Seattle Seahawks Week Sixteen Review: Da Bears Win With Foles Under Center
Nick Foles sends an icy glare to the Seahawks defense (photo from Chicago Bears)
Coming into this Week 16 matchup between the Seahawks and Bears, there were a lot of oddities. It was snowing in Seattle--truly a post-Christmas miracle for starters. To continue the string of bizarreness, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles got the start over tortured Bears rookie Justin Fields. And lastly--the oddest of the three--the Bears won thanks to their offense. Lord, strike me down.
In all seriousness, this game sucked for the Seahawks because it showed how flawed they are as a team. To have the Chicago Bears--the most inept offense in the National Football League--waltz into Lumen and drop 18 points in the second half is maddening. That is beyond inexcusable
12s shouldn't even be sad about losing this game--they should be infuriated.
The Defense
I don't care if the Seattle Seahawks have one of the best red-zone defenses in the NFL; they need to fire Ken Norton. How in the hell did Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears--without Allen Robinson, I might add-drop 25 points on the Seattle Seahawks?
Many people have been wondering if the Seahawks were a good or bad defense because the yards they allow contradict their points. I'll let you know right now that they are a lousy defense--horrible even.
Robert Nkemdiche makes a tackle on David Montgomery (Rod Mar)
There is no single good defense in the entirety of pro football that would allow the 2021 Chicago Bears to score 25 points and win on a two-point conversion.
They got to that point because of a Mooney catch-and-run for 30 yards at the beginning of the drive--it also doesn't hurt that the Bears benefited from the softest roughing the passer call I've seen in my entire life. That doesn't matter, though. They let the Bears get in that situation because of the defense's inability to make peewee-level tackles.
Third Down Woes
Most professional football teams are at an advantage on defense when they get their opponent in third-and-long situations--not the 2021 Seattle Seahawks!
The Seahawks defense would play good defense for two straight downs--and in some cases, they got a reassuring tackle for loss or a sack. But, once it was third-and-forever, the defense completely forgot how to play.
Former Seahawk Jimmy Graham hauls in game-winning touchdown (photo from the Chicago Bears)
When the Bears scored the last touchdown on a beautiful pass from Nick Foles to Jimmy Graham on a third-and-long, it spelled the end for Seahawks defense.
It's Time to Move on From Ken Norton Jr.
Say what you will about Ken Norton Jr., but he doesn't deserve to be a defensive coordinator in the NFL. For three straight seasons, the Seahawks defense has been one of the worst in yards allowed per game--this year, they're the worst.
People thought he would keep his job because of how well the Seahawks red zone defense was--until today.
The Chicago Bears were coming into this game as arguably the worst offense in the NFL. Yet somehow, Norton could make Nick Foles look like John Elway during The Drive the whole second half.
I third-and-longs were one thing, but to let an offense like the Chicago Bears overcome the supposed underrated defense of the Seahawks is downright embarrassing.
Do yourself a favor, Coach Norton, and resign. It'll be less painful than having your ass thrown out of the facility.
Carlos Dunlap and Bobby Wagner Shine
Bobby Wagner tackles David Montgomery on his record-setting day (Rod Mar)
There were some positives today on the defense, believe it or not. Carlos Dunlap had another massive game with two sacks, forcing a fumble recovered by Chicago. It would've been nice if he played all year as he has in the last two games. Wagner also broke his Seahawks single-season tackling record today--congrats, Bobby!
That's it. That's all the positive things I have to say about the defense.
Wait, I lied. Rasheem Green and Jordyn Brooks were good too.
Now I'm done.
The Pattern Continues
Way back earlier in the season, when I still had hope for this team, I brought up a pattern that disturbed me--the Seahawks were oddly only capable of playing one half of football a game.
In weeks two and three, we saw this when they started incredibly well and then squandered the game away against the Titans and Vikings.
After the Seahawks had a strong first half, this ugly pattern of inconsistency reared its hideous face again tonight.
They lead 17-7 going into the second half, but they completely blew it by letting the worst offense in the NFL get the better of them--Am I acting like a broken record? I feel like I'm acting like a broken record.
This pattern that has consumed the Seahawks all season is a product of their inability to grow as a team. How have they not figured out how to fix that problem? I have no idea. The Seahawks always seemed to fix their problems as the season went along. This year--the year from hell--has proven otherwise to me.
The Offense
Oh God, where do I start here?
Rashaad Penny goes on the nice list because of another phenomenal game on the ground with over 125 rushing yards and a touchdown--he has truly been a good contributor in the backfield since Collins and Carson began missing time.
Russell Wilson was also not terrible today. He found DK Metcalf and Gerald Everett for touchdowns and was able to keep the ball out of the Bears' hands. He, too, gets some praise.
I praise these two because they are the only ones that consistently made positive contributions to the team in the second half.
DK Metcalf had a tremendous 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Then he disappeared for the remainder of the game. I know his ankle has been bothering him all year, but that's not the issue. The issue is that he and Russ aren't on the same wavelength.
DK Metcalf catches a touchdown in the snow (Rod Mar)
Tyler Lockett also looked horrible today. I guess he gets a bit of a break because he had just come off the COVID list, and it was a short week for the 'Hawks, but still.
Send Jason Meyers Away With Ken Norton Jr.
What a fall from grace Jason Meyers has been. He was so excellent last season. Now he can't be relied on to score more than one field goal a season. Had he made a simple 39-field goal--remember, folks, he gets paid millions of dollars to kick a ball--we would've won. I'm sorry, I thought Blair Walsh left the Seahawks years ago. I didn't know he was back.
Jokes aside, Jason Meyers has been terrible this season, and he's been hurting his team. God, I miss Steven Haushka.
It is time for the Seahawks to blow it up. The Bears played a good game today, but they shouldn't have. When I think of this game as the Seahawks not having enough firepower to outscore the Bears, I shudder. How is that possible? I don't know. I gave up a long time ago--but you already knew that. I’m getting tired of writing all of these losing articles, it sucks. Maybe as a late Christmas gift, Santa will take the Seahawks coaching staff with him up to the North Pole--and Jason Meyers too please. Go 'Hawks!