The Seahawks are coming off their biggest statement of the season, but Monday night brings a different kind of test. After dismantling the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, Seattle now turns around to host the 5-2 Chicago Bears in a matchup that puts one of the league’s hottest defenses across from one of its most dangerous young offenses.
That means the Seahawks can’t lean on defense alone this time. Chicago is coached by Ben Johnson, and he brings one of the sharpest offensive minds in the game.
On the other side, Seattle’s Mike Macdonald is continuing to reshape how defense looks in the NFL. With Caleb Williams back at full strength, the Bears have been rolling on offense and forcing opponents into careful, mistake-free football.
They’re a tough team to handle, and Seattle will need a full-team answer.
The Seahawks’ defense was brilliant against Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, but that kind of smothering performance is not something to bank on twice in a row. This one figures to hinge on whether Seattle’s offense can keep pace, finish drives, and avoid the self-inflicted wounds that have shown up in key moments.
One of the biggest issues is what happens once the Seahawks get close. They were excellent on third and fourth down against the Chiefs, converting 12 of 17 and controlling the ball for more than 10 extra minutes.
But inside the 20, the production fell apart. Seattle reached the red zone three times and came away with just six points.
Sam Darnold threw an interception on one drive, and on the other two, Brian Fleury’s offense couldn’t crack the compressed field. Short throws and wide runs both went backward.
That’s a problem that gets even sharper against Chicago. Seattle does not look physical enough up front to simply hammer the ball in right now, and teams have had an easier time dealing with Jaxon Smith-Njigba when the field shrinks. The Seahawks will need different answers, and Cooper Kupp or AJ Barner look like the most obvious options, especially with Elijah Arroyo unavailable.
The penalties are another issue that keeps showing up at the worst possible time. On Seattle’s final red zone trip in Week 7, a delay-of-game penalty wiped out a positive first down run and pushed the offense into a tougher spot.
Each of the three interior linemen - Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, and Anthony Bradford - was flagged for false starts. It’s not a full-blown breakdown, but for a team that values discipline, those are the kind of mistakes that quietly wreck drives.
Then there’s the speed problem, which has become hard to ignore. Kenneth Walker’s absence has exposed how little burst Seattle has in the backfield, and Jadarian Price being out only makes it worse.
In Week 7, two of the Seahawks’ fastest offensive players, Rashid Shaheed and Velus Jones, also left with injuries. Shaheed is the bigger concern, but losing Jones still matters because the overall speed picture is already thin.
Smith-Njigba remains the most dangerous weapon on the roster, but the rest of the group - Cooper Kupp, AJ Barner, Emanuel Wilson - is not going to win any foot races. That makes it harder to create easy explosives.
Seattle may need to work the middle of the Bears’ defense and use Brady Russell as a lead blocker more often. Zach Charbonnet’s expected return could help, even if he’s not a burner.
He brings more burst than the backs currently available. Robert Henry Jr. could also add something different, and if Shaheed can’t play, Tory Horton should get his chance to step forward.
Even after what Seattle did to Kansas City, the Bears present a much different challenge on the outside. The Chiefs were missing Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice, and their best remaining wideout, Xavier Worthy, was mostly a speed threat.
Chicago is deeper and more dynamic there. Luther Burden, Kalif Raymond, and Rome Odunze have combined for 449 yards after the catch this season, which is more than 100 yards better than Kansas City’s five Sunday night wideouts have managed in total, before and after the catch.
Burden, especially, is turning into a real YAC problem, and that puts more pressure on Seattle’s defense to stay clean in space against Williams and his receivers.
Ball security will also be front and center. Sam Darnold’s interceptions don’t seem as alarming to some as they do to others, but against Chicago, every turnover chance matters.
The Bears are the kind of defense that will give up yards and still flip a game with one big play. They’re not leading the league in turnovers anymore, but they still know how to strike at the right time.
Darnold looked more comfortable Sunday than he has since coming back from his early injury, even with the end zone pick. Monday night will ask him to walk the line between aggression and caution. If Seattle can clean up the red-zone execution, stop the procedural mistakes, find some speed, and protect the football, it has a real shot to build on that Week 7 win.
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 🡒]