With playing for pride as the only option, Chicago Bears' defense regains edge vs. Seattle
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears defense certainly heard the noise.
In the last three games, the Bears have given up 1,256 yards and 102 points. That's an average of 419 yards per game and 34 points per game.
The unit once thought of as a top-10 defensive unit was no longer biting. Their bark wasn't heard by many at all, either.
On Thursday night, in front of primetime in a lost season, all that defense had left to play for was its pride. They played like hell for it.
"We played hard," Bears safety Kevin Byard said. "We know we're a resilient group but I just think that the execution was a lot better."
That execution showed in the Bears' 6-3 loss to Seattle.
The result was the same – the Bears' 10th loss in a row – but the Bears defense allowed just three points to a team that's averaging 22.6 points per game, was fresh off scoring 24 poitns on the Minnesota Vikings and is fighting like hell to keep its season alive.
The Bears tied the turnover battle 1-1, but the Bears were winning that battle for most of the game and should have had two turnovers. Tremaine Edmunds had a Geno Smith pass careen off his hands in the red zone on the first drive of the game.
The final numbers were:
- 265 yards allowed
- 5 of 13 third-down conversions allowed (38 percent)
- Seven QB hits
- Three sacks
- Five tackles for loss
- Three passes defended
- Three forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble
- Six points allowed.
That'll play.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 26: Kyler Gordon #6 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Gett
The other side of the ball didn't match that execution. The Bears' offense only scored three points – most defensive players balked when asked about the frustrations of watching the anemic offense – but the defense had a bite to spite the lack of bark.
Bears nickelback Kyler Gordon had the play of the game with his forced fumble on Pharaoh Brown which he recovered himself.
That was the kind of played the Bears were known for making last season. Honestly, it was the kind of play Gordon was known for making, too. It looked like it was an even bigger play as he was strolling down the field and into the end zone.
The referees called it a touchdown but ruled him down. Gordon wanted that score bad, too.
"I haven't had to touch touchdown since high school, man," Gordon said. "I don't know because I didn't see the replay, but in my head, yeah, for sure. Touchdown."
Still, one of the best players on this Bears' defense came up strong when they needed him most. It was what's expected of this defense.
"Our defense has a certain standard and we've showed it," Gordon said. "It's just important knowing what we can do. Just go in there and execute."
In a moment where there are no moral victories, the Bears' defense still reveled in getting back on track on Thursday night against a team that was playing for the postseason.
Their real challenge is to see if they can match that execution next week in a game where Green Bay may or may not have anything to play for.
"There's no more victories in the league," Byard said. "We played well today. I just think as a group, as a unit, we just want to finish as as best as we can. Obviously, we got one more game left. So that's, that's the plan to go finish out there in Green Bay."