Make New York Post a Preferred Source Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a first down. Steph Chambers/Getty Images We expected a colossal meeting between the Bears and Seahawks on “Monday Night Football,” but recent trades on both sides have turned it into appointment viewing.
The Seahawks started the week by striking a deal with the Colts, shipping off two draft picks to acquire three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and solidify the protection for Sam Darnold.
Not to be outdone, the Bears made a huge splash in the first major blockbuster of the Ryan Poles era, acquiring All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons from the Titans in exchange for three future draft picks to bolster its front line.
Even with the flurry of high-profile trades leading up to “MNF,” sportsbooks have kept Seattle holding firm as a 3-point favorite, with both Nelson and Simmons set to make their team debuts.
Beyond both teams making headlines off the field, they currently sit in a very tight NFC Wild Card race. The Bears are 0-2 in division play, but are 5-0 against teams outside the NFC North.
Williams remains one of the league’s most potent signal callers, leading Ben Johnson’s high-powered offense, which leads the NFL in rushing yards (154.3 per game) and ranks third in total yards per game (409.1).
It’s simple: the Bears operate best when they connect on splash plays early, then drain the clock and feed De’Andre Swift, who registered a season-high 22 totes in their 30-24 win over the Patriots in Week 7.
The issue with that approach in this matchup is that Mike MacDonald’s championship defense is hard-pressed against the run and ranks second in defensive EPA per play per Football Savant, allowing only 89.4 on the ground to the opposition.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) and D’Andre Swift (4) celebrate a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Getty Images In Week 7, Seattle completely neutralized Kenneth Walker III, limiting him to just 36 yards on 14 carries, while holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to just 3 points in a 17-point win.
The Seahawks also get after the quarterback, ranking second in pressure rate (45.2%) behind Minnesota, who gave Williams fits before he exited in the Bears’ low-scoring Week 2 loss to the Vikings.
How wide Johnson’s playbook expands against MacDonald’s defense will be key, but the Bears must also develop a plan to contain Jaxon Smith-Njigba defensively.
Smith-Njigba has topped 100-plus receiving yards in six of Seattle’s seven games this season and excels against man coverage, which the Bears deploy at the league’s third-highest rate.
Whether it be his route running or contested catch ability, the Bears secondary will be tested, and with Nelson now manning the offensive line, Darnold can afford more time in the pocket.
Chicago is also susceptible to receivers who can operate on the outside, allowing 11.3 yards per touch, per Sharp Football Analysis, making this advantage JSN.
The Seahawks’ 4-3 record doesn’t account for the fact that each loss they’ve suffered this season has been by a field goal or less.
While the move for Simmons may help the Bears in the long run, I think Seattle’s strong primetime performance a week ago against Kansas City carries into Monday night.
The PLAY: SGP (+170, BetMGM) — Seahawks moneyline (-175) + Jaxon Smith-Njigba to score a TD (-105)
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
