The Seahawks and Bears arrive at Monday Night Football with headline-grabbing trade deadline moves already reshaping the conversation around Week 8.
Seattle went out and got three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts to address its biggest need up front. Chicago, meanwhile, strengthened an already powerful defensive line by landing Jeffrey Simmons from the Tennessee Titans. That sets up a prime-time matchup with real star power on both sides, and it also sets the table for a few big swings in how this game plays out.
One of the biggest battlegrounds is the run game. The Bears lead the NFL in rushing with 1,080 yards entering the week, while the Seahawks have been stout against the run, ranking sixth in the league and allowing just 3.5 yards per attempt. Both teams want to lean on their strengths, but Seattle has already shown last week that it can dictate terms when it’s locked in.
That’s the kind of setup that could put Caleb Williams in the kind of game Seattle wants. Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde are expected to build a plan that makes Williams win through the air. And while that sounds simple enough, it’s no small ask against a quarterback who is completing 71 percent of his passes and has thrown only one interception.
Still, Seattle has reason to trust its defense after holding Patrick Mahomes to 19-of-33 passing with an interception. In this matchup, the Seahawks are predicted to keep Williams under enough pressure to force the first two-interception game of his season.
If that defensive plan works, Seattle can turn the game into one of those clock-chewing, ground-heavy nights it likes. The Seahawks ran for 153 yards in Week 7 against Kansas City, and they may be positioned to do something similar here, even with the Bears getting a boost from Simmons.
Nelson’s arrival changes the picture for Seattle up front, too. Because he and Simmons know each other from their AFC South days, the Seahawks believe they’ve patched over their weakness on the offensive line. In the final prediction, that help shows up in a big way, with Seattle’s backs piling up 150 rushing yards as Brian Fleury steers a sharp ball-control offense.
In Other News...
Quenton Nelson Just Raised The Stakes For Seattles Offensive Line
The Seahawks made a major move to stabilize the middle of their offensive line, landing guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts for a pair of future draft picks. Seattle expects Nelson to step in at left guard, and the trade immediately changes the look of a unit that has been searching for more consistency up front. For a team trying to protect its quarterback and create a cleaner run game, the addition carries obvious weight.
Nelson is now in the middle of the usual post-trade adjustment period, learning a new offensive scheme and getting acquainted with new teammates. The Seahawks are giving him support as he settles in, but the ripple effect is already clear: his arrival forces a reshuffle along the line and raises the standard for everyone around him. How quickly that group clicks will be one of the more important early storylines for Seattle. [Read more 🡒]
Rashid Shaheed Trade Still Looks Worth It For Seahawks
The Seahawks brought in Rashid Shaheed during the 2025 season to give their offense and special teams a jolt, and the move already looks like one of those midseason swings that can pay off in more than one way. Shaheed was part of Seattles Super Bowl run last season, offering useful production as both a receiver and a return man while giving the team a speed element it had been looking for.
This season has not started as explosively on the receiving side, with his production down so far, but Seattle still has a player who can tilt field position every time he touches a kick or punt. For a team that values hidden yardage and game-changing speed, that kind of versatility keeps the trade looking smart even if the box score has been quieter lately. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Suddenly Has A Monday Night Twist Fans Need To See
Jadarian Prices return from injured reserve gave Seattles backfield an immediate jolt on the latest injury report, and it came with the kind of timing that can change how the Seahawks approach a game plan. Mike Macdonald said Price could be in line to play in the upcoming game, which adds another layer to a running back room that has already been under the microscope as the team tries to sort out who is available and how much work each player can handle.
The bigger wrinkle is Zach Charbonnet, who went from full participation to limited work in practice, leaving his status less certain than it looked earlier in the week. Elsewhere on the report, Charles Cross, Rashid Shaheed and Uchenna Nwosu were held out, while Leonard Williams and Drake Thomas moved all the way to full participation, giving Seattle a mixed health picture heading into Monday night and a few lineup decisions still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]