One-Dimensional Passing Game Continues to Ground Seahawks in 17-Point Loss to Bears
On pace for over 2,000 receiving yards, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been nothing short of spectacular for the Seahawks. But further evidenced in Monday's blowout loss to the Bears, the team hasn't been able to get anyone else going in the passing game, a big part of their unexpected mediocrity.
SEATTLE, Wash. - On pace for over 2,000 receiving yards, nobody should blame Sam Darnold for always having eyes on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year and arguably the best receiver in the sport.
But for as dominant as Smith-Njigba has been once again in 2026, there's a balancing act that has to be played for an NFL offense to hum at full capacity, as a receiver of that talent should make it easier for other players to get open given the attention dedicated to trying to stop him. And on the heels of a disheartening 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Seattle Seahawks continue to fail in that department.
As he has done in all but one game so far this season, Smith-Njigba again eclipsed the 100-yard mark on Monday night, leading the Seahawks with 118 receiving yards and catching a 43-yard touchdown from Darnold. But 92 of those yards came before halftime, and the team had a total of two receiving yards from other receivers, tight ends, and running backs before halftime.
No, that's not a typo. Darnold's three completions that went to someone other than Smith-Njigba netted two yards in the opening two quarters as Seattle managed to score just nine points.
"We didn't do the things on offense that we need to be able to do to play Seahawk football," coach Mike Macdonald said post-game. "We got similar questions throughout the beginning of the season on where we're falling short, but to me it's inputs. If we're playing the way that we're supposed to and we're running off the rock and targeted right and we're dialed in on what we should be doing, we're way more efficient, and then the ball is distributed more evenly. So that's where we need to put our focus."
There's truth to what Macdonald said, as the Seahawks didn't run near enough plays to provide the opportunities needed for complementary receivers to have much production. In the first half, four of their six possessions ended with five or fewer yards and only one of those drives wasn't a three-and-out, as the Bears got called for a facemask penalty after a Jeffery Simmons sack.
