coach Matt Eberflus. That coach did not have the wherewithal to teach and demand outstanding play from Williams. However that changed under Johnson, and the quarterback reads and understands defenses, and he knows how to pick apart good defenses and make key plays.
The one area that scouts did not get right about Williams was his speed and escapability from the pocket. He was thought to be above average or good in that area, and that assessment did not give him enough credit. He is sensational in that area.
He has a strong partnership with wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, as well as big-play tight end Colston Loveland. This trio should be able to cause problems for the Seattle defense, which is one of the strongest units in the league.
Williams and the receivers will not overpower the Seahawks defense, but the quarterback will throw 2 TD passes and approach the 275-yard mark.
Smith-Njigba is unstoppable, will exceed 125 yards and score a TD
The Bears regularly have to contend with outstanding receivers like Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Christian Watson in the NFC North. However, Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is at another level.
He is coming off a sensational game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith-Njigba was targeted 12 times by Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and he caught 9 passes for 150 yards and 1 touchdown. The Chiefs knew he was the central point of the Seattle offensive game plan, yet defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could not do anything to slow him down. Stopping him was out of the question.
Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will face the same issue. Allen certainly knows what it is like to face outstanding wideouts in the NFC North, but Smith-Njigba may be too strong for the Bears defense. He has caught 58 passes for 867 yards and 8 TDs, and asking CBs Jaylon Johnson, Malik Muhammad and Kyler Gordon to prevent him from making big plays will be folly.
Article Continues BelowThe best way for the Bears to go about it would be pressuring Darnold and keep him from delivering accurate passes. The Bears have registered 19 sacks and Darnold has been trapped 14 times thus far. Allen's top priority will be to make sure his personnel gets in Darnold's face and prevents him from getting the ball to Smith-Njigba.
That scenario is unlikely, but it is Chicago's best defensive hope.
Bold game prediction: Seahawks 27, Bears 24
The Bears have the weapons to go into Seattle and give the defending champions a battle for 60 minutes. This is the kind of game that Johnson and Williams would like to use as a measuring stick.
However, the Seahawks have already lost 3 games and they can't afford to lose any more. They will have a major challenge chasing down the 49ers in the NFC West, and dropping a home game to a solid team is not in their plans.
The Seahawks played their best all-around game against the Chiefs in Week 7, and they will stay on track against the Bears. Seattle wins a close, well-played game against Williams and the Bears.