Week 8 comes to a conclusion as two of the best teams in the NFC clash. The Chicago Bears just traded for Jeffery Simmons. That came after the Seattle Seahawks acquired Quenton Nelson.
The All-Pro defensive tackle going against the All-Pro guard is the cherry on top of what was already set to be an exciting game.
The Bears enter on a two-game winning streak at 5-2. The Seahawks are 4-3. These are the third- and fourth-best point-differential teams in the NFC—and you could make a case for Chicago being
even better whenever Caleb Williams is under center.
The Seahawks will have their full complement of running backs for the first time in a long time, as they activated Jadarian Price from injured reserve. That should make life easier on Sam Darnold, as will Grey Zabel moving back to his natural position at right guard.
Unfortunately for the Bears, Simmons can’t cover Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Chicago is dead last in yards per reception to opposing wide receivers. They allow the second-highest average depth of target. Perhaps Simmons, in an aggressive defense, will slow Seattle down, but expecting it to happen on such a quick turnaround feels like wishful thinking.
Williams has always been the aggressor. He’ll need to make plays off schedule against what’s been the NFL’s best defense for two years running. The Bears have the weapons, but Seattle makes you one-dimensional.
There’s also the voodoo element that Williams needs to deal with at Lumen Field. The ball has a funny way of bouncing.
Seahawks 26, Bears 20.
