NFL Thursday night: More sacks than points in the Seahawks-Bears game

In an NFL game where there were more sacks than points, Alabama high school and college players contributed to the Seattle Seahawks’ 6-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall (Auburn) and nose tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama) each had one of Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams’ seven sacks, and Bears defensive lineman Byron Cowart (Auburn) was responsible for one of Seattle QB Geno Smith’s three sacks.

The two offenses combined for 444 yards, and the game included 13 punts on a cold and rainy evening at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The Seahawks defense stopped two field goals from Josh Myers in the first half.

Chicago gained more than 16 yards on two of its 10 possessions. The first resulted in a field goal (after a penalty nullified a Williams touchdown pass), and the second resulted in an interception by Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen at the Seattle 29 with 11 seconds to play. The fourth-down pick ended a streak of 353 consecutive passes without an interception by Williams.

Cowart had four tackles in the game. He recorded his first full sack since tackling Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff for the New England Patriots on December 10, 2020, for his first NFL sack.

Reed had two tackles and increased his sack total to 4.5 for 2024 and 38.5 for his career.

Hall’s sacking was his eighth of the season, having yet to be sacked as a rookie in 2023.

Three other players from Alabama high schools and colleges participated in the Seattle-Chicago game:

Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) was targeted once but did not have a catch in the game.
Seahawks safety AJ Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) recorded no stats.
Josh Jobe (Alabama) made four tackles before leaving in the second half with a knee injury.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson, Auburn) was listed as inactive on game day.
Seahawks outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.
Bears cornerback Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) is on the practice squad and ineligible to play.

Seattle (9-7) concludes its regular season schedule against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday or Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The NFL has not yet set game times for the final weekend of the regular season.

The Seahawks entered Week 17 one game behind the Rams at the top of the NFC West standings. Seattle did its part with the win, but the Seahawks could still be eliminated this weekend if Los Angeles defeats the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night and prevails in the strength-of-win tiebreaker. Otherwise, the race for the division title and the associated playoff spot will take place on the final weekend of the regular season.

Chicago’s season ends against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bears’ 10th straight loss dropped Chicago’s record to 4-12.