Seahawks Edge Bears 6-3: A Miserable Game With Big Implications For Both Teams
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- William D
- December 27, 2024
In a rainy, lackluster game on Thursday night, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Chicago Bears 6-3, highlighting the difficulties both teams face as the offseason approaches. Although the victory kept Seattle’s prospects of making the playoffs alive, it was by no means a convincing showing.
Fans of both clubs were left wondering about the future of their teams after the game, which was dominated by field goals and punts, particularly at the quarterback position.
Geno Smith continues to be the center of attention for the Seahawks, as his patchy performance casts doubt on his long-term leadership potential. As has been the case this season, Smith displayed moments of skill but fell short in the second half.
Smith will approach 35 next year, so Seattle will need to choose whether to keep going in this direction or look at other possibilities, like addressing offensive line deficiencies or possibly using the draft. Even while the win was essential to the team’s hopes of making the playoffs, it didn’t give much insight into Smith’s future.
The Bears, on the other hand, are struggling with Caleb Williams’ underwhelming rookie campaign after selecting him first overall. Williams had another difficult game; he took several sacks and threw an interception late in the game to help the Seahawks win.
Williams’ propensity to hang onto the ball for extended periods of time has made the issue worse, even though the Bears’ poor offensive line is somewhat to blame. Chicago’s front office is under increasing pressure to assemble a quality coaching staff that can help Williams reach his full potential and to create a strong support network around him.
The game on Thursday night was a microcosm of the seasons of both teams: uneven, annoying, and replete with lost chances. The attention will continue to be on the quarterbacks and how their teams address obvious shortcomings in the offseason as the Seahawks consider a possible postseason push and the Bears get ready for a significant rebuild.
Is Geno Smith the Seahawks' answer to their quarterback dilemma?
The Seattle Seahawks improved their record to 9-7 with a tight 6-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, which was essential to preserving their postseason aspirations. The victory did little to allay worries about Geno Smith’s future as the team’s starting quarterback, even though it kept them in the running for the postseason.
Seattle’s offensive inconsistency, especially in the second half, is still a major problem that might cost them in crucial games as they aim for a potential postseason berth.
Geno Smith’s performance on Thursday night was typical of his season: brilliant moments interspersed with poor choices and lost chances. Smith’s 11 years of experience have stabilized Seattle’s offense to some extent, but his inability to produce significant drives, particularly in the second half, points to a concerning pattern.
Smith’s failure to seize opportunities has cast doubt on his ability to lead the Seahawks to genuine contender status, even though they are surrounded by superb playmakers.
As Smith approaches his 35th birthday next season, the most pressing question facing Seattle is whether he is the team’s long-term quarterback. Given his age and inconsistent play, the team might need to look elsewhere.
To find a younger, more capable quarterback to guide the Seahawks in the upcoming years, the organization may turn to the 2024 NFL Draft. On the other hand, resolving offensive line concerns could provide Smith with the defense he requires to play better, thereby prolonging his starting career.
The decisions made by Seattle’s executive management throughout the summer might determine the team’s course for years to come. Smith has been serviceable, but the Seahawks need to decide if it’s better to invest in his future or if it’s time to face a new era.
Smith’s performance will be closely watched as the playoffs draw near, and how he responds to the pressure may affect Seattle’s final choice.
Who is your difference maker of the game?#GoHawks x @novavax
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 27, 2024
The Bears' top priority is to fix Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams has had a terrible first season with the Chicago Bears, filled with setbacks, sacks, and crucial errors. Williams, the fourth-highest quarterback in NFL history with 67 sacks this season, has fallen short of expectations despite being the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bears’ defeat by the Seahawks once again demonstrated his propensity to hold the ball for too long and make bad choices under duress. Many questioned if Williams is prepared to guide this team going forward after a crucial interception late in the game sealed Chicago’s doom.
Despite going through a lot of difficult times, Williams has shown signs of promise. He demonstrated his ability to make huge plays when given the opportunity in Thursday’s game by making a couple of critical throws to wide outs Rome Odunze and DJ Moore.
Though they have been infrequent and overshadowed by persistent errors, these instances have offered some promise for the future. The Bears need to figure out how to create an offensive scheme that is more reliable and plays to Williams’ talents if they want him to realize his full potential.
The offensive line, which has given up a startling number of sacks, is mostly to blame for the Bears’ dysfunctional offense. Williams’ development has been hampered by having to scramble far too frequently and not having a steady pocket. There have also been few planned plays that let Williams settle into a rhythm, and play-calling has been poor.
It’s hardly surprising that the rookie has had trouble establishing himself in the NFL given the dysfunctional offense. To offer Williams a realistic chance at success, the next head coach of Chicago must make resolving these problems a top priority.
Just call him Coby Bean Bryant pic.twitter.com/GBHdCOsWJO
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 27, 2024
After a terrible season, the Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus, starting the challenging process of resolving their coaching problems. Caleb Williams’ difficulties and the team’s general dysfunction are the direct causes of Eberflus’ termination.
The Bears’ poor performance has been exacerbated by their incapacity to develop a viable offense or shield their rookie quarterback from frequent sacks. The decision to terminate Eberflus is a reflection of the team’s need for a coach who can help Williams reach his full potential and improve the team’s trajectory.
Fixing the Bears’ offense and turning Caleb Williams into a franchise quarterback will be a huge task for the next head coach. The team’s future depends on this new coach’s ability to work with Williams, helping him grow and gain confidence while rectifying his faults.
A coach who can develop a reliable offensive scheme that safeguards Williams and capitalizes on his abilities is what Chicago needs. To help Williams thrive in the long run, the Bears will need to make significant changes to their existing arrangement, so this is no easy feat.
However, there is an additional degree of uncertainty in the process due to the Bears’ past struggles in selecting qualified coaches. Chicago has had cycles of failing and rebuilding as a result of their inability to establish steady leadership at the head coach position over the years.
The organization’s stagnation has been largely caused by the team’s inability to find a good coach, which makes the next hiring selection even more crucial. Selecting a leader who can not just improve the offense but also revive a team that has been stuck in mediocrity for a long time requires smart thinking on the part of the Bears.
The Bears are under pressure to make the proper choice as they look for their new head coach. The Bears may experience yet another round of disappointment if they are unable to locate a coach who can develop Caleb Williams and create a strong offensive scheme.
The franchise’s future rests on whoever manages it, and as Chicago attempts to rebuild and fully realize the promise of its young quarterback, the stakes have never been higher.
The Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Thursday night was a forgettable demonstration of offensive incompetence in the first half. Chicago’s offensive problems were evident from the beginning, as they only gained 25 yards and one first down in the first quarter.
For the Bears, who have continuously failed to score in the first quarter of the season, this dismal performance is part of a concerning trend. It’s evident that the Bears continue to struggle with early scoring as they have only scored 20 points in the first quarter of all 16 games this season.
Even though they had a small advantage, the Seahawks weren’t any better. Two of their field goals put them ahead 6-3 at the break. Like Chicago’s, Seattle’s offense had trouble getting going in the first half.
The fact that neither Geno Smith nor Caleb Williams were able to pass for 100 yards demonstrated how incompetent both quarterbacks were. Williams, still dealing with his rookie issues, was unable to establish any rhythm, while Smith, who has been erratic all season, missed opportunities.
The Bears’ offense appeared out of sync right on, and their persistent inability to score early put them in a familiar hole. Chicago’s difficulties were made worse by the Seahawks’ similarly poor start, as they had little offensive momentum and little success in the first quarter.
It was evident that both teams’ quarterback play would be scrutinized for the rest of the game as they hobbled into the second half.
