Brady Henderson
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Brady Henderson
ESPN
Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Henderson covers the Seattle Seahawks. He joined ESPN in 2017 masking the staff for Seattle Sports activities 710-AM. You may observe him through Twitter @BradyHenderson.
Courtney Cronin
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Courtney Cronin
ESPN Workers Author
Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, initially masking the Minnesota Vikings earlier than switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Across the Horn and host of Finest Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She additionally co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She beforehand labored on the San Jose Mercury Information as a multimedia sports activities journalist.
Dec 26, 2024, 11:10 PM ET
CHICAGO — The Seahawks didn’t essentially have to win Thursday evening to maintain their playoff hopes alive, and their offense performed prefer it.
They had been undisciplined, getting flagged for a pair of procedural penalties in addition to a private foul by DK Metcalf.
They had been ineffective, managing solely 265 yards and a pair of subject targets of their worst offensive efficiency in over a calendar yr.
And finally, the Seahawks had been victorious because of their protection, which was as fierce because the offense was forgettable. The 6-3 end result wasn’t over till Riq Woolen intercepted Caleb Williams‘ desperation heave, a fitting end to a slugfest of a game that was dominated by Mike Macdonald’s protection.
It shouldn’t have been that shut towards a four-win Bears staff that had dropped 9 straight video games, however the Seahawks’ win means they received’t essentially be eradicated from playoff rivalry with a Los Angeles Rams win Saturday over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Seahawks’ solely path to the playoffs is as NFC West champs, and the very best shot of that taking place is for Los Angeles to lose Saturday and for the Seahawks to beat them subsequent week at So-Fi Stadium, the place Geno Smith and Seattle’s offense should be a lot better than they had been Thursday evening.
Right here’s what to know for each groups:
Photograph by Quinn Harris/Getty Photos
QB breakdown: Geno Smith was underwhelming, finishing 17 of 23 passes for 160 yards and not using a landing on a moist, mid-40s evening. He didn’t throw any interceptions, which has been his Achilles heel in 2024, however he was practically picked within the purple zone on Seattle’s opening drive. One of many three sacks he took got here on a play by which he ought to have gotten rid of the ball however held onto it whereas making an attempt to purchase time, leading to a fumble that Seattle recovered. Smith tends to play a lot better indoors, so he received’t thoughts going from Chicago to So-Fi Stadium subsequent weekend, the place he’ll have $6 million price of contract incentives on the road — and probably a playoff berth as effectively — towards the Rams.
Promising pattern: Williams entered Thursday because the NFL’s most sacked quarterback, and the Seahawks’ deep pass-rush took benefit. They pressured Williams on 10 of his first 20 dropbacks and saved the warmth on him all sport lengthy. Seattle completed with seven sacks from six completely different gamers. One got here from Uchenna Nwosu, his first of an injury-plagued season.
Promising pattern, Half 2: It got here towards a below-average Bears run protection, however the Seahawks discovered some success on the bottom. Their 53 dashing yards on their opening field-goal drive practically matched their complete of 59 from all of final week. They completed with 122 dashing yards on 25 carries, with Zach Charbonnet (57 yards on 15 makes an attempt) main the best way after Seattle put Kenneth Walker III on IR. The Seahawks haven’t ran the ball practically as typically or in addition to Macdonald needs this season, which has put a microscope on first-year OC Ryan Grubb. However the run sport at instances was one of many few vibrant spots for Seattle’s offense towards Chicago.
Pivotal play: Late within the third quarter, tight finish Pharaoh Brown was stripped by cornerback Kyler Gordon, who returned the ball for what was initially dominated a landing. That might have given Chicago a 10-6 lead, however officers dominated that Gordon was down by contact, and Seattle’s protection ultimately bailed out Brown by forcing a punt. Nwosu’s sack for a 14-yard loss helped stall the drive. — Brady Henderson
Subsequent sport: at Los Angeles Rams (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)
Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
Gradual begins have been a problem all season for the Bears, who’ve 20 factors mixed over 16 first quarters. Throughout his weekly pregame interview on ESPN 1000, Chicago common supervisor Ryan Poles gave his two cents on the foundation of these points.
“I believe it stems back from training camp,” Poles stated. “It’s just some of the things that either weren’t addressed, they weren’t detailed enough, whatever that is.”
Chicago’s offense was a multitude on an evening the place quarterback Caleb Williams averaged 1.3 air yards per completion, his lowest mark of the season per ESPN Analysis. Behind an offensive line that was lacking left deal with Braxton Jones, who was positioned on injured reserve this week, and left guard Teven Jenkins, who was dominated out with a calf damage, Williams struggled. The Bears offense transformed 33% of its third down makes an attempt and regarded listless in seven drives that led to punts.
The Bears tacked on their tenth straight loss towards Seattle and can wrap up a season that fell effectively in need of expectations in Inexperienced Bay in Week 18.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Onerous watch. The Bears weren’t capable of finding traction offensively whereas averaging 3.1 yards per play. Chicago’s finest drive, which amassed 67 yards and ate up 7:47, resulted in a subject aim after a holding penalty on left guard Jake Curhan negated a landing from Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze. The protection saved issues shut, however this was an unpleasant Thursday evening sport for each groups.
Troubling pattern: Caleb Williams has endured lots of hits this season. Williams was pressured relentlessly on dropbacks all through the evening, which led to him being sacked seven instances. That brings the quarterback’s complete to 67 sacks this season, the second most by a rookie QB behind solely David Carr’s record-setting mark (76) in 2002.
Most stunning efficiency: The Bears protection registered three sacks for the primary time since internet hosting Minnesota in Week 12. Former Seahawks defensive finish Darrell Taylor had his first sack since Chicago’s season opening win towards Tennessee whereas defensive deal with Byron Cowart notched his first full sack since Dec. 10, 2020. — Courtney Cronin
Subsequent sport: at Inexperienced Bay Packers (TBA, Jan. 4 or 5)
