Although preseason results are rarely significant, the Seattle Seahawks (2-0) were completely unfit for a significant period of Thursday’s home game against the Chicago Bears (2-0). The final score was 27-11 for Chicago, and it wasn’t even close. At halftime, the Bears had a 17-0 lead thanks in large part to shoddy tackles, careless penalties, missed passes, special teams miscues, and generally unorganized play from a club that still had a healthy number of starters and rotation players.
Geno Smith completed 10/18 passes for 112 yards before suffering an apparent right knee injury somewhere in the second quarter. He didn’t leave the game in the second half, and even if he didn’t do much, the penalties and drops didn’t help. He should have had at least two drops, if not more, but at least he led a touchdown drive in garbage time.
When he fumbled rookie Velus Jones Jr. on the first kickoff, Marquise Blair almost immediately had an impact on special teams. Chicago recovered possession of the ball, and they were able to enter the red zone in part because of a fourth penalty for a neutral zone offense by Darrell Taylor. Josh Jones made an excellent tackle on Khalil Herbert, which led to Cairo Santos kicking a field goal. Justin Fields’ only series was this one.
With Geno Smith at the helm, the Seahawks had consecutive three-and-outs. Trevor Siemian and Chicago took advantage of a short field after a huge punt return from Velus Jones Jr.Travis Homer broke down a 33-yard streak to finally breathe life into the Seahawks offensively, but tragedy struck in the next game when Angelo Blackson rolled on his own teammate Caleb Johnson and the Seahawks’ left guard Damien Lewis with one severe ankle injury was transported away. It is very likely that Lewis’ season is over. Geno Smith converted a 4th and 2nd in Chicago, but Gabe Jackson committed a hands-to-the-face penalty that ended the drive. On the next possession, Geno hit Penny Hart in the crotch for a 41-yard gain. Dareke Young dropped a geno cent on the following play, Charles Cross put down a hold and the drive died. Jason Myers hooked his 47-yard field goal wide to the right.
The slew of sloppy penalties, dropped passes and ugly football killed offensive drives, handed the Bears first downs, and fittingly the first half ended with Cade Johnson muffing a punt deep in his own territory that Chicago pounced on for a touchdown. A chorus of boos rained down from a barely filled lumen field.
