Thursday Night Football turned into a Thursday Night beatdown this week as the Chicago Bears won their second preseason game of the exhibition season 27-11 over the Seattle Seahawks. Bears sophomore quarterback Justin Fields only played one drive, but that’s all Chicago really needed. A 14-0 run in the second quarter extended the Bears’ lead to 17 at halftime, and the deficit was too big for Seattle’s reserves to close.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock was supposed to start this game against Geno Smith as the two continue their positional battle, but the former Denver Bronco went down with COVID-19 this week, so Smith started again in his place.
Smith played the entire first half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards, and recorded what was an up and down performance. Head coach Pete Carroll said before the game that Smith would play in the third quarter, but the quarterback came out of the locker room after halftime with his right knee wrapped and Jacob Eason took over instead.
Chicago won in all three facets of the game. The offense was more consistent, the defense sometimes bent, but didn’t break, and special teams created multiple splash plays. Let’s take a look at what happened in Seattle on Thursday night.
Geno Smith isn’t running away with QB competition
With Lock sidelined due to COVID-19, Smith once again started at quarterback. Many expected this to be the time the vet would run away with quarterback competition, but it didn’t happen.
We saw good and bad in the Seahawks offense, and it wasn’t entirely Smith’s fault. On a first-half drive, the Seahawks converted a fourth-and-2 at the Bears 34-yard line to reach the 22-yard line, but an illegal use of hands penalty nullified the game and knocked Seattle out of the game. ground. range of goals. The very next practice, Jason Myers missed a 47-yard field goal attempt after the Seahawks had a first-and-a-10 from the Bears 27-yard line a few plays earlier.
Smith missed a few through passes and also stumbled on his own running back game for a big loss. He had a few good throws that picked up big yardage, but that didn’t change the fact that the Seahawks were outscored 17-0 in the first half and the boo birds were out in Seattle.
Our best guess is that Smith eventually wins the job, but he didn’t exactly do so on Thursday night. A fan came prepared for a lackluster attacking performance.
Justin Fields decent in limited action
Fields played just one practice Thursday night, completing 5 of 7 passes for 39 yards. Again, the offensive line didn’t really help Fields early on. He was under duress on almost every passing play, but the Bears rushed for 52 yards in 10 plays to score a field goal — the game’s first points.
When Fields has time to throw, however, he looks good. Check out this 19-yard connection with tight end Cole Kmet.
A couple of things to note from that first practice: The Bears went into action on almost every passing play. Also, five plays into possession, the offense faced a fourth and a 2. Fields then did a good job of drawing Darrell Taylor offside to keep the player alive.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett make surprise appearances
ESPN didn’t expect Seattle’s two best wide receivers to play, but to the surprise of the broadcast team and just about everyone, Metcalf and Lockett trotted down the field for the first possession of the game by Seattle. However, neither were targeted and the Seahawks went three times.
Bears rookie WR/PR Velus Jones Jr. flashes
Many don’t see Chicago as having one of the NFL’s elite bodies, but keep an eye out for the Tennessee rookie. Even though Jones Jr. doesn’t have an impact catching the ball in freshman, he can play the role of returner.
Check out this 48-yard punt return that Jones Jr. took on the sideline in the first quarter:
Bears special teams touchdown
While the Bears looked good on punts, the Seahawks weren’t. Seattle missed a punt last week and had another on Thursday night that actually cost them seven points!
Seahawks LG Damien Lewis injured
It’s not what you want to see in pre-season. Seahawks starting left guard Lewis fell next to Caleb Johnson early in the second quarter, and the show noted his teammates were quick to call for medical personnel as soon as the whistle sounded . According to the Tacoma News Tribune, medical personnel placed a cast on Lewis’ leg/ankle, and he was carried off the field. But there was good news after the game, according to Pete Carroll, who said the X-rays were negative and Lewis had sprained his ankle.
Lewis started in all 13 games he played for the Seahawks last year.
First-round pick LT Charles Cross struggles with penalties
The Seahawks committed five offensive penalties in the first half. Cross had four with three false starts and a waiting penalty. He fired his fifth penalty – another false start – in the third quarter. Playing left tackle – especially as a rookie – is tough. Cross has all the intangibles to be a franchise left tackle, but he won’t make it if he’s going to draw yellow linen often.
And after
The Bears close out the preseason on the road against the Cleveland Browns next Saturday. The Seahawks will also hit the road to face the Dallas Cowboys, wrapping up the exhibition season next Friday.
