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The Seattle Seahawks are back from a short week following their demoralizing and frustrating loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday night. The Seahawks will be hosting one of the few teams lower in the standings than themselves in the Chicago Bears.
It is Chicago’s first visit to the Pacific Northwest since their 26-0 loss in the 2015 season.
As frustrating as the Seahawks offense has been for the majority of the season, Chicago’s has somehow been considerably worse. Led by likely dead-man-walking head coach Matt Nagy, the Bears’ offensive ineptitude has been largely marred by confounding indecision at the quarterback position.
Despite drafting Ohio State standout Justin Fields in the first round, Chicago was insistent on starting veteran journeyman Andy Dalton in the beginning of the season. However, fate (or cruel irony) has intervened and taken this decision out of Nagy’s hands. With Fields and Dalton both injured, Chicago will turn to the services of Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles.
In his first start since November of 2020, Foles will be looking to guide the Bears to an upset victory against the fifth best scoring defense in the NFL.
Although not officially eliminated, the Seahawks are essentially out of the playoff picture entirely with nine losses – their first losing season in ten years. Now they are playing for pride, looking to end a lost season on a high note. With four of their nine losses coming at home, the Seahawks have a chance to even their record at Lumen Field with two games remaining against Chicago and Detroit.
Prediction: Seahawks over Bears 27-16
Chicago has shown glimpses of being competitive throughout the year, but ultimately, the Bears are a very bad team. Although, with Nick Foles coming off the bench there is a certain element of unpredictability.
Lack of film in 2021 aside, Foles has shown time and time again he provides a unique spark to offenses he leads when he is thrust into the starting spot. Foles could very well give Chicago a little juice early, but considering how broken the Bears’ offense is I wouldn’t put much stock into it.
Seattle is dead last in giving up yards in the NFL, but teams routinely struggle to score on them. For all the issues they’ve had, the defense has actually kept the Seahawks in most of their games this year. I expect this to continue against a lifeless Bears team.
Interestingly enough, the forecast is calling for a chance of snow during the game. It would be the first snow game since 2008, which was a 13-3 victory over the New York Jets… Mike Holmgren’s final win as head coach of the Seahawks.
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