Offensive line adjustments lead to tough night
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider knew bringing in All Pro left guard Quenton Nelson would take time. The midseason trade forced Grey Zabel to shift to right guard, creating an unfamiliar setup. That adjustment showed during Seattle's 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, their heaviest defeat since December 2024.
The defeat leaves the defending Super Bowl champions at 4-4 on the season. They now sit 2.5 games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West standings. With backup Josh Jones filling in at left tackle, the offensive line faced a tough Chicago defense that brought back Montez Sweat and recently added Jeffery Simmons. Running backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price were kept quiet, combining for just 52 yards on 16 carries.
Sam Darnold under heavy pressure
Quarterback Sam Darnold had another difficult game while facing defensive pressure. He was pressured on 14 of his 39 dropbacks against Chicago, completing just one of 11 passes for 13 yards and an interception when under duress. The Bears sacked Darnold three times and hit him six times total.
A week earlier, Darnold was not sacked at all in a 20-3 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. Against Chicago, his average time before throwing rose to 2.89 seconds, up from 2.45 seconds the week before. Darnold now has nine interceptions this season, tying for the second most in the league despite playing only six full games. This season he has been pressured on 38.3 percent of his dropbacks, completing only 31.3 percent of those passes.
Coach Macdonald backs quarterback and line
Head coach Mike Macdonald emphasized that sacks are a team stat and pointed to the learning curve for the new offensive line group. Zabel noted that switching sides in the middle of the week was a tough transition, but added that he needs to play better moving forward.
Macdonald also defended Darnold after the loss. He praised the quarterback for battling through hits, calling him a warrior while acknowledging the need for more efficient play.
Looking ahead to Arizona match
Help could be on the way for Seattle ahead of their game against the Arizona Cardinals. Starting left tackle Charles Cross, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 7, has a chance to return to the lineup this week.
Cross has yet to practice alongside Nelson at left guard, but getting him back could help the unit settle down. Macdonald remains positive about Nelson's presence on the team, stating that the group just needs time to bring everything together.
Read next
- Football predictions today
- Jackpot predictions this week
- NFL and every other league
- NFL official website
Good to know: We are not paid for any link on this page.
Be the first to comment
Tell us who you think wins and why. Keep it friendly. Links are removed on their own.
Note: comments are the writer own opinion, not ours, and never a tip from us.
18+Read this before you bet
- There are no sure bets. Every tip on this page is a chance worked out from data about the next game. A tip at 70 percent still loses about three times in ten. Anyone selling a sure bet or a fixed match is lying.
- Betting is not income. Never bet to pay rent, school fees or a loan, and never borrow to bet, including from mobile loan apps.
- 18 and over only. Betting under 18 is illegal in Kenya.
- Use licensed bookmakers. Only bet with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Prices here can change before you bet, so check them first.
- Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, stop. Read our responsible betting page or visit Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya.
Good to know: We are not a bookmaker and we do not take bets. Full details are in our disclaimer.
