All the good feelings the Seattle Seahawks (4-4) brought back after dominating the Kansas City Chiefs were immediately canceled out and then some after a disappointing 34-17 home loss against the Chicago Bears (6-2). Caleb Williams was as brilliant as Sam Darnold was worryingly atrocious. This offense is Jaxon Smith-Njigba or nothing. The run game struggled even with the return of Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price. Seattle’s vaunted defense had some wins and some devastating losses against the high-flying
Bears offense, which looks like a Super Bowl caliber unit. Chicago had 363 yards of total offense, the most by any Seahawks opponent this season, while Seattle had a meager 252. As usual, JSN had 118 of those 252 yards.
Seattle won the Super Bowl last season and it should be cherished forever. This year’s team is not a lock for the playoffs. It is not playing complementary football and the sloppiness is too hard to gloss over. It’s a disappointing first half of the season and the longer term outlook on this team is significantly altered by the continued struggles of Sam Darnold. How can you have a contender when the quarterback play is this shaky? Whether Brian Fleury is good or not, Darnold is a problem. A big problem.
The Seahawks offense has threatened a blowout loss all season with their erratic play. It finally happened. The defense cannot bail you out forever.
Seahawks vs. Bears 1st half recap
The Seahawks started on offense, giving Zach Charbonnet the ball in his first touch since January 2026. Sam Darnold was rocked for a hurried incomplete pass on 2nd and 5, then Tory Horton was leveled by Cam Lewis on 3rd and 5 in a very legal and physical collision. Seattle had Chicago pinned at the 2-yard line, if not for Rodney Thomas ridiculously sliding for no reasons and driving the ball into the end zone. Poor decision and costly for field position reasons.
Chicago’s opening drive against the league’s top-rated defense was a thing of beauty. Caleb Williams led a 17-play, 80-yard drive that included three conversions on 3rd down, as well as a D’Andre Swift 4th and 1 conversion to keep the series going. Luther Burden capped off an 8:32 drive with a touchdown grab on a rollout throw by Williams. That was impressive. 7-0 Bears.
Jeffery Simmons made an immediate impact in his Bears debut, sacking Sam Darnold on the first play of Seattle’s second series. However, Grady Jarrett’s silly face mask grab of Jalen Sundell resulted in a free 15 and a new set of downs. Seattle still didn’t get a first down on its own, with Darnold sliding and getting jarred by former Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush. Somehow, this wasn’t deemed a penalty, and Seattle punted.
Luckily, Irv Charles showed everyone how its done and downed a Dickson punt inside the 5. The Bears went three-and-out after Caleb Williams was pressured into an overthrow of Kalif Raymond. Tory Taylor’s short punt had a short return by Tory Horton, but Seattle was near midfield nevertheless.
When in doubt, go to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. A couple of quick screens to JSN gained 35 yards and Seattle was in the red zone in next to no time. Jadarian Price’s first carry back from injury gained eight yards, a promising sign for his health and explosiveness. Unfortunately, the red zone series was ugly and featured nothing but Charbonnet touches that didn’t get Seattle particularly close to the end zone. Jason Myers put Seattle on the board with a 27-yard field goal. 7-3 Bears.
The Bears went three-and-out again, then the Seahawks looked like they had a huge special teams play from Irv Charles. He deflected a Tory Taylor punt and somehow it took a friendly, untouched bounce for 45 yards. Seattle went three-and-out and punted it back to the Bears.
Chicago added to its lead thanks to a big play-action shot to Luther Burden for 23 yards. It took only three plays for Seattle to get into field goal range, where the drive stalled. Cairo Santos was true from 44 yards. 10-3 Bears.
Another three-and-out resulted in nervous energy from the Lumen Field crowd. The Bears had a chance to double up with points before the half and then to start the second half. Williams again was on target with explosive plays, as Rome Odunze broke free for 24 yards after a long time for Caleb Williams in the pocket. Interestingly enough, Ben Johnson dialed up a D’Andre Swift run on 3rd and 6 on the other side of the two-minute warning. Swift gained four yards and set up 4th and 2. Johnson called for the hard count, which was unsuccessful, and then kicked another field goal. 13-3 Bears.
A Jaylon Johnson PI penalty gifted Seattle some free yards in their one-minute drill. JSN broke Jaylon Johnson’s ankles two plays later to get into Chicago territory. On 3rd and 10, Darnold dialed up a deep shot to JSN for a wide open 43-yard touchdown. Tyrique Stevenson bit on the slant and there was no safety help, so you know the rest! The only bad thing was a horrific missed PAT by Jason Myers. 13-9 Bears at halftime.
Seahawks vs. Bears 2nd half recap
The Bears and Seahawks traded punts out of halftime, but Chicago punished Seattle for yet another limp three-and-out. A 10-play, 69-yard drive took over six minutes off the clock. D’Andre Swift punched it in from a couple yards out to make it 20-9 Bears.
Seattle took a preposterous 6:29 to move slowly, barely effectively, and not score any points. A very iffy pass interference penalty on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the first of his entire career, took away a completed ball to the Chicago 1. That put the Seahawks behind the sticks, and inevitably they settled for a field goal. Jason Myers’ 33-yard kick was blocked. Brutal.
But wait! A twist on the next drive! Caleb Williams was almost picked off by Julian Love on an overthrow, then sacked by Mike Morris for the first of Mike’s career, and a give-up screen on 3rd and 20 was fumbled by Colston Loveland. DeMarcus Lawrence forced the fumble and recovered the ball all at once!
Seattle turned that turnover into points, but not without referee help. Darnold was picked off on a terrible double coverage throw, but Clark Phillips was called for a hold of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and that took away the turnover. Two plays later, Darnold hit an open Cooper Kupp for a touchdown. Tory Horton kept the feet down in the back of the end zone for two valuable points. 20-17 Bears with 11:46 to go.
A really awful penalty committed by Mike Morris resulted in great field position for the Bears on the ensuing kick return. Seattle still had a chance to get the Bears off the field on third down in fringe field goal range. A delay of game actually saved the Bears from a failed 3rd and 4 conversion. On 3rd and 9, a screen to the speedy Kalif Raymond broke through for a 39-yard gain and it officially goes down as a run. D’Andre Swift scored on the next play. 27-17 Bears.
Sam Darnold got picked in an impossibly funny way. He was aloof and didn’t realize the ball was picked by James Lynch. D’Andre Swift got the game-sealing hat trick after Nick Emmanwori selfishly committed a personal foul penalty when the Bears had 3rd and goal. 34-17 Bears FINAL.
Seahawks injury report
- DL Leonard Williams left the game in the third quarter with a stinger and did not return.
- C Jalen Sundell left the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury.
Seahawks vs. Bears full box score
Next week’s Seahawks opponent
The Seahawks wrap up their three-game homestand against the Arizona Cardinals (3-5) on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:25 pm PT on FOX. Unlike the first meeting, the Cardinals will have Gardner Minshew II at QB instead of Jacoby Brissett.
