Seahawks-Bears showdown is filled with intriguing storylines

The Seattle Seahawks’ primetime showdown against the Chicago Bears on Monday night could have significant implications on the NFC playoff picture, with both teams among the conference’s top contenders.

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And on top of that, this matchup is filled with intriguing storylines. Here’s a look at a few of them.

Mike Macdonald vs. Ben Johnson

With Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on one side and Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the other, it’ll be a clash between two of the NFL’s top play callers. Macdonald is the first head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as his team’s primary defensive play caller, while Johnson is regarded as one of the league’s top offensive minds.

In fact, the Seahawks reportedly interviewed Johnson twice back in January 2024 before he opted to remain the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator for one more season. Seattle then ultimately landed on Macdonald, who guided the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title in his second season at the helm.

Johnson, meanwhile, was named Chicago’s head coach in January 2025 and guided the Bears to an 11-6 record and an NFC North title last season, which marked a major step forward from Chicago’s 5-12 campaign in 2024. The Bears are off to a 5-2 start this fall.

This will be the third time Macdonald and Johnson have squared off as opposing play callers. In 2023, Macdonald had his way in a 38-6 Ravens win over the Lions. Early in the 2024 season, Johnson returned the favor in a 42-29 Lions win over the Seahawks.

Caleb Williams vs. the ‘Dark Side’

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams missed three games earlier this season with a hamstring injury, but he’s been one of the league’s best signal callers when healthy.

Among qualified quarterbacks, Williams ranks second in ESPN’s QBR metric, second in completion rate (71%) and fourth in yards per pass attempt (8.2). And in each of the three full games he’s played, Chicago has scored 30-plus points.

Meanwhile, Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense has been as dominant as ever, especially after holding Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes to one of the worst performances of his career last week.

The Seahawks have allowed a league-low 3.99 yards per play this season, which makes them just the fourth defense since 2000 to yield fewer than 4.0 yards per play through the first seven games, according to Stathead. Seattle’s pass defense has been particularly stifling, surrendering a league-low 5.2 yards per pass attempt – which is nearly a full yard better than any other team.

Williams’ lone game against the Seahawks didn’t go well, with Seattle sacking him seven times in a 6-3 win in Week 17 of 2024. However, that came during Williams’ up-and-down rookie season and prior to Johnson taking over as Chicago’s head coach.

This was almost the NFC title game matchup

The Bears were nearly the Seahawks’ opponent in the NFC Championship Game this past January.

In the NFC Divisional round the week prior, the Bears took the Los Angeles Rams to overtime thanks to Williams’ miraculous, backpedaling, game-tying touchdown pass in the closing seconds of regulation. And in OT, the Bears got a stop on defense and were nearing field-goal range.

However, Williams then threw a costly interception and the Rams drove downfield for a game-winning field goal, which sent them to Seattle for the NFC title game.

Quenton Williams vs. Jeffery Simmons

The Seahawks and Bears each swung a blockbuster trade this past week. Seattle acquired three-time All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts, while Chicago acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans. And on Monday night, the two perennial Pro Bowlers will line up against each other in the trenches as they debut with their new teams.

Nelson and Simmons – two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions – are already very familiar with each other from their time in the AFC South. They have squared off 13 times since 2019, including just two weeks ago in the Titans’ win over the Colts.

“I was like, man, can’t get away from this guy,” Nelson joked when asked about his reaction to the Bears landing Simmons.

It’s not often that a matchup between an interior offensive lineman and a defensive tackle takes center stage, but that figures to be the case Monday night.

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Big Ray: Quenton Nelson changes ‘the temperature’ for Seattle Seahawks
• Salk: After blockbuster trade, should the Seahawks make another move?
• Macdonald reveals how Seahawks will shuffle OL after Quenton Nelson trade

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