Week 9’s Monday night stage brings together two teams that have spent the season acting like they belong in the same conversation as the NFC’s best. The Bears and Seahawks meet at Lumen Field with playoff positioning in the background and a pair of big midseason additions front and center.
Seattle comes in off a statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that was powered by its defense and served as another reminder of how dangerous the Seahawks can be when that side of the ball is rolling. Sam Darnold still has turnover issues, but his play was stronger than it had been earlier in the season as he tries to shake off a slow start.
The bigger headline for Seattle, though, is the arrival of Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts. One of the league’s premier offensive linemen since entering the NFL in 2018, Nelson is expected to give the Seahawks a major boost on the interior.
Chicago has its own fresh jolt. After beating the New England Patriots, the Bears looked like a team finding its rhythm again, with Caleb Williams picking up where he left off after missing time with a hamstring injury.
The offense has stayed explosive and efficient, and the Bears added Jeff Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in a move aimed at upgrading the defense. Simmons brings the kind of interior presence that can change a unit fast.
There’s plenty on the line beyond one primetime win. Both teams have the playoffs in view, and both believe they can win their division for a second straight season. They were the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs last year, though Chicago was bounced before the two clubs could ever meet in January.
Tonight’s matchup also has a neat subplot: former AFC South standouts now wearing new colors. Quenton Nelson is set to make his Seahawks debut against Jeffery Simmons, the Bears’ recent addition from Tennessee.
The game is set for Monday, Nov. 2, at 8:15 p.m. ET, 5:15 p.m. local time, from Lumen Field in Seattle. ESPN will carry the broadcast with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call, and fans can also stream it through Fubo or the ESPN app.
Chicago’s upcoming schedule includes games against the Buccaneers on Nov. 8, the Saints on Nov. 22, the Lions on Nov. 26, the Jaguars on Dec. 6, and the Dolphins on Dec. 13.
Seattle’s next slate features the Cardinals on Nov. 8, the Raiders on Nov. 15, the 49ers on Nov. 29, the Cowboys on Dec. 7, and the Giants on Dec. 13.
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Seahawks Face A Bigger Test Than Bears Fans Might Realize
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Chicago, by contrast, enters the game much healthier, with running back Kyle Monangai the only player listed as inactive. The coaching subplot also adds another layer, with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald going against Bears head coach Ben Johnson in a matchup that should tell a lot about where both teams stand in the early stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]