As I begin writing this column I want you to know that I have no pick on tonight’s game between two quality teams, the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. I also want you to know that I often do my best thinking while writing, so I’m not eliminating the possibility that by the time I get to the end of this column I will have a clear picture on who is going to win tonight’s game and by how many.
What we have here is the defending Super Bowl Champion against a Chicago team that thinks this is their year. Through the first seven weeks of action the Bears have the top rushing team in football, averaging more than 154 yards on the ground per game.
The Seattle defense, which is their calling card and prevented the Kansas City Chiefs even a trip into the redzone last week, is ranked sixth in the league against the run. The Seahawks also rank first in the NFL against the pass. The Bears in those defensive categories rank third against the run and 18th against the pass.
But consider this, one of the reasons the Bears passing defense is not ranked in the top ten is because they have had trouble putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. When an NFL passer has time to throw, he usually finds a successful target.
This week, the Bears clearly indicated that this is their year and they are going to do whatever it takes to make them champions at Super Bowl LXI. For the first time in history a team has served up two first round draft choices to acquire a defensive tackle in a trade when they acquired Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans.
Too much for a defensive tackle?
Only if it is not the last piece in a Super Bowl puzzle.
Simmons may just be that. He is a force on the line against both the rush and even more important for Chicago needs putting pressure and sacking opposing quarterbacks. The offering “too much” was the way Chicago General Manager Ryan Poles could interest Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi. The two general managers also know each other well, they both served on the Kansas City staff together for a dozen seasons, 2009 to 2021.
The addition of Simmons to the Bears from purely a personnel perspective is game, set, match.
Will that newly acquired dominance show itself tonight when they meet the defending champions on their home turf?
The Seahawks have the best defense west of Minnesota and are in a battle in the talented NFC West Division chasing the San Francisco 49ers and looking to fend off the revitalized Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco had a bye this week, so the Seahawks could take advantage of tonight to slice a half-game off San Francisco’s two game division lead.
Last week’s impressive win over the Chiefs was notice to the rest of the NFL that last year’s champs are not to be counted out this season.
The Bears are also in a highly competitive division where all four teams have winning records in the NFC North. The Vikings dropped their first game of the season yesterday to division rival Detroit, and a win by the Bears tonight would bring them to within one game of the front runners. A loss in Seattle would drop Chicago behind the Lions and in last place tied with the Green Bay Packers.
Last place in the NFC North is a 5-3 winning record. First place in the NFC South is a 3-4 record. One can see that when you are playing out of either the West or North in the NFC divisions, winning is really, really important.
Both teams need this game tonight based on standings alone.
Both are good enough to win it.
After a game is over, the winner appears obvious most times.
Of course, the Seahawks won. They were home and needed the game to close in on the first place 49ers. After all, they have the best defense in this game and a passing game that can take advantage of the Bears 18th ranked pass defense.
Of course, the Bears won. This is their year and the trade for Simmons this week shows how the organization is all in on this being the first Super Bowl champion in Chicago since the 1985 Bears.
Of course, the winner will appear likely after this contest is over. But before they kick off, I still don’t have a side that offers a wagering edge.