Seattle Seahawks defense comes alive in low-scoring win over Chicago Bears

CNN
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The boo birds were loud and clear Thursday night at Soldier Field after the latest loss to the Chicago Bears.

On a cool, rainy night in Illinois – the Bears lost to the Seattle Seahawks in a 6-3 defensive battle between the two teams on Thursday Night Football.

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams needed a field goal to at least force overtime, driving the Chicago offense all the way to Seattle’s 40-yard line.

With a field goal attempt out of reach on fourth down, it was up to Williams to convert to keep the Bears alive, but it went wrong. The 23-year-old no. 1 overall pick was hit when he threw the ball and was intercepted by Seattle cornerback Tariq Woolen, giving the Seahawks the win.

It was Williams’ first interception in 354 passes, which had been the longest streak by a rookie in NFL history.

All three field goals in the game came in the first half.

Williams finished with 122 yards and an interception, while Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith threw 17-of-23 for 160 yards.

Attacks were almost non-existent, but both defenses held firm to keep the game within reach.

The Seahawks defense sacked Williams seven times to help keep them alive in the NFC playoff picture; NFL.com currently has Seattle with one 15% chance to make the postseason.

In a sign that Chicago may need to improve its offensive line, Williams has now been sacked 67 times this season. Former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr holds the NFL record for most sacks with 76 back in 2002.

Amid Chicago fans chanting “sell the team,” Seattle signal-caller Smith told the Amazon Prime broadcast that the team “doesn’t care” how they win.

“The defense played great,” Smith said. “At this point, we don’t care how we win. We just want to win games. I don’t care if it was 5-4. We got the nod. It was a tough game. Our defense was lights out.”

Seattle improves to 9-7 on the season and can win the NFC West with a little help. If the Los Angeles Rams lose on Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals and the Seahawks beat LA to close out the regular season, Seattle will win the division and punch a ticket to the postseason.

The Bears have now lost 10 straight after starting the season 4-2 and fall to 0-4 under interim head coach Thomas Brown.

Chicago travels to Green Bay to take on the Packers to round out the regular season.