NFL Pick and Predictions Week 15: Seahawks vs Bears

The Seattle Seahawks go into Chicago for a game that is essentially a playoff elimination game for both teams. The Bears are hoping to eek out a win here and stay in the hunt for Jay Cutler’s likely Christmas day return from injury. The Seahawks have to expect the Bears to give this game a playoff caliber performance.

Reasons For Optimism

Caleb Hanie has been downright awful filling in for an injured Jay Cutler. Since he’s taken over, the Bear’s offense has had major trouble moving the ball. The offense for the Bears has devolved into a ground and pound running attack that no longer has Matt Forte carrying the rock, and they’ll have to get back Seattle’s stout run defense.

Causes For Concern

The Bears defense is good. It always is. While the Seahawks offense goes into this game on a bit of a hot streak, it hasn’t played against a defense this good since they played Baltimore. The Seahawks were able to mask their offensive line problems against a bad Rams team, but it wont be so easy this week, not with Paul McQuistan lined up against Julius Peppers all game. Add in a 10:00 am start time and the long flight trip to Chicago, and you have a recipe for a very long day for the Seahawks offense.

Final Prediction

This is going to be a low scoring game. 2 good defenses and 2 very banged up offenses means points will be at a premium. Still, I think the Seahawks have more offense in them than the Bears do, and will be able to move the ball enough to keep this game out of reach for the Bears.

Seattle 20 – 10 Bears