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Monday Night Football Predictions: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears


by - 9/12/2018

Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks

Glad I went with my gut when choosing last week's Monday night game to preview. Early in the week, I was leaning Jets-Lions because I thought the Sam Darnold angle was interesting and was pretty confident that Detroit would win as rookie QBs historically lose in their first road start. However, I opted to skip that game because the Rams were the better bet in the late matchup in Oakland. That proved wise because L.A. did easily cover vs. the Raiders, although we missed on the total - giving us 1-1 marks on all three game previews in Week 1.

There are no choices the rest of the Monday night schedule (barring some sort of hurricane postponement or something) with just one game each week. It's another NFC West team on the road this Monday as Seattle visits Chicago, with the loser looking at a 0-2 start - which usually means missing the playoffs. Frankly, I didn't give either the Seahawks or Bears much of a postseason shot regardless. Not much changed after watching each lose on the road in Week 1.

The Seahawks have won the past three in this series (most recently in 2015), but take little from that as those Seattle teams were excellent and those Bears teams largely stunk. These franchises are trending in different directions in 2018 and forward. This is Chicago's last scheduled prime-time game of the year. Seattle has a bunch more.

Seahawks at Bears Betting Story Lines

Both teams could easily be 1-0. Seattle played decent in Denver last Sunday but lost 27-24. Demaryius Thomas caught a 4-yard pass from Case Keenum with 11:11 left for the winning score in a game that had been back-and-forth all day. Seattle was horrific in three offensive series, though, after the Broncos took the lead. The Seahawks' final three possessions were: four plays, five yards and punt; three plays, minus-4 yards and punt; and four plays, two yards and interception.

Russell Wilson, who was responsible for all but one Seattle touchdown last year (an NFL record), threw for three scores but was picked off twice. His offensive line is absolutely terrible, and Wilson was sacked six times and hit/rushed many others. He fumbled twice, but both were recovered. As it is, Wilson doesn't have a great group of skill position players, and his top receiver, Doug Baldwin, hurt an MCL and will miss at least a few weeks. That means more of guys like Tyler Lockett, Brandon Marshall, Jaron Brown and rookie tight end Will Dissly. Not good. Dissly will be a popular fantasy pickup this week after catching three balls for 105 yards and a score.

The Bears absolutely should be 1-0 as they led in Green Bay 17-0 at halftime and had knocked Aaron Rodgers from the game to a knee injury. New addition Khalil Mack had a half for the ages with sack, forced fumble and interception return for a touchdown. Chicago took a 20-0 lead at 9:14 of the third, but then Matt Nagy essentially went into offensive prevent mode - frankly, some truly puzzling play-calls. Rodgers returned and threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes (the last never happens if Bears to CB Kyle Fuller doesn't drop the easiest interception of his life) in the 24-23 stunner.

While that loss was a true gut-punch, Mack was a huge positive. He was gassed in the second half since he missed all of camp but should be much better in Week 2. Ditto rookie first-round linebacker Roquan Smith, who barely played after missing all of camp and then dealing with a hamstring injury. The Chicago running game had 139 yards and a TD on 27 carries. Mitchell Trubisky looked legit in the first half before Nagy started calling for screen pass after screen pass - Trubisky finished averaging just 4.89 yards per attempt. You have to throw the ball downfield occasionally.

Seahawks at Bears Betting Odds and Trends

At 5Dimes , Chicago is a 3-point favorite (-125) with a total of 43.5. On the moneyline, the Bears are -175 and Seahawks +155. On the alternate lines, Chicago is -3.5 (+100) and -2.5 (-150). The Seahawks are 0-0-1 against the spread (same on road) and 1-0 "over/under." The Bears are 1-0 ATS (first home game) and 1-0 O/U.

Seattle is 8-3-1 ATS in its past 12 on Monday. The Seahawks have failed to cover their past four September games. The Bears are 6-2 ATS in their past eight on Monday. They are 9-3-1 ATS in the previous 13 overall at home. The under is 9-3 in Seattle's past 12 vs. the NFC. It's 6-1 in Chicago's past seven. Seattle is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

 

Seahawks at Bears Betting Prediction

Should be quite the crowd at Soldier Field as there is actual excitement around this team for the first time in years. Plus, the club will honor legendary linebacker and new Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher at halftime. He will be inducted into the team's Ring of Excellence. Mack should dominate that Seattle O-Line. Take Chicago on the alternate line of -2.5 and go under.

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