Predictions On Tap Week 8: Bears at Seahawks

The main storyline for Chicago this week is the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons is expected to make his Bears debut on Monday night after being acquired via trade on Thursday. It’s been a while since Chicago had a game-wrecker of Simmons’ caliber on the defensive line. Next Gen Stats credits Simmons with 28 pressures this season, the most among defensive tackles, and league-best totals of 10 pressures and three sacks when double-teamed. This is the type of player that opposing offensive coordinators must game-plan for.

It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Dennis Allen adjusts the defense with the Simmons addition. Allen has blitzed at one of the league’s highest rates this season to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Will Allen continue to be aggressive and blitz, or will Simmons allow the Bears to only rush four? Either way, Simmons should make an immediate and significant impact on Monday.

For Seattle, the Seahawks are expected to get their top two running backs back this week with the return of Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet. They also made a trade of their own this week, acquiring guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts, who has experience facing Simmons twice a year as division rivals. The Chicago Bears defense will have its hands full against the reigning Offensive Player of the Year and arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Maybe even more impressive is Seattle’s defense. Seattle held the Kansas City Chiefs to three points and zero red zone trips in a 20-3 win on Oct. 25. The Seahawks are allowing the fewest yards in the NFL (233.9 a game) and just 17.9 points a game. Seattle has yet to allow an opposing quarterback to pass for over 190 yards this season. This will be a major test for Chicago as the Bears’ prolific offense takes on the vaunted Seahawks’ defense.

Now on to predictions!

Ron Luce: Bears 17, Seahawks 10

This is going to be an ugly football game. Seattle’s defense is next level, but their offense is average at best. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the “Bugatti next to the trailer in the trailer park meme” personified. If the Bears can pressure Sam Darnold, especially after acquiring Jeffery Simmons, then they should get some big takeaways. If the offense can find some big scores and take care of the football, the Bears hold on for a statement win.

Quinten Krzysko: Bears 31, Seahawks 27

On the podcast, I picked against the Bears for the first time all season. But that was before they traded for Jeffery Simmons. Now, with the best defensive tackle in the NFL on the roster, I cannot fathom picking against the Bears in what I expect to be a tightly contested game.

Samir Patel: Bears 20, Seahawks 24

Michael Tsypin: Bears 27, Seahawks 21

Chicago will have a big rest advantage, having last played on Thursday, Oct. 22, which typically bodes well for offensive coaches, especially with someone like Ben Johnson. You couple that with the addition of Jeffery Simmons, it’s hard to pick against Chicago upsetting Seattle in a statement win. The defense should be able to affect Sam Darnold enough and I’m expecting big performances from Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III on offense.