The Bears picked up a crucial victory on Monday night, defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks on the road, which is notorious for being one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. They were decisively the better team throughout the evening, picking up a statement 34-17 win in primetime to improve to 6-2 for the season.
It was the first game in which All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons suited up for the Bears, and he certainly made his presence felt. But not only did Chicago’s
major trade deadline acquisition pay off dividends on Monday, but its offense was also stellar against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
Now sitting at 6-2 and firmly in the race for first place in the NFC North, it’s reasonable to think that this Bears roster really has a limitless ceiling. Here are some of my other takeaways from their win over Seattle on Monday.
Caleb Williams is special
Heading into Monday, no quarterback in the NFL had thrown for over 200 passing yards in a single game against the Seahawks in 2026. Caleb Williams got it done by the third quarter. He was decisive, poised, and accurate against one of the best defenses in the league, throwing for 247 yards, a touchdown, and a 101.0 passer rating. His initial 78.0 grade from the game is enough to keep him ranked No. 6 in the NFL with an 84.0 PFN QB Impact grade so far this season.
The Bears felt the pressure from a very talented Seahawks defense, and that loaded Seattle defensive interior made its presence felt on passing downs and in the ground game; D’Andre Swift averaged just 2.6 yards per carry on Monday. Still, Williams maintained his composure, showing off his trademark elusiveness and sack avoidance to extend the play often and create opportunities for Chicago’s offense down the field. This wasn’t Williams’ best statistical performance of the season, but especially given the context of the situation, it was one of his most impressive.
Jeffery Simmons was worth the price
There was no doubting that Jeffery Simmons was going to be a massive addition to the Bears’ defense when they traded for him on Thursday. The only question was whether he would be worth the massive trade package they gave to the Titans in order to acquire him, which included two first-round draft picks. Simmons showed that he was worth every ounce of that deal on Monday night.
He ended the game with six total tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass deflection, one sack, and multiple quarterback pressures. When Simmons got one-on-one opportunities, he rarely lost them, and even when he got double-teamed – which was often – he was still able to make his presence felt. Not only that, but his being double-teamed opened up opportunities for the likes of Austin Booker, Devin Bush, James Lynch, and Montez Sweat, the latter of whom having arguably his best game of 2026. Simmons made everybody around him better, which is exactly what the Bears were hoping for.
This team can beat anybody in the NFL
Are the Bears a perfect team? Not necessarily. Their cornerback room still remains a major concern, as both Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson had shaky performances. Malik Muhammad will eventually return from injury, but an ideal world would see Johnson sent to the bench if Chicago can get another cornerback before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Still, I firmly believe that this Bears team could beat any team in the NFL.
They already had one of the best offenses in the league. They already had one of the best head coaches, as well as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Those two things feel incredibly weird to say as a Bears fan. But now, they have a genuine force multiplier along their defensive line, which was previously their biggest weakness. Dennis Allen can expect pressure from a four-man rush for once, and he’s proven to be one of the better defensive coordinators in the game this season.
After the Bears marched into Seattle, defeated the Super Bowl champions, and picked up their third win in a row, I find myself thinking: why not us?
