Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks on ‘Monday Night Football’: How to watch with Sling
Watch the Bears visit the Seahawks on ESPN, Monday, Nov. 2 at 8:15PM ET, with Sling Essentials, Orange, Essentials & Select, or Orange & Blue.
Following the 2023 season, the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll and replaced him with the young, highly acclaimed defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. In just his second season as head coach, Macdonald guided his team to a championship season. In 2024, the Chicago Bears fired their head coach and replaced him with the young, highly acclaimed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Now in his second season, Johnson and Bears fans everywhere are hoping for a similar outcome at the conclusion of his sophomore season.
Johnson and the Bears will be tested in a true benchmark game as they travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Here’s a full preview and how to watch the Monday Night Football game between the Bears and Seahawks with Sling. To watch the game on ESPN with Sling, subscribe to Sling Essentials
How to Watch Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers on ‘Monday Night Football’ with Sling
All Monday Night Football games air on ESPN, which is available with Sling by subscribing to Sling Essentials or Sling Orange. Both packages also include ESPN2, which will have the Manningcast as part of their schedule. To watch ESPN/ESPN2 for the best price with Sling, subscribe to Sling Essentials.
Bears at Seahawks ‘Monday Night Football’ Preview
https://youtu.be/JxUSgB05XnI?si=TQ0qBQBQcUIromDr
This isn’t just a primetime battle between two marquee NFC teams; it’s a clash of contrasting strengths. For the visiting Bears, that strength is star QB Caleb Williams and the offense. In their Week 7 win over the Patriots, Williams was utterly sensational, throwing for 308 yards, with 205 of those coming against the blitz. After a multi-decade drought at the QB position, the Bears might have the single most electrifying player in the league; Caleb torched the New England secondary with eight completions of 20+ yards. And while their average rush is just 4.4 yards per carry, the Bears are committed to a balanced attack, as they lead the league in both rushing yards per game (154.3) and attempts (246, more than 30 better than the second-ranked Baltimore Ravens).
As with last season’s championship run, Seattle’s biggest asset is their defense…and it might be better than last year’s unit. The Seahawks are the first team since the 1984 Cleveland Browns to hold each of its first seven opponents under 180 passing yards. Their rush defense, which has not allowed a 100-yard runner for 36 consecutive games, is exceptional as well. Kenneth Walker looked unstoppable in the Chiefs’ first five games, but on Sunday, Seattle held him to just 36 yards and a paltry 2.6 yards per touch. The defensive scheme and execution under Macdonald has been brilliant.
However, both teams have seen mixed results on the other side of the ball, and this is where the game is likely to be decided. The Bears are allowing the most yards per play in the entire NFL, yet are top 10 in average points allowed, a classic bend-don’t-break unit. And Seattle’s offense is getting a facelift with the acquisition of All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts. That should help with pressure from the pass rush, a big part of why QB Sam Darnold has already tossed eight interceptions this year after leading the league in turnovers last season. Seattle has been highly reliant on WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has 867 yards and 8 TDs in seven games, unreal production from a player who is the focus of the pass D for every team he plays. Seattle may have a chance against a secondary that just surrendered over 300 yards to the Patriots, but their defense will be tested against a creative and confident offense and a quarterback that is great at protecting the ball. Last week’s much-hyped game between Seattle and the Chiefs may have been shockingly one-sided, but this one has the potential to be as good as any matchup this season.
X-Factor players
Bears: CB Kyler Gordon (slot corner / blitzer)
- Stat case: Gordon has 4 sacks in two games since coming off the PUP list, the most by any NFL defensive back this season. In his Week 6 return, he had 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles on only 16-17 defensive snaps, and 5 quick pressures on 8 pass-rush snaps.
- Why this matchup: Seattle is starting a backup LT, and Darnold has thrown 8 picks. A slot blitzer who creates pressure and strip-sacks is the most direct way to turn Seattle mistakes into points against a defense that gives up almost nothing. Gordon is also likely to see JSN when he lines up inside.
- What to watch for: Gordon creeping toward the line on third down. If Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen sends him and Darnold hesitates, this is where he can flash his ability to turnover the ball.
Seahawks: TE AJ Barner (tight end / short-yardage weapon)
- Stat case: 19 catches for 180 yards this season. Against KC he had 4 catches for 42 yards plus 3 short-yardage sneaks, all of which went for first downs, including the fourth-down conversion that closed out the game.
- Why this matchup: Chicago's defense lives on third and fourth down (26.1% and 22.2% allowed, both top two). Barner is Seattle's chain-mover in exactly those spots, and the Bears' linebacker room is banged up: T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn are both questionable, which could leave holes in the middle of the field.
- What to watch for: Barner lining up in the backfield on third-and-short, or slipping out underneath while Chicago's coverage rolls toward JSN.
With these two teams playing in the most difficult divisions in the NFC, this game could have playoff implications in January. You don’t want to miss it. Subscribe to Sling Essentials/Essentials & Select or Sling Orange/Orange and Blue to watch the Bears visit the Seahawks for Monday Night Football.