The Seahawks are rolling into Week 8 with momentum after their most complete showing of the season. They took down the Chiefs, handed Kansas City its first loss of the year, and reminded the league they can still hang with anybody.
That sets up a dangerous primetime test against a Bears offense that can light up the scoreboard. Ben Johnson’s group is one of the most explosive units in football, but it has also had trouble against winning teams. Add in the injury situations on both sides, and this matchup starts to feel like a spot where a few less-heralded Seahawks could steal the spotlight.
Byron Murphy II is the easiest name to circle. Calling him a surprise would almost be unfair, because the nose tackle has already shown he’s an All-World talent who hardly ever busts a play.
But his job usually doesn’t show up in flashy numbers. Against a Chicago team that leads the league with 154.3 rushing yards per game, and with Kyle Monangai out, Murphy could be asked to handle even more of the dirty work than usual.
That may also mean more production than he typically gets credit for.
Tory Horton is another player who could suddenly matter in a big way. Rashid Shaheed missed last week with a knee injury, and there’s still no official word on his status.
Even if he suits up, he may not be at full speed, and the Seahawks could be cautious with him. That opens the door for Horton, who has had a rough start to the season but remains the most obvious next man up at receiver and as a returner.
He’s shown big-play ability before, and this could be the kind of game where it reappears.
Julian Love also fits the profile of a player who can turn a fast, loose game into a takeaway or two. Caleb Williams likes to extend plays and improvise, even when the pocket isn’t collapsing.
If Seattle’s pass rush keeps forcing him off script, that can lead to hurried throws and risky decisions, especially when he attacks downfield. Love, patrolling the back end, has the instincts to punish that kind of chaos, particularly if Williams starts working between the numbers.
And then there’s Sam Darnold, who would count as a surprise if he really catches fire. He’s not been his usual self this season, even though he looked better in the win over Kansas City.
That game still included a bad interception in the end zone and a few shaky throws. But the Bears’ secondary gives him a chance to bounce back in a big way.
Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson are both described as liabilities, and if this turns into the kind of high-scoring game it could be, Darnold has the setup to pile up numbers.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Got Pulled Into A Much Bigger Colts Shakeup
The Colts latest reset has already reached Seattle, with Indianapolis shipping guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks as part of a broader fire sale that also sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers. It is the kind of move that instantly changes the conversation around a team, because Nelson is one of the most recognizable names on the market and his arrival gives Seattle a major addition up front while the Colts continue reshaping the roster.
Jonathan Taylor remains part of the story, too, even if Indianapolis is not actively trying to move him. The Colts are receiving calls on the running back, and the whole AFC South picture has been jolted by Tennessees decision to deal defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons after a significant draft-capital offer helped speed up its rebuild. For Seattle, the immediate impact is obvious, but the larger ripple effect is that this trade may only be the first sign of a much bigger shakeup. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face A Jadarian Price Decision Bigger Than Just Monday Night
The Seahawks are getting healthier at the right time, with a primetime matchup against the Bears bringing the expected debut of left guard Quenton Nelson and the return of Zach Charbonnet from injury. Amid that shuffle, rookie running back Jadarian Price has quietly become part of the conversation too, as Seattle weighs whether to activate him from injured reserve after a chest injury.
Prices situation is about more than one game, because the Seahawks are also sorting through what his place on the roster might look like once everyone is available. There has been speculation around whether he could factor into a larger backfield move, especially with Seattle linked to the idea of adding Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, which makes this week feel like a decision point rather than just a return from IR. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Send A Clear Leadership Message Before Bears Showdown
With Monday Night Football bringing the Bears to Seattle in Week 8, the Seahawks have again used their weekly captaincy to signal where the leadership sits inside the locker room. Quarterback Sam Darnold will wear the captain designation alongside safeties Julian Love and Rodney Thomas II, a familiar mix for a team that rotates the honor from week to week and leans on different voices depending on the matchup.
The weekly list has become a small but telling window into how Seattle wants to operate, with previous captains already cycling through the role before this prime-time stage. For a team trying to set the tone at home under the lights, the choices suggest the Seahawks are looking for command from the middle of the field and steadiness from the quarterback spot as they get ready for Chicago. [Read more 🡒]