Jason Myers kicked two field goals and Seattle’s defense did the rest as the Seahawks kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 6-3 victory against the host Chicago Bears on a rainy Thursday night at Soldier Field.
The Seahawks (9-7) pulled within a half-game of the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams (9-6). Seattle, which has already been eliminated from wild-card contention, is rooting for the Rams to lose to the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night. That would set up a winner-take-all finale between the Seahawks and Rams next weekend at SoFi Stadium.
Seattle sacked Bears quarterback Caleb Williams seven times, allowed just 179 total yards and grabbed a game-clinching interception in the final seconds.
Myers kicked a 27-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive and added a 50-yarder with 21 seconds left in the first half to make it 6-3.
The Bears’ Cairo Santos booted a 42-yard field goal with 2:32 left in the second quarter to tie the score at 3-all.
The Seahawks were without starting running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle), who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day. Zach Charbonnet rushed for a game-high 57 yards on 15 carries in his place, and Kenny McIntosh added 46 yards on seven attempts.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith, hobbled by a knee injury, completed 17 of 23 passes for 160 yards and didn’t commit a turnover.
The Bears (4-12) took their 10th consecutive loss, a streak that began when they allowed a Hail Mary on the last play in an 18-15 loss to the host Washington Commanders on Oct. 27.
Williams finished 16 of 28 for 122 yards and the one pick. D’Andre Swift rushed for 53 yards on 12 attempts, and DJ Moore made six catches for 54 yards.
It appeared Williams might lead the Bears to a late score, as he converted a pair of mid-range passes in the final 2:15.
Facing an all-out blitz, he hit Moore for 14 yards on fourth-and-5 from Chicago’s 35, then scrambled and found Rome Odunze between three defenders for a 15-yard gain on third-and-14.
Facing fourth-and-10 with 20 seconds left from Seattle’s 40, the Bears eschewed a potential tying 57-yard field-goal try, and Williams’ wobbly pass under pressure from Coby Bryant’s cornerback blitz was intercepted by Riq Woolen to seal the outcome.
The fans at Soldier Field got one chance to cheer late in the third quarter.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon dragged down Seattle tight end Pharaoh Brown after a 4-yard reception, got up with the ball and jogged 62 yards to the end zone with seemingly all the Seahawks thinking the play was over. Referee Scott Novak announced the call on the field was the ball came loose and raised his hands above his head to signal a touchdown, sending the fans into a frenzy, but a video review determined Gordon was down by contact after recovering the fumble.
–Field Level Media
