The Bears' biggest matchups of the 2026 season: The Seattle defense and 12th Man
The Chicago Bears made the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 2020 last year. Armed by the talented Caleb Williams, the Bears kept their fans on the edge of their seats with thrillers all year long. They made a run to the NFC Divisional Round where they ultimately fell to Los Angeles. Now, heading into 2026, expectations are a little different in Chicago.
While the team has its flaws, they'll play in a very competitive division where many of their other compatriots are also flawed. The Bears will have the sixth-toughest schedule in the NFL this season according to Sharp Football Analytics. So they're going to have their work cut out for them again.
That's a ‘super' defense and crowd up there in Seattle. The Bears will have to tackle it all this season.
The Bears vs. the Seattle defense and the 12th Man
It's a handicap match, if you will. Chicago will head to Seattle in Week 8 for an exciting Monday Night Football matchup. This was set to be the NFC Championship but the Bears didn't take the Rams down. The Seahawks had no trouble (as usual) getting through the postseason en route to their second Super Bowl title.
Seattle has been dominant at Lumen Field since its inception. They are 128-66 all-time in their home dwelling and an astonishing 12-2 in the postseason. Each time they've had the No. 1 seed in the NFL Playoffs, they've made the Super Bowl (2005, 2013, 2014, 2025). The 12th Man is real and it makes it a difficult challenge no matter who's lined up for Seattle.
The Seahawks defense might be the best that quarterback Caleb Williams will see all year. They ranked in the Top 10 last year in points and yards allowed and were a Top 10 unit against both the pass and the run. It's hard to find many weaknesses on the team. They have an elite cornerback in Devon Witherspoon, outstanding linemen like Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones, and are a very disciplined unit. Just ask the New England Patriots.
There's a lot of time to go until this game and by Week 8, we'll know everything we have to about both of these teams. But no trip to Seattle is a favorable one and it's not always exciting. This game is going to be pivotal though and will tell us a lot about the Bears. It's at the midway point of the season so it might install even more importance depending on the situation.
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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM.