On any given Sunday in the NFL, any team can rise up and beat the other. When time allows, I will look at both how Seahawks loss and Seahawks win might play out in the upcoming game. Let’s start by exploring a potential loss.
Well, let’s see, the Seahawks have played two road opponents that are significantly less imposing than the Bears, and have lost by a combined score of 51-17. It should not be too hard to picture what a Seahawks loss would look like on Sunday.
The Bears offense can challenge the Seahawks defense. It was a little shocking to see the Bears average less passing yards/game than the Seahawks. Take a closer look, and you see the team has passed for a total of 80 yards in the last two games. Ouch! In wins over Detroit, Green Bay and Dallas, Cutler averaged close to 300 yards/game. The team compensated for Cutler’s absence last week with over 200 yards of rushing. The Seahawks look like the real deal against the run, though, so a loss is much more likely to include a dominant day for Cutler than one for Forte.
Johnny Knox is Cutler’s big play threat, and plays bigger than his 6’0″ frame. He’s the type of player that gives Kelly Jennings fits, so don’t be shocked to see Jennings flailing at a long completion or two.
Forte is the team’s leading receiver, and the Seahawks have yet to show they can defend the screen pass. That will be tested throughout the game on Sunday.
Danieal Manning and Devin Hester are electric return men who could steal momentum and cheap points if the Seahawks special teams are not on their game.
The Bears run defense gets the pub with their 3rd ranked run defense, but their pass defense sports a 7/2 Interception/TD ratio. They hold opposing QBs to NFL’s 4th best 67.4 QB rating. A loss for the Seahawks will include an unproductive running game and Matt facing significant pressure in the passing game. Julius Peppers could easily make Russell Okung wish his ankle injury had forced him to miss one more week. Peppers is the household name, but it is Israel Idonije that leads the team with 4 sacks.
The biggest concern about the game on Sunday is the Bears strengths are the Seahawks weaknesses, especially when our offense lines up across from their defense. It does not help that the Seahawks have not beat a team 3+ games over .500 on the road since the 2004 regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Anything but the Seahawks best game will lead to a humbling defeat.