I’m not surprised that the Seahawks lost a close game to the Vikings last Sunday. I figured they’d keep it competitive. But I did totally miss the rhythm of the game. I thought it would be filled with big, explosive plays, coming from both teams, both on offense and defense. It really wasn’t. So I whiffed on all my bold predictions last week. That’s OK. You have to expect that every once in a while. I mean, if you nailed them every time, how bold would they really be?
I suppose I could predict that it will be cold at Soldier Field this Thursday night. Or that Bears fans will start booing as soon as the Hawks take the lead. Throw in a guess that Kirk Herbstreit will spend at least part of the broadcast explaining why Caleb Williams is not a total bust at QB I feel pretty good that I would go three-for-three.
But let’s push things a bit farther, shall we? As far as I can figure, the key on Thursday is how good a job Mike Macdonald does in keeping his squad on an even keel. This is really the first must-win game of the season. If they lose, the playoffs are gone. But if they win, it might set up a showdown with Los Angeles in Week 18.
Bold predictions for the Seahawks versus the Bears in Week 16
That presents a twin danger. Seattle could come out tight, with so much at stake. Or they could come out sloppy, looking past a Bears team that hasn’t won a football game in more than two months. In either case, they could lose this game. The Bears, for all their miseries this season, have talent on both sides of the ball. However, if the Hawks play up to their capabilities, they should head to L.A. still in a position to steal the NFC West.
Here’s how I see it happening – bold prediction-wise.
Geno has his best game of the year
I’m not referring to most yards here. If he throws for more than the 395 he put up against the Lions in Week Four, that’s a very bad sign. Big yardage games come when a team falls behind and has to throw. In the five games this season where Geno has passed for more than 300 yards, the Hawks are 1-4. He has thrown seven of his 15 interceptions in those five games.
Geno will have his highest passer rating of the season against the Bears. He has gone over 110 twice this year in wins against the Falcons and Cardinals. Though he only combined for 440 yards in those two games, he threw three touchdowns and zero picks and was sacked just once.
He completed better than 70 percent of his throws. I look for Geno to get the ball out of his hand quickly against a defense that has had trouble covering backs and tight ends this season. The end result will be a couple of touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a completion rate hovering around 70 percent.
The Seahawks defense will make a lot of plays behind the line
I think the Hawks' defensive front should have a good day against an offense that is surrendering four sacks per game. I don’t think Seattle will surpass that number, but I do think they will rack up TFLs – tackles-for-loss. The Bears have looked hopeless trying to run the ball against strong fronts, and I expect Leonard Williams, Tyrice Jones, and company to attack the line all night long.
Williams, Knight, Jarran Reed, and some as-yet-unnamed defensive back will all make tackles behind the line, and the Hawks will sack Caleb Williams at least three times. Throw in another two plays – sacks or TFLs – and the Seahawks will make at least nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
We will see the best and the worst of Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams’ rookie season has been a disaster. He was supposed to be entering an ideal situation with plenty of talent around him. But Bears’ fans have had to grind their teeth and watch all of the quarterbacks chosen after him – Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Drake Maye, and now even Michael Penix, Jr. – have better rookie seasons than the number one overall pick.
But it would be insane to close the book on Williams so soon. He clearly has significant flaws that must be addressed. But he also has a world of talent. We will see that on display at least once on Thursday. Williams will scramble for a major third down conversion, or perhaps a touchdown, against the Hawks.
However, we will see even more of the bad Williams. It will come in the form of turnovers – at least two of them either via pick or fumble. And more disturbingly for Bears fans, it will come in the form of at least three bad throws. He throws where he has a receiver open for a big play, and Willaims simply misses him. Right now, one of Williams's greatest strengths is becoming one of his most serious weaknesses.
He can move in the pocket extremely well. However, when he does so, he has not mastered the ability to get himself set and make quality throws while on the move. Only the very best quarterbacks in the league – Mahomes, Burrow, Allen – that may be it – can stay accurate when they are under pressure. Williams is far, far away from that level. He gets pressure – he misses open receivers. That will happen at least three times on Thursday.
Seattle cannot concern itself with what the Rams do against the Cardinals on Saturday night. Arizona clubbed a depleted Rams squad in Week Two and Matthew Stafford and company no doubt want revenge. Before that game, the Hawks need to take care of business against a struggling Bears team. I think they will play one of their best games of the year and secure their third straight winning season.