Defense steps up for Bears, but offense struggles in 6-3 loss to Seahawks

CHICAGO – Offered defense for the Chicago Bears. It was one of the team’s best performances of the season on that side of the ball.

It’s just not good enough.

“I think we should have held them to three points or zero points at the end of the day,” safety Kevin Byard said.

Byard and Co. they shut out Seattle on Thursday night, limiting Geno Smith and the Seahawks to 265 yards and two Jason Myers field goals. But Chicago finished with just 179 yards of offense in one 6-3 loss.

The Bears (4-12) became the first NFL team to lose by six points or fewer since the Raiders fell 3-0 to the Vikings on Dec. 10, 2023. It was the fourth time in the last 90 of seasons in which the franchise lost a game when it allowed six runs or fewer, joining a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay on October 24, 1999, a 6-3 loss to Denver on December 5, 1971 and 3-0 to the New York Giants on November 17, 1935.

The defense was expected to help the team in its first season since selecting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 in the draft. But he has struggled of late, contributing to a 10-game losing streak since a 4-2 start.

Chicago has allowed an average of 31 points and 422.6 yards of offense over the past five games.

“Our defense has a certain standard and we showed it,” defensive back Kyler Gordon said. “Obviously it sinks a little bit; just to get back on the guys to get back obviously. It is important to know what we can do. Just get in there and execute. We did a lot better today.”

Gordon made a big play with Chicago trailing 6–3 late in the third quarter, stripping Pharaoh Brown on the end of a 4-yard reception. Gordon emerged from a huddle of players with the ball and began running down the field. He was briefly chased by Tyler Lockett before the receiver turned around confused as to what had happened.

It was initially called a 62-yard return for a touchdown, but a replay official ruled that Gordon was down at the Chicago 38.

“It looks like someone touched my leg,” Gordon said. “I don’t know. They have to show me a replay before I believe it.”

Chicago had a first down before Williams was sacked for a 14-yard loss and the drive stalled.

Seattle had a chance to put the game away in the fourth. Smith passed to DK Metcalf for 23 yards to move the Seahawks to their own 40. But Smith’s third-and-6 pass to Zach Charbonnet gained only 2 yards and Seattle gave the ball back to Chicago with about five minutes left .

The Bears sacked Smith three times and the Seahawks went 5-for-13 on third down.

“I think we played our brand of ball today,” Byard said. “The boys flew around. Ky received the turnover. We wanted to get a little more, but I think we flew. We played hard. We know we’re a tough group, but I think the execution was a lot better.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

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