- Analysis
- Root Reserve on Seattle
Why fight a tossup game. We’re taking the better defense and that proven 12th man; Seattle’s home fans. Most experts seem to have this game rated as a toss-up. Seattle is a three-point favorite, the traditional bump given to the home team. But I think if both teams play sound games, Seattle wins this one without too much trouble.
It is a good match-up, with the Seahawks defense taking on another quality offense. The Seahawks offense, with Quenton Nelson now in town and with the possible return of Zach Charbonnet, should be able to score points on Chicago’s opportunistic, improving defense.
Ben Johnson will no doubt have several concepts designed to exploit the small cracks in the Seahawks' defense. But Seattle, under Mike Macdonald, is a very hard team to trick. They have too many fast, athletic players, too many smart veterans. They are too well coached to make a lot of mistakes.
I thought Sam Darnold played his best game of the season against the Chiefs. He looked like a different quarterback – like the QB who took Seattle to the championship last year. He made quick, decisive decisions, and he threw the ball very well. He completed a season-high 71.4% of passes (20 of 28) for a season-high 9.2 yards per attempt and didn’t take a sack for the second time this year.
Darnold is getting better, and Quenton Nelson's presence can only help. The last time Darnold faced the Bears was in 2024. As a member of the Vikings, he played Chicago twice. He put up 30 points in each game, with a three-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio. I’m optimistic. I think the ratio will be three-to-zero this time.
Defensively, the Seahawks can stop the run making quarterback Caleb Williams somewhat one dimensional by default. Seattle has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 straight games, extending a franchise record. Additionally, as much notice as Seattle is getting for its run defense, its pass defense has been just as good. Seattle has held each of its first seven opponents to fewer than 180 yards passing, the first team to do so since the 1984.
This is Seattle’s third straight primetime game and fourth straight against a team that can be considered a legit Super Bowl contender. The Seahawks showed they are still on that level with their dominant win over the Chiefs and they are never better than on Monday night — 31-13 all time, best in NFL history.
