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Thursday's NFL game versus the Chicago Bears is crucial for the Seattle Seahawks though the Chicago Bears have something to prove here as well.
Seattle has lost their last two games following a four-game win streak. Chicago comes into this one losers of nine straight games.
The Seahawks will need Geno Smith to be at his very best here and not fall into the trap of believing a game against these lowly Bears will be a cake walk.
Geno Smith comes into this one listed with a passing yards total of 248.5 at Skybook.
Smith completed 31-of-43 attempts for 315 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the Seahawks’ Week 16 loss against the Vikings, adding one rush for eight yards.
Before that. Smith completed 24-of-30 attempts for 233 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 14 win against the Cardinals.
“None of that really matters right now,” the 34-year-old quarterback said Tuesday after being asked to assess his play of late.
“I’m just focused on the next game.”
The Seahawks are a flawed team and Smith played with an injury last week against a 13-2 Vikings team.
He threw two interceptions. The first one was to avoid a sack on scrimmage play after Minnesota scored a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead in the first half. That gave the Vikings three points.
He got sacked twice.
Coach Mike MacDonald was willing to assess Smith's performance after that loss.
“Geno is our top competitor on our football team,” MacDonald said. “We’re not sitting here with life at the end of December unless Geno has done the things he’s done. He’s a fighter, man.
“I thought he played a good game.”
MacDonald spoke more extensively the other day.
“I thought he played good enough to win the game,” Macdonald said.
“He did some really great things. You know, if we get a stop when we’re up four in the end of the fourth quarter, we’re having a different conversation right now.
“Everybody wants to talk about the interceptions, and rightfully so, and those are things that we’re working through. But I mean, one of the reasons that we’re here with life…is I really felt that Geno’s helped put us in this position.
“So, I thought he played a strong game.”
Seahawks Playoff Chances
The Seahawks can be eliminated in Week 17 even with a win. With a loss and a Rams win over Arizona, Seattle is out of the playoff picture.
But even with a win, the Rams are in provided they have a victory over Arizona and the following each occurs:
Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers
Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers beat the Detroit Lions
Washington Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons
Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos
Cleveland Browns beat the Miami Dolphins
Sucker Line?
76% of those betting the Seahawks-Bears spread are backing Seattle with a line now at -3.5, up from -2.5.
Sagarin gives us a number of Seattle 2.26, indicating an accurate line before and an overlay now.
Comparables
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Washington -2.5 to -3.5 Houston (road favorite Washington covers and wins) Wash 2.70 On the Money - Road favorite covers.
There is not enough of a sample size to make an accurate prediction here based on previous games.
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