The Seattle Seahawks’ offense managed just 252 total yards — one yard above their season low — and converted only one of 11 third downs, and that collapse carried them to a 34-17 home loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football at Lumen Field, SeattleN reported.
The defeat, which came in a nationally televised game on Monday night, dropped Seattle to 4-4 on the season and left the Seahawks losers of four of their last six games. In the NFC West, Seattle now sits in a tie for second place with the Los Angeles Rams, trailing the division-leading San Francisco 49ers, who are 6-1.
252 Yards, One Third-Down Conversion
The biggest problem was the offense. Seattle’s 252 total yards came within a single yard of the team’s season-low 251, and the first five offensive drives produced four punts, handing Chicago control from the opening quarter. That was a stark contrast to last week’s 20-3 shutout win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The running game offered little: 19 carries produced 81 yards. Seattle even inserted newly acquired eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson into the lineup, but the offensive line was pushed around by Chicago’s defensive front. Bears defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons, acquired from Tennessee, was particularly disruptive against the Seahawks’ attack, and quarterback Sam Darnold struggled under the pressure.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the one bright spot, catching for 118 yards and a 43-yard touchdown just before halftime. But it was not enough — Seattle converted just one of 11 third-down attempts.
A Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Sealed the Game
The defense, usually Seattle’s strength, also cracked. Chicago gained 363 total yards, the most any Seahawks opponent has posted this season, and sacked Bears quarterback Caleb Williams only once.
Seattle trimmed the deficit to 20-17 in the fourth quarter, but the Bears answered immediately. After a delay-of-game penalty on third down, Caleb Raymond’s screen pass moved the ball to the Seattle 5-yard line, and running back D’Andre Swift punched in the touchdown to make it 27-17 — effectively ending the contest. A blocked field goal and other special-teams miscues snuffed out Seattle’s comeback chances.
Macdonald: ‘We Lost Completely’
Head coach Mike Macdonald offered no excuses afterward. Chicago, he said, was better in every phase — offense, defense and special teams — and Seattle lost outright, with no room for justification.
Smith-Njigba echoed the assessment, saying the team failed to execute, particularly in opening the game on offense.
What the Loss Leaves Behind
For a Seattle team that had been expected to keep building momentum, the loss leaves a concrete to-do list: the offensive line, the running game and the defensive organization all need retooling, according to the postgame reviews. With the 49ers sitting atop the NFC West at 6-1 and the Rams alongside Seattle in second, the Seahawks’ division-title path has narrowed considerably after eight games.
Keep reading
