Bears vs. Seahawks: Biggest storylines ahead of Week 17 matchup

The Chicago Bears will be taking on the Seattle Seahawks in a prime-time Thursday night matchup at Soldier Field, where the home team is likely to be embarrassed in front of thousands of diehard Bears fans.

Chicago continues their epic fall from grace, losing a franchise record nine consecutive games in one season, and the streak is projected to be extended to 10 following tonight’s contest. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are sitting at the top of the competitive NFC West, and they’re looking to finish their season strong and punch their ticket for the playoffs. The Seahawks will not be taking the downtrodden Bears lightly, which means the navy blue and orange will have to elevate their play to a level not seen since Week 6 if they want to play spoiler to their opponent’s ambitions.

Chicago has the odds stacked against them tonight, so let’s break down the three biggest storylines ahead of Bears vs. Seahawks in Week 17.

1. What issues will continue to persist this week?

In past renditions of this article, I would pose the more optimistic version of this question, that being “can the Bears snap their losing streak?” That naivety has been bludgeoned into a more pessimistic view of the team, and coming away with a win doesn’t even enter the realm of possibility in my mind. Chicago will inevitably tumble over their inadequacies and doom their chances long before the clock hits zero, so my question now pertains to what mistakes the Bears will commit that allow their opponent to come out on top.

The honest answer to that question is there will be many errors made, and they’ll all happen simultaneously. On offense, for example, a whiffed block will cause rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to go into scramble mode and try and save the play, and he’ll end up fumbling in his haste and give Seattle a short field. Defensively, the Bears might force a third-and-long, and a defender may be a tick too slow defending the checkdown leaking out of the backfield, resulting in a demoralizing first down conversion that any competent team would have stopped. Whether it’s these specific scenarios or a slight deviation, it’s not a matter of “if” the Bears will screw up, only “when.” It does not bring me any joy to be so bitter about my favorite football team, but the Bears have demonstrated nothing but dysfunction these last couple of months, so dysfunction is the only thing that can be realistically expected.

2. Will the offense be able to build on last week’s positive outing?

As abysmal as the team has been, a silver lining can be discerned if you look hard enough. It’s true that Chicago has been beaten bloody over the last few weeks, but the offense did take one step forward in their Week 16 outing against the Lions, orchestrating an awe-inspiring two (2!) touchdown drives. Both scoring drives came just before the end of the first half, which is another accolade that Chicago has struggled to accomplish of late– finding the endzone in the first half. It was all for naught last week, as they already were in an insurmountable 20-0 hole by the time they got their first score, but evidence of some growth is there. Williams’ unit scored on two consecutive drives in the first 30 minutes of a game, and that is likely the biggest win they’ll get the rest of the year.

Some due praise has been given, and now it’s time for constructive feedback. The Bears are in desperate need of an offensive jolt at the beginning of games, and they have to find a way to sustain drives early. Seattle will likely waste no time knocking Chicago’s defense to the side on their way to an early score, and the Bears cannot afford to play catch up. They would be in a really good spot if they’re able to obtain an early lead; it would give all three phases a needed boost of momentum.

3. Can the defense take advantage of Seahawks mistakes?

An early lead would put the Bears in an advantageous position, but maintaining it is just as important. Chicago’s defense will be tasked with keeping the lid on an explosive, yet inconsistent Seattle offense, but it’s doubtful whether they are up to the job. The once formidable Bears’ defense has been downright putrid, giving up at least 30 points in the last three games. The innate talent the defense possesses has long given way to mental fatigue and a lack of drive to compete at the highest level.

I’d estimate that the only thing the players are competing for is individual accolades, which gives them a prime opportunity against the error-prone Seahawks. QB Geno Smith has thrown three interceptions just in the last couple weeks alone, and that may entice the secondary to give an extra effort to come away with one of their own. Seattle may gash Chicago on the ground and through the air, but a couple pivotal takeaways can give the Bears firm control of the game. It won’t be a defensive masterclass but producing a key turnover or two may be all the Bears need to come away with an implausible win.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Seahawks: Biggest storylines ahead of Week 17 matchup