The Seahawks walked into Monday night carrying a remarkable streak, and they walked out of it with the whole thing snapped in half.
Seattle had gone 686 days without losing by more than four points, the longest active run of its kind in the NFL. That ended in a hurry when the Bears rolled to a 34-17 win and made the score look almost kind by the end.
Chicago was dominant even with a few penalties that kept Seattle hanging around, including one questionable offensive pass interference call on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It still never felt close.
What stood out most was how thoroughly the Bears controlled the game at the line of scrimmage. Chicago’s defensive front, led by Jeffrey Simmons in his first game with the team after last week’s trade from Tennessee, overwhelmed Seattle’s offensive line from the start.
The Bears did what Seattle usually does to other teams: they owned the trenches without needing to blitz. The Seahawks couldn’t run, couldn’t keep Sam Darnold clean, and couldn’t slow Simmons down.
Seattle’s own offensive-line shuffle didn’t help. Charles Cross was out, Quenton Nelson had just arrived from Indianapolis, and Grey Zabel was pushed to right guard, leaving three linemen in new spots.
That kind of rearranging takes time, and Monday night showed exactly why. The group had no cohesion, and it looked messy from the opening drives.
Special teams added another layer of frustration. Seattle, which usually leans on that phase, made a pair of costly mistakes early.
Rodney Thomas took away a perfect play from Nehemiah Pritchett on punt coverage by trying to down the ball and carrying it into the end zone. Then George Holani downed a kick that had landed short of the goal line, handing Chicago a start at the 20-yard line.
Later, with the Seahawks trying to claw back, Mike Morris and Irv Charles each drew personal fouls that hurt field position.
Jason Myers also had a night to forget. He missed an extra point and had a field goal blocked, one of the roughest outings he’s had this season. With the way he’s looked at times this year, that kind of performance has to raise questions about how dependable he’ll be moving forward.
The receiving picture remains just as thin as it looked back in the first game of 2025. Outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle simply doesn’t have a pass catcher who can win against man coverage.
Rashid Shaheed was out Monday, but even if he had played, the issue would still have been there. He might have helped on special teams, but the source of the problem is bigger than one absence.
Cooper Kupp can’t separate like he used to, and Tory Horton has upside but isn’t ready for a major role yet. Beyond that, there’s nothing.
Chicago was missing its best cover corner, and it didn’t change much. If Darnold wasn’t throwing to JSN, nobody was getting open.
The backfield isn’t solving it either. Seattle’s offense looked much better last year with the same receiving group, but the difference now is the absence of Kenneth Walker.
Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price will improve as they shake off rust, but they don’t bring the speed Walker did. They can help keep drives alive, but they aren’t the kind of backs who force defenses to change the way they play.
If Seattle wants that kind of threat, the suggestion is simple: call up the Colts about Jonathan Taylor.
And then there’s the decision-making. Brian Fleury didn’t show much Monday to suggest he has the offense figured out.
Seattle threw it twice as often as it ran for most of the night, even though the ground game wasn’t working and the passing game wasn’t exactly humming either. The Seahawks were poor in the red zone, and the plan on a condensed field was hard to follow.
The clearest example came late. Down 34-17 and still technically alive, Seattle drove to the Chicago 7 before the two-minute warning.
It was fourth-and-four in a three-score game, and the right move was to take the field goal. Instead, the Seahawks went for it and came up empty.
That was the moment the game was truly finished.
Whether that call belonged to Fleury or Macdonald, the offense needed someone to recognize the situation and settle for the points. Instead, Seattle was outplayed and outcoached from start to finish. The final score matched the night.
Now the Seahawks turn to Arizona, which just upset Dallas. They should be better next week.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Face Another O-Line Problem Before Cardinals Showdown
The Seahawks offensive line got a little more complicated Thursday, when Quenton Nelson showed up on the injury report with a knee issue and did not practice ahead of Sundays Week 9 meeting with the Cardinals. Seattle was already juggling a long list of absences, with nine players sitting out, including six starters such as quarterback Sam Darnold and left tackle Charles Cross, leaving the front line with more uncertainty than it wanted heading into a division game.
If Nelson cant go, the ripple effect could be significant for Seattles interior alignment. Anthony Bradford could slide back into his usual spot at right guard, which would open the door for rookie Grey Zabel to move back to left guard and restore a setup the Seahawks may prefer if the lineup cooperates. For a team already dealing with enough moving parts, the next practice report will matter a lot. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Drew Lock Problem They Cant Ignore
Sam Darnolds quad injury has opened the door for Drew Lock to get another look in Seattle, and the timing is awkward in more ways than one. Lock is expected to be the option in Week 9, which gives the Seahawks a chance to see what he can do in a meaningful stretch, but it also comes with the reminder that his own elbow issue could complicate how long that chance lasts.
Even if Lock gives Seattle a lift in the short term, the bigger picture around the quarterback room is not suddenly changing. Darnold is under contract through 2027, while Lock is heading toward free agency next season and could be looking for a fresh opportunity elsewhere, which leaves the Seahawks with a familiar kind of uncertainty even as they navigate the immediate one. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Be Headed For Another Deadline Move After Offensive Issues
The Seahawks already made one notable swing before the NFL trade deadline, landing guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts, but the move may not be the last one they make to try to steady an offense that has shown some cracks. After a recent loss, Seattle is looking at other ways to add help, and the tight end spot has emerged as a possible area to address if the front office decides the group needs another boost.
Among the names being discussed are Detroits Sam LaPorta, Philadelphias Dallas Goedert, and tight ends from the Colts and Chargers, giving Seattle a range of options if it chooses to keep shopping. The question now is whether the Seahawks are content with one major addition or whether the deadline still has another move in store as they try to sharpen the offense for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]