Seahawks keep in playoff combine with ugly win at still-skidding Bears

CHICAGO — The Seahawks did not essentially have to win Thursday evening to maintain their playoff hopes alive, and their offense performed prefer it.

They have been undisciplined, getting flagged for a pair of procedural penalties in addition to a private foul by DK Metcalf.

They have been ineffective, managing solely 265 yards and a pair of area targets of their worst offensive efficiency in over a calendar 12 months.

And finally, the Seahawks have been victorious because of their protection, which was as fierce because the offense was forgettable. The 6-3 result wasn’t over till Riq Woolen intercepted Caleb Williams‘ desperation heave, a becoming finish to a slugfest of a recreation that was dominated by Mike Macdonald’s protection.

It should not have been that shut in opposition to a four-win Bears crew that had dropped 9 straight video games, however the Seahawks’ win means they will not essentially be eradicated from playoff rivalry with a Los Angeles Rams win Saturday over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Seahawks’ solely path to the playoffs is as NFC West champs, and the very best shot of that taking place is for Los Angeles to lose Saturday and for the Seahawks to beat them subsequent week at So-Fi Stadium, the place Geno Smith and Seattle’s offense should be significantly better than they have been Thursday evening.

Here’s what to know for each groups:

QB breakdown: Geno Smith was underwhelming, finishing 17 of 23 passes for 160 yards with no landing on a moist, mid-40s evening. He did not throw any interceptions, which has been his Achilles heel in 2024, however he was almost picked within the crimson zone on Seattle’s opening drive. One of the three sacks he took got here on a play during which he ought to have gotten rid of the ball however held onto it whereas attempting to purchase time, leading to a fumble that Seattle recovered. Smith tends to play significantly better indoors, so he will not thoughts going from Chicago to So-Fi Stadium subsequent weekend, the place he’ll have $6 million value of contract incentives on the road — and probably a playoff berth as properly — in opposition to the Rams.

Promising pattern: Williams entered Thursday because the NFL’s most sacked quarterback, and the Seahawks’ deep pass-rush took benefit. They pressured Williams on 10 of his first 20 dropbacks and stored the warmth on him all recreation lengthy. Seattle completed with seven sacks from six totally different gamers. One got here from Uchenna Nwosu, his first of an injury-plagued season.

Promising pattern, Part 2: It got here in opposition to a below-average Bears run protection, however the Seahawks discovered some success on the bottom. Their 53 speeding yards on their opening field-goal drive almost matched their complete of 59 from all of final week. They completed with 122 speeding yards on 25 carries, with Zach Charbonnet (57 yards on 15 makes an attempt) main the way in which after Seattle put Kenneth Walker III on IR. The Seahawks have not ran the ball almost as usually or in addition to Macdonald desires this season, which has put a microscope on first-year OC Ryan Grubb. But the run recreation at instances was one of many few vivid spots for Seattle’s offense in opposition to Chicago.

Pivotal play: Late within the third quarter, tight finish Pharaoh Brown was stripped by cornerback Kyler Gordon, who returned the ball for what was initially dominated a landing. That would have given Chicago a 10-6 lead, however officers dominated that Gordon was down by contact, and Seattle’s protection finally bailed out Brown by forcing a punt. Nwosu’s sack for a 14-yard loss helped stall the drive. — Brady Henderson

Next recreation: at Los Angeles Rams (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)

Slow begins have been a problem all season for the Bears, who’ve 20 factors mixed over 16 first quarters. During his weekly pregame interview on ESPN 1000, Chicago basic supervisor Ryan Poles gave his two cents on the basis of these points.

“I imagine it stems again from coaching camp,” Poles stated. “It’s simply among the issues that both weren’t addressed, they weren’t detailed sufficient, no matter that’s.”

Chicago’s offense was a large number on an evening the place quarterback Caleb Williams averaged 1.3 air yards per completion, his lowest mark of the season per ESPN Research. Behind an offensive line that was lacking left sort out Braxton Jones, who was positioned on injured reserve this week, and left guard Teven Jenkins, who was dominated out with a calf damage, Williams struggled. The Bears offense transformed 33% of its third down makes an attempt and appeared listless in seven drives that led to punts.

The Bears tacked on their tenth straight loss in opposition to Seattle and can wrap up a season that fell properly in need of expectations in Green Bay in Week 18.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Hard watch. The Bears weren’t capable of finding traction offensively whereas averaging 3.1 yards per play. Chicago’s finest drive, which amassed 67 yards and ate up 7:47, resulted in a area aim after a holding penalty on left guard Jake Curhan negated a landing from Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze. The protection stored issues shut, however this was an unpleasant Thursday evening recreation for each groups.

Troubling pattern: Caleb Williams has endured plenty of hits this season. Williams was pressured relentlessly on dropbacks all through the evening, which led to him being sacked seven instances. That brings the quarterback’s complete to 67 sacks this season, the second most by a rookie QB behind solely David Carr’s record-setting mark (76) in 2002.

Most stunning efficiency: The Bears protection registered three sacks for the primary time since internet hosting Minnesota in Week 12. Former Seahawks defensive finish Darrell Taylor had his first sack since Chicago’s season opening win in opposition to Tennessee whereas defensive sort out Byron Cowart notched his first full sack since Dec. 10, 2020. — Courtney Cronin

Next recreation: at Green Bay Packers (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)