Halftime Observations: Late Fireworks Help Seahawks Cut Deficit, Trail Bears 13-9 on Monday Night Football
For most of the first half, the Seahawks couldn't muster any offense against a motivated Bears defense. But then Jaxon Smith-Njigba struck, putting the home team right back in the mix late in the first half.
SEATTLE, Wash. - Using a 43-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to cut the deficit inside a minute to play, the Seattle Seahawks went into halftime intermission trailing the Chicago Bears 13-9 on Monday Night Football.
Three quick takeaways from Lumen Field:
1. Methodical approach, third down efficiency by Bears end an impressive streak for Seahawks' defense.
It had been nearly two full seasons - 25 games to be exact - since the Seahawks had allowed a touchdown on their opening defensive possession. But the Bears slowly grinded that streak to a halt, conducting an impressive 17-play, 80-yard drive that chewed more than eight minutes of game clock off the scoreboard. Along the way, Caleb Williams completed a 12-yard pass to Colston Loveland on 3rd and 7 and a five-yard pass to Luther Burden on 3rd and 4 to move the chains, as Chicago converted three out of four third downs on the opening series.
Head coach Ben Johnson also rolled the dice in Chicago territory, deciding to go for it on 4th and 1 at the Bears 44-yard line. Deandre Swift took the handoff with great blocking in front, rumbling five yards for an easy conversion. Williams struck again on 3rd and 1 moments later, rolling out to his right to connect with a diving Loveland for a 15-yard pickup. Finishing the drive in the end zone, the athletic quarterback scrambled right again and hit Burden for the one-yard score as the second-year receiver gained just enough separation from safety Nick Emmanwori to avoid a pass breakup.
Chicago managed to move the ball well on two other drives in the first half, marching deep into Seattle territory behind several explosive passes from Williams to Burden, Rome Odunze, and Loveland. But the Seahawks held firm with their backs up against the wall, managing to come up with third down stops to thwart both drives and force the Bears to settle for Cairo Santos field goals, keeping the score within striking distance.
