The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears are set to meet in their Week 17 Thursday Night Football game, and the stakes couldn't be higher for the visiting Seahawks. With the playoffs just around the corner, every game counts for Seattle, currently boasting an 8-7 record. Meanwhile, the Bears are having a rough go of it, sitting at the bottom of the NFC with a disappointing 4-11 record.
The pressure is mounting for the Seahawks, who are fresh off two consecutive losses. They sit on the brink of playoff elimination, and anything less than victory against the struggling Bears will jeopardize their chances of securing the NFC West title. The Seahawks need this win to maintain hopeful aspirations when they face the Los Angeles Rams the following week.
According to NFL Weather, the conditions on the night of the game will be nearly perfect for late December. Fans and players alike will likely be relieved to learn the Bears will not be met with the harsh winter weather commonly associated with December football. Instead of heavy snow or rain, which could easily derail the Seahawks' game plan, they can expect relatively mild weather.
Specifically, the temperature at Soldier Field is expected to hover around 44°F. Reports indicate there is only about a 19% chance of rain, with wind speeds anticipated to reach up to 12 mph. For seasoned NFL players like quarterback Geno Smith, such conditions present no significant hurdle. Overall, the weather will likely play little to no role in the outcome of the game.
The Bears' home record stands at 4-4, indicating they can put forth competitive performances at Soldier Field, contrasting sharply with their 0-7 road record. Still, the Bears have found themselves on quite a streak lately — and not the good kind. They currently face the consequences of losing nine straight games. Despite their home advantage, Chicago is desperate to turn things around, but the Seahawks bring more firepower to the field.
Analyzing the performances of both teams this season tells quite the story. The Bears have had such struggles they even saw their head coach fired mid-season, sending shockwaves through their organization. There were high hopes after the team started the season, but those aspirations have crumbled. Now, Chicago looks to rebuild — with its franchise hoping to make sense of their draft strategy and free agency plans for the 2025 season. The emergence of Caleb Williams, the team's alleged cornerstone, will be key to their future success.
On the other hand, the Seahawks are similarly staring down their potential demise. They haven't secured a win since beating the Arizona Cardinals weeks ago. Now, they must dig deep if they hope to remain relevant as they square off against the Bears, alongside their impending matchup against the Rams. Every game counts, and Seattle knows it’s time to seize the moment.
The pressure will be high as both teams hit the field. Seattle's offense, led by Smith, looks to adapt and recapture its momentum. Meanwhile, spirits will certainly run high for the Bears, who hope to shake their losing streak. Although their chances of playoff contention seem bleak, reclaiming even the slightest sliver of hope would set the stage for the 2025 season — something fans certainly want to see.
Fans can expect exciting moments this Thursday night, between plays likely dominated by Seattle’s playmakers. Though weather may not be much of a factor, emotions will run high at Soldier Field. For the Seahawks, the goal is clear: victory is imperative to keep playoff dreams alive. If they can pull off the win — and if the Rams falter against the Cardinals — Seattle could very well find itself contending for the NFC West title as the season draws to its thrilling conclusion.
