Leading up to the Chicago Bears' tilt on Monday Night Football, fans have yet to get enough of all the juicy storylines as they get set to take on the Seattle Seahawks.
It'll be a huge road test for the Bears, as they come off a home win over the New England Patriots in Week 7.
That win over the Patriots was the first in a brutal, 2-game stretch against both of last year's Super Bowl teams. And, if the Bears can come away with a win in this one, they'll be making quite the statement.
Before the action, I got a chance to sit down with Seahawks expert Lee Vowell from 12thManRising, and we discussed a few key areas of this Seattle team.
Caleb Williams is on a tear, but the Seahawks defense presents a different challenge
In his two games back from injury, Caleb Williams has posted back-to-back 300-yard games with two touchdowns in each. He's looked surgical in both appearances, but in almost completely different ways.
Against the Falcons, Williams took a lot of the quick and easy completions, proving he could do what a lot of critics said he couldn't in Year 1 and part of Year 2. Against the Patriots, he completed eight passes of over 20 air yards, showcasing a totally different aspect of his game.
He's well-rounded and clearly on his way to being an MVP-caliber quarterback, but he'll face a tough Seahawks defense on Monday night.
Heckman: Caleb Williams has been on a tear in his two games since returning from injury, but the Seahawks defense just stifled Patrick Mahomes in prime time. What makes this defense such a threat against quarterbacks?
Vowell: "In two words: Mike Macdonald. (And to be fair, Mahomes was missing a couple of solid receivers.) But what makes Seattle's defense difficult to succeed against is how non-traditional it is. Players like Nick Emmanwori and Devon Witherspoon can be lined up in different spots, but the creativity of Macdonald and his alignments augments everyone.
"A quarterback constantly having to think about where players are lined up and why makes for a far more challenging matchup. That is especially true when players like Emmanwori can line up anywhere from safety to cornerback to edge rusher and have an impact with their speed."
It sounds like this is an instance where Williams is going to have to take the easy and open reads when they are present. Because there will be so many different looks and possible movement within Macdonald's defense, Williams is going to need to be keen on finding those very players, Emmanwori and Witherspoon, before each snap.
Rome Odunze could hit a soft spot in the Seahawks' defense
You could argue this Seahawks defense is the second-best unit in the NFL aside from Minnesota. Seattle ranks no. 1 in opponent's yards per game and no. 4 in scoring. They're exceptionally well-rounded.
So, I had to ask Lee if he saw any potential weakness in Macdonald's unit.
Heckman: Do you see any weakness or even a semi-soft spot in the Seahawks' defense that could be taken advantage of?
Vowell: "Cornerback is still a bit of a concern. Witherspoon has seen more reps on the outside this season, but that is because players like Josh Jobe have been, at times, mercurial. Letting Riq Woolen leave in free agency didn't seem like a big deal, but he has been missed. A big receiver can take advantage of Jobe, and that should be something to watch on Monday Night Football."
It appears as though this could be another game we see Rome Odunze put a feather in his cap and take additional steps forward. He's the big-bodied wide receiver in this Bears offense. He's the one who could give Josh Jobe some issues.
With Devon Witherspoon likely tasked with guarding Luther Burden III on several occasions, Ben Johnson has to try and scheme up situations where Odunze can be allowed to play one-on-one with Jobe.
And then, Caleb Williams will just trust his guy to make the play.
Last week, we saw Williams go to Odunze early, and the receiver stumbled with an offensive pass interference on the same play he dropped a would-be touchdown. It wasn't pretty, and it was also shades of similar mistakes we've seen from Odunze this year.
His fourth quarter against the Patriots, though, was another story. Odunze redeemed himself in a major way. If he can come up with a couple of big moments against the Seahawks, and keep this momentum going, that gives the Bears a chance against this defense.
Bears defense will need all hands on deck in stopping Jaxon Smith-Njigba
If you have yet to go look at what Jaxon Smith-Njigba has done to the rest of the NFL lately, you might just want to leave that idea alone. It's been terrifying, we'll leave it at that.
