Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks Matchup Preview (12/26/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks Matchup Preview (12/26/21)

There are striking similarities between these two under-.500 teams this week – both just got eliminated from their chances at the postseason after frustrating regular seasons. The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the Chicago Bears in what amounts to an exhibition game for both teams who will be done with their 2021 season in a few weeks. The Seahawks are coming off of a loss to the Rams where their defense actually gave them a run for their money, but their offense couldn’t get going. They’re 5-9 now and even if they win out, will still have a losing season, which is the first time in the Russell Wilson era that that has happened. The Bears are a bumbling and struggling team who will have a laundry list of things to talk about in the off season, including their coaching and management. They have four wins this season, two of which have come from wins over the Lions.

Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks Betting Odds

The Seahawks are the 6.5-point favorite this week. While neither team has any sort of threatening offense right now, the Seahawks definitely have more in the way of scoring ability; they have a 64.71 red zone scoring percentage versus Chicago’s 48.65%. Chicago has covered one time in their last nine games and are 4-10 on covering this season, among the worst ATS records in the league. They have a 2-5 record at covering on the road and have lost eight of their last nine games. Yikes. The Seahawks have covered five times in their last nine games and 50% of the time this season, twice when they’ve lost. The over/under is set at 43; with both teams having struggled to hit the over this year, I don’t see the over hitting. In their last three games, the Seahawks have averaged 22 points per game versus the Bears’ 13.7 points per game.

My prediction: Seahawks win 24-10, Seahawks cover, under 43

TV Schedule

Date: 12/26/21
Time: 4:05 PM ET
Location: Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
TV Coverage: FOX

Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks Live Stream

Where can you watch Bears vs. Seahawks online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Bears vs. Seahawks Free Online Now.

Chicago Bears Analysis

The Bears are now the fifth NFL team to be eliminated from the postseason this year after their loss to the Vikings last week. Neither team looked good last week, but the Bears looked worse – unorganized, unprepared, and undisciplined. They were plagued by Covid absences on both sides of the ball that included most of their secondary and wide receiver Allen Robinson. Justin Fields was able to put up 320 all-purpose yards which included 35 rushing yards, but couldn’t find the endzone. In four red zone trips, they failed to score a touchdown and garnered a 20% red zone scoring rate. Their offensive line, which has allowed the most sacks in the NFL, allowed four more on Fields last week amidst Covid absences on the line. 

This offense sits dead last in the league in passing yards per game at 182.1 but have managed a decent run game, averaging 125 rushing yards per game. Their RB1, David Montgomery, leads the team in touchdowns and is a big rushing presence in this offense. The Seahawks have struggled to defend the run game, which could give Montgomery an opportunity to put numbers up. 

This pass defense is the best part of this team – they have held teams to just 205 passing yards per game and hold opponents to under 30 passes per game, which is lower than any other defense in the league. They’ll have their secondary back this week which will be necessary against a hot Tyler Lockett who is also returning from Covid quarantine. This defense is third in the league in sacks, led by Robert Quinn who has had an impressive season and garnered 16 sacks so far. The Seahawks’ weak offensive line suggests an opportunity for more sacks by Quinn this week. 

Hopefully for this team’s sake, they get some of their injured/ill players back and healthy, and organize this offense for a more successful performance than last week.

Chicago Bears Depth Chart

QB: Justin Fields
RB1: David Montgomery
RB2: Khalil Herbert
WR1: Darnell Mooney
WR2: Allen Robinson
WR3: Jakeem Grant Sr.
TE1: Cole Kmet
TE2: Jimmy Graham

Seattle Seahawks Analysis

This team is usually guilty of shooting themselves in the foot but this week, the NFL officiators were pulling the trigger. Down 10-17 to the Rams in the end of the fourth quarter on fourth down, the Seahawks went for it on a deep ball to DeeJay Dallas. Ernest Jones was covering, and among the most obvious of pass interference plays I have ever seen, no flag was thrown. It resulted in a turnover on downs that gave the Rams a chance to seal the game plus an extra 15-yard penalty as a result of Dallas’ reaction to the no-call. If the Seahawks get that call, they could have easily tied the game up. Regardless, their effort last week is commendable and despite what the result suggests, they put up a fight.

Carlos Dunlap was the star of the show with three sacks on Matthew Stafford. He was a huge defensive playmaker in an all around solid defensive performance by this Seahawks defense on Tuesday and has improved game over game this year. 2021 pro-bowl member Quandre Diggs had another interception, further proving that he is one of the best free safeties in the league. Usually this defense is the crux of their problems, but they turned it around last game.

The offense on the other hand was atrocious. Russell Wilson had a 54.8% completion rate over 156 yards, an interception, and a QBR of 28.5. He just looked off. He underthrew two key passes to DK Metcalf that would have set them up for scoring opportunities and was all over the place trying to find receivers. His primary target, Tyler Lockett, was out on Covid protocols and it was glaringly obvious how badly he needed him in order to conduct a sound offense. Wilson did not look like he wanted to be there, a common theme from him this year, and the offense really never got going. Lockett should be back in this game though which is grounds for a better offensive performance from Wilson this week. But it won’t be easy – the Bears have one of the best pass defenses in the league, holding teams to just 205 passing yards per game. 

No matter what happens in this game or their last two, they will still end with a losing season, which hasn’t happened since 2011. But with the struggling Bears this week and the Lions next week, they can at least finish on a high note.

Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart

QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Rashaad Penny
WR1: DK Metcalf
WR2: Tyler Lockett
WR3: Freddie Swain
TE1: Gerald Everett
TE2: Will Dissly

Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks Daily Fantasy Picks

Rashaad Penny of Seattle has emerged as a solid option in the Seahawks mediocre running game and has proved he works hard when given the opportunity. His performance against Houston two weeks ago proved so – rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears can’t do much but they can defend the pass well and with a struggling Wilson, this may keep the ball on the ground and in the hands of Penny, who can exploit this defense when he finds a gap. 

The Seahawks give up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, so Cole Kmet could be a good pick this week. Kmet had six catches for 71 yards last week against the Vikings.