Chicago Bears vs Seattle Seahawks Picks and Predictions December 26th 2024

Chicago Bears vs Seattle Seahawks December 26th 2024

Seattle is favored on the road with a money line of -192 as they take on the Bears at 8:15 ET on Thursday, December 26th. The Seahawks are -3.5 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 43.5 points. The Bears are the underdog, and their money line odds are +161. This week 17 NFC matchup is being televised by AMZN.

Seattle vs. Chicago Key Information

• Teams: Seahawks at Bears
• Where: Soldier Field Chicago
• Date: Thursday, December 26th
• Betting Odds SEA -192 | CHI +161 O/U 43.5

The Seahawks Can Win If…

Heading into week 17, the Seahawks have lost two straight games, including a 27-24 home loss to the Vikings in week 16. This dropped Seattle to 8-7 on the season, putting them 9th in the NFC and 19th in our power rankings. They currently have an 18.8% chance of making the playoffs and the same odds of winning the NFC West.

Seattle has been much better on the road this season, going 5-1 compared to 3-6 at home. In terms of their O/U record, they are 8-7, with their games averaging 45.3 points per game. Against the spread, the Seahawks are 6-8-1, with a -0.1 scoring margin.

Heading into week 17, the Seahawks rank 21st in our offensive power rankings. They are 15th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 22.6 points per game, and 14th in total yards with 336.4 per game. Seattle has been pass-heavy, ranking 6th in passing attempts and 4th in passing yards per game, but they are 25th in rushing attempts and 30th in rushing yards. On 3rd down, they rank 23rd with a conversion rate of 36.6%, but they are 5th in red zone conversion percentage.

Geno Smith threw for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 16, despite 2 interceptions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with 8 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Walker III had 31 rushing yards on 8 carries but is questionable for week 17 with an ankle injury. Seattle struggled on 3rd down, converting just 2 of 10 attempts against the Vikings.

Seattle’s defense allowed three passing touchdowns in their 27-24 loss to the Vikings. Despite holding Minnesota to 81 yards rushing on 24 attempts, the Seahawks gave up 217 yards through the air. The defense allowed the Vikings to convert on 25% of their third down attempts.

Seattle’s defense did have three sacks in the game, but they also lost the tackles for loss and quarterback hit differentials. The Seahawks will be looking to tighten up in the secondary and limit big plays in the passing game in their next outing.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Seattle has a record of 1-2. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Seattle has a record of 5-5. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Bears Can Win If…

Chicago’s losing streak now stands at nine games after a 34-17 home loss to the Lions in week 16. The Bears are 4-11 on the season, with their last win coming in week 6 against the Jaguars. They currently sit 22nd in our NFL power rankings and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Chicago is 7-7-1 against the spread this season, but they have failed to cover in three straight games. Their O/U record is 6-9, with their games averaging 41.7 points compared to an average line of 43.2.

Heading into week 17, the Bears rank 26th in our offensive power rankings, scoring 18.9 points per game, which places them 26th in the NFL. They are 31st in total yards, averaging 294.5 per game, and 27th in passing yards with 191.3 per game, despite ranking 11th in passing attempts. On the ground, Chicago ranks 25th in rushing yards per game, with 103.2, on 25.5 attempts per game. They have struggled on third down, converting just 31.7% of their attempts, which ranks 30th in the league. However, they have been efficient in the red zone, converting 45.7% of their trips, which ranks 4th in the NFL.

Caleb Williams has been solid under center, posting a passer rating of 107 in week 16, with 334 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26/40 passing. He has not thrown an interception in his last three games. Keenan Allen had 9 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in week 16, while Williams led the team in rushing with 34 yards on 6 carries. Chicago scored 14 points in the second quarter against the Lions but failed to score in the first or fourth quarters.

In their 34-17 loss to the Lions, the Bears’ defense gave up 475 yards and allowed Detroit to convert on 58.3% of their third down attempts. Chicago struggled to defend the pass, giving up 329 yards through the air, including three touchdowns. The Lions found success in the passing game, averaging 10.3 yards per attempt.

On the ground, Detroit rushed for 146 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. Chicago managed just one sack and lost the quarterback hit and tackles for loss differentials in this game.

• The Bears have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 1-1-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Chicago has a record of 6-4. Against the spread, Chicago went 7-2-1 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Seahawks to cover as road favorites in this week 17 matchup against the Bears. Right now, the line is sitting at -3.5 in favor of the Seahawks, and we have them winning 23-15.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 38 points and the O/U line at 43.5 points.

Seahawks Look to Stay in Playoff Hunt Against Struggling Bears

The Seattle Seahawks face a must-win game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night as they aim to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Playoff Picture

Seattle (8-7) is clinging to postseason aspirations but has no room for error. Even if the Seahawks win their remaining games against the Bears and Los Angeles Rams, they could still miss the playoffs due to the strength-of-victory tiebreaker favoring the Rams.

“We just got to handle our part, which is win out,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “Then, let the chips fall where they fall. Hopefully, we catch a little luck and we can get in there.”

The Seahawks dropped a crucial game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, losing 27-24. Despite a strong performance by quarterback Geno Smith (314 passing yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions), Seattle faltered late, with Jason Myers missing a 60-yard field goal that could have tied the game.

Now, the Seahawks need a win in Chicago to stay in the race.

Facing a Struggling Bears Team

The Bears (4-11) are enduring a nine-game losing streak and recently fell 34-17 to the Detroit Lions. Despite their struggles, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has shown promise, throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit.

“Every snap is valuable,” Williams said. “There are so many different situations that happen throughout games that you can learn from and that I’ve learned from this year.”

Williams has developed a strong connection with rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, who caught four passes for 77 yards against the Lions.

“From the moment you step on the field with a great player like him, you feel that confidence,” Odunze said. “But you’ve got to go out there and prove it on the field and we have to continue to do that.”

Key Injuries

Both teams are dealing with significant injuries heading into Thursday’s matchup.

• Seattle Seahawks: Running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) and tight end Brady Russell (foot) were listed as non-participants in walkthroughs.
• Chicago Bears: Running back Travis Homer (hamstring), left guard Teven Jenkins (calf), and defensive backs Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot) and Tarvarius Moore (knee) were also listed as unable to participate.

Players to Watch

Seahawks:

• Geno Smith: Smith will need to deliver another strong performance as he leads the Seahawks’ offense in a must-win situation.
• DK Metcalf: Seattle’s star receiver could be the difference-maker against a vulnerable Bears secondary.

Bears:

• Caleb Williams: The rookie quarterback has shown flashes of brilliance and will look to take advantage of a Seahawks defense that has been inconsistent.
• Rome Odunze: The young receiver has developed chemistry with Williams and could be a key factor in keeping Chicago competitive.

Don’t miss out on the action—check out Thursday Night Football Odds & Predictions

Game Outlook

The Seahawks are playing for their playoff lives, while the Bears are looking to end their losing streak and build momentum for the future. Despite Chicago’s struggles, Seattle cannot afford to underestimate a team with rising stars like Williams and Odunze.

With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Seahawks will need a complete team effort to come away with a crucial victory.