Trying to stop Smith-Njigba, this season, has been like taming a lion for opposing defensive coordinators. It's borderline-impossible unless you are one with the very specific set of skills to do so, and this Bears secondary simply may not have those skills.
Dennis Allen, on the other hand, is plenty-skilled and will do his best.
Heckman: Is there any stopping JSN?
Vowell: "Smith-Njigba can definitely be slowed, but it takes a lot of focus on him and a game-long approach. He could have a relatively quiet first half and then have a huge second half. Covering him with one cornerback in man coverage is a mistake, so safety help is a must. In zone coverage, the receiver is smart enough to know where the holes are.
"The keys to his success are his elite route-running and his leg strength. He is built more like a running back than a receiver, so while he isn't big, he is strong, and tacklers can bounce off of him."
If the Bears play anything like they did on a few plays last week against the Patriots, they're in trouble. Smith-Njigba is a different breed. Safeties Dillon Thieneman and Cam Lewis are going to have to be on their game and take stronger angles than we've seen on some occasions, this season.
Chicago isn't going to be able to handle JSN with just one cornerback, but I would look for Malik Muhammad to be the one who gives him the most fits, assuming he's out there and healthy. Muhammad is the most physical of the group and gives them the best chance to hold him in check, but the Bears will need safety help on each and every Smith-Njigba target.
If it comes down to Jaylon Johnson or Tyrique Stevenson handling the bulk of the snaps against Smith-Njigba, the Bears could be in significant trouble.
In other words: the Bears absolutely must pressure Sam Darnold and limit Smith-Njigba's time on route.
Dennis Allen has the recipe to shake Sam Darnold
Most would agree that the Seahawks are only going to go as far as Sam Darnold takes them. Right on cue with where we left off above, I had a feeling I knew where Lee was going with this question on Darnold's areas of vulnerability.
Heckman: Where do you see Sam Darnold most vulnerable?
Vowell: "The easy answer is interior pressure. While all quarterbacks are less successful with pressure right in their face, Darnold struggles more in that area.
"The answer that is more realistic and tougher to understand is that Darnold has been far more inconsistent within games than he was last year. He played well overall in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but threw a brutal interception just before halftime while trying to force the ball into Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashid Shaheed. That was his eighth interception in five games (he's played in six, but only the first drive of Week 1).
"Twice this season, Darnold has thrown interceptions on his first throw of the game, and against the Denver Broncos in Week 6, he tossed two picks late in the game that handed the victory to Denver. He is still capable of brilliance, but also capable of costing Seattle the game."
Bringing corner blitzes will require tackles and tight ends to slide outside at times, leaving the interior vulnerable for players like Grady Jarrett, Kentavius Street and company. The Bears have been better at bringing pressure from the outside with their ends and defensive backs, but I think the moral of the story, here, is for Dennis Allen to bring pressure, regardless.
Could we have another big Kyler Gordon game on the way?
Ben Johnson needs to account for more than just Leonard Williams up front
There is a reason this Seahawks defense is so well-rounded. It isn't just one player, and specifically, it isn't just one player up front. The Bears' offensive line is going to be in for a legitimate test on Monday night.
Heckman: Give me an under-the-radar player on either side the Bears need to account for.
Vowell: "Does a 2024 first-round pick count as under-the-radar? Maybe. Byron Murphy II is somewhat overshadowed by Leonard Williams and an edge rush group that has DeMarcus Lawrence, but Murphy has the strength and quickness to be a real disruptor, especially against the pass.
"His 21 total pressures are second on the team (behind Williams), and he is unblockable at times. He and Williams see lots of double teams, but Murphy can split those quickly. The positive part for Bears fans is that while Murphy might not get talked about by the national media as much as Leonard Williams, the coaching staff of Chicago will be fully aware of what they need to try to do against Murphy."
Fortunately, guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson have both been playing well this season. On the other hand, Garrett Bradbury can have a tendency to get blown up in pass protection. Murphy is a guy for Bears fans to watch out for, along with Williams, of course.
This is where Ben Johnson will have to get creative in his scheme and play calling, allowing for some of those unique blocking situations we've seen at times, this year.
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