Few games in NFL history could possibly be worse than what the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) and Chicago Bears (4-12) put out in front of a national audience.
There were 9 combined points in this game, the lowest point total of the entire NFL season The Seahawks had 6 of the 9 points. Do you need me to do the rest of the math for you?
Seattle scored on its opening drive despite a near-interception from Geno Smith, who barely threw the ball beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage for much of the night. The Seahawks rushed for 122 yards, the bulk of which came in the first half, and only had 143 net yards passing.
Caleb Williams was sacked seven times and had 76 net yards passing. The Bears offense had 179 total yards and the Soldier Field fans booed throughout the night, and I do not blame them one bit. Mike Macdonald had the Bears offense in hell all evening and he never let up, which was the one entertaining part of this night. Riq Woolen, maligned in recent weeks, had the game-sealing interception and a streak-busting pick after Williams had gone over 350 attempts without a pick.
This was an abomination of a football game and it could all be for naught, because the Seahawks still risk being eliminated from the postseason if the Los Angeles Rams win on Saturday night over the Arizona Cardinals and certain results across Week 17 go against Seattle.
Sorry that you watched that dreck, America. The Seahawks used to be fun to watch in primetime. And in general.
The Seahawks started the game on offense, keeping in mind they entered this game without an opening drive touchdown in their last 19 games. It was a run-heavy approach with Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh combining for 53 yards on seven carries. Geno Smith completed his first two passes but nearly got picked off in the red zone (again), but Tremaine Edmunds couldn’t haul it in. Jason Myers put the Seahawks up 3-0 with a chippie field goal.
Caleb Williams and the Bears offense had a quick three-and-out, which the Seahawks matched with their own three-and-out. The Bears had one first down on a D’Andre Swift reception, only for the drive to stall after a Keenan Allen third down drop. Geno Smith misfired on a scramble to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Seattle’s next drive, which led to another three-and-out.
Devon Witherspoon just about destroyed the next Bears drive with a 7-yard tackle for loss on D’Andre Swift. Caleb Williams had an open Rome Odunze over the middle but overthrew him, leading to another punt.
Seattle moved the ball effectively into Bears territory, but the drive stalled following a Geno Smith sack and then a 3rd and 11 throwaway. And there was a penalty on Jaxon Smith-Njigba for lining up offside. Chicago was pinned at its own 9 in a rare field position flip. Even after a pass interference by D.J. Moore and 2nd and long at the 2, the Bears still moved the ball threw big screen passes to Swift and Moore, as well as this nifty play by Williams after a bad snap.
A touchdown to Rome Odunze was wiped out due to former Seahawks tackle Jake Curhan holding Uchenna Nwosu. This led to a tying field goal by Cairo Santos instead of a 7-3 lead. Thanks, Jake!
After DK Metcalf’s personal foul penalty put the Seahawks in a 2nd and 16 hole, consecutive throws to Noah Fant helped get Seattle out of the jam and eventually they made it into field goal range. Metcalf even redeemed himself with a nice grab in traffic. Smith’s 3rd down throw to Fant was batted down in field goal range. Jason Myers hit from 50 yards out to give the Seahawks the lead again at the half.
Oh yeah, here’s a sack from Leonard Williams.
The Bears went three-and-out to open the 2nd half, much to the loud boos from the Soldier Field crowd. Seattle had one first down gained through a Geno Smith scramble, then former Seahawks pass rusher Darrell Taylor strip-sacked him. Olu Oluwatimi was there for the recovery, but it was 3rd down so it’s another punt. Woo hoo.
Caleb Williams had a good scramble for the Bears’ only first down… and he got sacked for a fourth time on the night. Jarran Reed got him, but any Seahawk on the field could’ve gotten to him.
A not particularly good punt by Tory Taylor gave Seattle good field position. Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a key 3rd down grab over the middle and took off into Bears territory to move the chains.
Holy shit. Pharaoh Brown had the ball stripped out on a screen pass by Kyler Gordon, who then picked it up and returned it to the end zone. Everyone just stood around as this happened. Then it was ruled a touchdown for Gordon after it was ruled that Brown fumbled and Gordon took it to the house. Turns out Gordon was down when he recovered the ball, so no touchdown, but definitely a turnover.
If there was to be a highlight to end the quarter, Uchenna Nwosu picked up his first sack of the season.
The Seahawks got the ball back after the Nwosu sack. They went three-and-out because they’re a horrible offense. Thankfully, the Bears also have a horrible offense and Rayshawn Jenkins recorded sack number six of the No. 1 overall pick.
Truthfully, I’m not even sure what I can write. DK Metcalf had a really cool catch for 23 yards and the drive careened into another punt after that.
Chicago had a 4th and inches with under three minutes left at its own 39. Then Jake Curhan false started and suddenly the Bears were going to punt. Then they wasted a timeout and went for it… and converted on a good throw by Williams to D.J. Moore, who beat Riq Woolen for 14.
Caleb then got sacked by Leonard Williams again after he dropped the snap, picked it up and got dropped again. Perfect way to take us into the two-minute warning. On 3rd and 14, Williams made a great play to Rome Odunze on a scramble drill into fringe field goal range. The clock kept ticking despite Chicago having timeouts. With :31 to go after a Williams throwaway, the Bears used another timeout to the dismay of the crowd. Out of the timeout, a deep shot to Odunze fell out of bounds and incomplete. Then a 3rd and 10 throw over the middle was too high for anyone to catch. Faced with 4th and 10, Chicago opted to go for it instead of kick a 58-yard field goal. PICKED BY RIQ WOOLEN! Game over. Thankfully.
1st Quarter: Jason Myers 27-yard field goal – SEA 3, CHI 0
2nd Quarter: Cairo Santos 42-yard field goal – SEA 3, CHI 3
2nd Quarter: Jason Myers 50-yard field goal – SEA 6, CHI 3
CB Josh Jobe left the game in the 2nd half with a knee injury and was replaced by Tre Brown.
The Seahawks will play the Los Angeles Rams (9-6) in the regular season finale. Kickoff time is TBD, but it’ll either be Saturday, Jan. 4 or Sunday, Jan. 5. How much will be at stake depends on other results this weekend.
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