The Chicago Bears had a mini bye after their win over the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. But they faced another tough test against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, and they made a statement with a dominant 34-17 win.
What a test it was against a good Seahawks team. They haven’t been quite as dominant this season as they were a year ago, but they are still very much the team to beat in the NFC until someone truly knocks them out, especially with their defense.
This matchup had the obvious excitement from simply being a prime-time matchup against a premier opponent, but there was more to it than that. For the Bears, it was the first game with newly acquired superstar defensive
tackle Jeffery Simmons.
The game started off well for the Bears, as they got themselves out to a 7-0 lead early. Caleb Williams hit Luther Burden for a touchdown, and they never looked back from there. At times, the Seahawks made it clear that they weren't going away easily, and why would the defending Super Bowl champions? But the Bears never let it faze them to the point where they relinquished the lead.
D'Andre Swift went on to have a touchdown hat trick, and the Bears left Seattle with a convincing victory over a battle-tested Seattle team. This is a franchise-altering win that proves the Bears are one of the legit Super Bowl threats in the NFL. When the playoffs begin, the Bears will be seen as one of the true favorites to win it all.
The Bears already knew they had the coach in Ben Johnson. Everyone is pretty sure that Caleb Williams is elite, but there should be no doubt following this game. Williams controlled the pace of play, made 24 completions, and had 247 yards to go with his touchdown. He knows how to use the run game to his advantage, but also make big plays when it counts.
In his team debut, Simmons was incredible. He changed the way that the entire defensive line looked. On top of having six tackles and one sack, others around him were noticeably more confident in their ability. Whether it's the pass rush or run defense, he changes everything.
Montez Sweat, who went to college at Mississippi State with Simmons, had a sack of his own. Devin Bush also had one, as Sam Darnold was under pressure all night. The defensive backfield for the Bears was sketchy at times, especially when Jaxon Smith-Njigba was on the other side, but they were able to overcome that as a unit.
Where do the Bears go from here? Well, they can't let it get to them. They are 6-2, and they haven't lost a game that Williams started and finished. However, there are other good teams in the NFL ready to pounce. If they let off the gas pedal at all, they will get blown out. Ben Johnson knows that.
Next up is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have played better since their 1-5 start, winning thier last two in a row. The Bears must take them as seriously as they've taken Seattle and New England, otherwise it won't end well for them. If they do win that, 7-2 is as good a start as they've had this decade.
It's more than just winning for the Bears. It's how they are winning and who they are winning against. This winning streak, which includes the two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year, sends a message to the entire NFL.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Instant analysis from the Bears' 34-17 statement win vs. Seahawks