Even though there wasn’t much offensive output, one of these sides had a chance to overcome their own difficulties in the second half. But the first half established the tone for a game that left supporters feeling let down and wondering what both offenses would do in the future.
Both the Bears and the Seahawks went into the break with serious doubts about their quarterback positions and general offensive plans going forward since neither team was able to create any kind of consistent momentum.
Both sides were unable to generate any offensive momentum in the second half of Thursday night’s contest, which was even lethargic than the first. After the interval, the Chicago Bears’ offense, which had already been having trouble in the first half, continued to struggle.
They continued their trend of lost chances and offensive inefficiency by punting on their first four drives of the second half. As time ran out, the Bears had nothing to work with because they were unable to sustain any drives, even though they had an opportunity to take advantage of Seattle’s own offensive difficulties.
Throughout the second half, Chicago’s issues were exacerbated by mistakes. The Bears’ lack of discipline was demonstrated by a costly false start penalty on a crucial fourth-and-inches play prior to the two-minute warning. Furthermore, the Bears wasted valuable seconds prior to making crucial passes as a result of poor clock management.
The Bears’ lack of a coherent offensive strategy made it challenging for them to rally from the Seahawks’ slim lead, and these careless mistakes are a reflection of the dysfunction that has dogged the team throughout the season.
Caleb Williams displayed fleeting glimpses of promise in the closing seconds, despite his continuous difficulties. His clutch pass to DJ Moore and his well-placed ball to Rome Odunze for a first down were two of his major throws that kept the Bears in the game.
With the indication that Williams still has the ability to become a franchise quarterback, these plays offered some hope. The optimism was short-lived, though, as Williams’ last effort was intercepted. The Bears’ fate was sealed by his last-ditch throw under duress, which turned what would have been a thrilling drive into a humiliating loss.
The Bears’ torturous season, which was full of both brilliant moments and crushing errors, was embodied by the last-minute interception. Even while Williams made some progress, the game eventually brought to light the Bears’ bigger problems, which include a broken offense and a lack of consistency that have dogged the team all season.
The Bears were forced to consider their quarterback position with the clock running out and a game-ending interception. They knew that major adjustments were necessary if they were to have any chance of improving next season.
The Seattle Seahawks’ primary goal right now is to qualify for the playoffs. The Seahawks are still vying for a postseason berth, and every game matters. They have a 9-7 record following their close victory over the Bears.
If Seattle wants to have a strong postseason run in the near future, they need to figure out how to improve their erratic offensive output, especially from quarterback Geno Smith.
The Seahawks need a more unified and effective approach if they want to contend with the best teams in the league, as seen by Smith’s difficulties this season and problems on the offensive line.
The Seahawks’ quarterback predicament raises more significant issues in the long run. Seattle will have to choose whether to keep Smith as their starting quarterback or look at other choices, including selecting a younger quarterback to build around in the future, since he reaches 35 next season.
To better protect Smith or any future quarterback, the Seahawks will also need to improve their offensive line, which has had some difficulties this season. To make sure the Seahawks are set up for long-term success, these problems must be fixed during the offseason.
The reconstruction of the Chicago Bears is their first priority, beginning with the offensive line. The team’s offensive line urgently has to be revamped in light of their troubles this season, which include a league-high 67 sacks allowed.
Caleb Williams’ progress will depend on improving the protection up front because a stronger line will free him up to make plays without being under constant pressure. To give their rookie quarterback a shot, the Bears will have to spend money on good linemen in the draft or free agency.
Selecting the ideal coaching staff to optimize Williams’ potential is arguably the Bears’ most crucial responsibility. Chicago is looking for a new head coach who can create a successful offensive scheme and turn Williams into a franchise quarterback after firing Matt Eberflus.
Williams’ collegiate talent will be unlocked with the right hire, and the Bears’ future depends on hiring a coach who can improve their dysfunctional offense. This will serve as the cornerstone of Chicago’s rebuild in the upcoming years, coupled with constructing a potent offensive line.