Seahawks' dominant defense faces
challenge in Bears QB Caleb Williams and NFL's top rushing offense
[October 30, 2026]
By ANNE M. PETERSON
Now it's Chicago's turn to face Seattle's “Dark Side.”
The Seahawks defense shut down the previously undefeated Kansas City
Chiefs for a 20-3 victory last weekend. On Monday night, the team's
confident defense faces another challenge in the Chicago Bears, led
by quarterback Caleb Williams and the NFL's top rushing offense.
“We can play. We go out there and our goal is to shut you down. We
can shut the lights out,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said.
Williams has thrown for 300-plus yards in back-to-back games in his
return from a hamstring injury. He threw for 308 yards and two
touchdowns in last week's 30-24 victory over the New England
Patriots.
The Seahawks had no trouble with Kansas City quarterback Patrick
Mahomes, who threw for just 165 yards and an interception. It was
the first time the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown in Mahomes'
time with the team.
Overall, the Chiefs managed just 213 yards and former Seahawks
running back Kenneth Walker III gained a season-low 36 yards rushing
on 14 carries. It was the third game this season that the Seahawks
held an opponent to less than 225 total yards.
“This is us. This is the ‘Dark Side.’ This is what we do,” defensive
tackle Byron Murphy II said.
Seattle's defense, a big reason for the team's success last season
when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, leads the NFL this year in
allowing 233.9 yards per game.
The group also ranks atop the league in allowing just 144.4 yards
passing per game, and opponents are averaging just 17.9 points,
fourth-best in the league.
While there have been questions about Seattle's offensive
production, especially given the Seahawks had lost two straight
going into the game against the Chiefs, the defense has been steady,
for the most part.
“You’re always honing in on what you do and how you do it throughout
the year, on what your team’s calling card and identity is going to
be, and I think that is the process that we are going through,”
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said.
Chicago bolstered its own defense by acquiring Jeffery Simmons in a
trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The All-Pro defensive
tackle could make his Bears debut against the Seahawks.
Need to know
Chicago Bears (5-2) at the Seattle Seahawks (4-3).
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST, ABC
Latest odds: Seahawks by 3.
Against the spread: Bears 5-2-0. Seahawks 3-4-0.
[to top of second column] |
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams reacts during the
second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs
in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)
Last week: The Bears beat the Patriots 30-24; the
Seahawks beat the Chiefs 20-3.
Last meeting: The Seahawks beat the Bears 6-3 on Dec. 26, 2024, in
Chicago.
Series record: Seahawks lead 12-8.
Matchup to watch
The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 consecutive
games, the longest current streak in the NFL. Chicago, meanwhile,
leads the NFL with an average of 154.3 rushing yards a game. Bears
running back D’Andre Swift has rushed for 628 yards and seven
touchdowns this season.
Stats and stuff
— Seattle WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has six games this season with at
least 100 yards receiving. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the
Year leads the league with an average of 123.9 yards receiving per
game and eight touchdowns.
— Chicago's defense is allowing opponents just a 26% conversion rate
on third down. It has allowed opponents to convert on fourth down
just twice in nine attempts. The Bears' D is allowing just 9.7
second-half points.
— Bears defensive end Montez Sweat returns after completing a
two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing
substances policy. Sweat apologized to his teammates for what
happened, but declined to go into details about what caused his
positive PED test.
— Chicago tight end Cole Kmet is out for the season after injuring
his right knee late in the game against the Patriots. Kmet had 10
catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in seven games, but also played
a key blocking role.
— Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet could make his season debut against
the Bears after returning to practice two weeks ago from a torn ACL
in January. Rookie running back Jadarian Price also could return
from the injured reserve list after being sidelined by a chest
injury.
— The Seahawks acquired All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the
Indianapolis Colts this week in exchange for a third-round draft
pick next year and a fifth-round pick in 2028.
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