6:15 p.m., Bears by 3
Last meeting
Seahawks won 24-17 at Seattle on Oct. 19, 2003.
Spotlight on: Bears RB Thomas Jones
The Bears a passing team? It’s true. They’re averaging 8.8 yards per pass, tops in the league. Now for the down side: They’ve had to throw more because Jones hasn’t gotten on track. The would-be Bronco – they were talking to Chicago during the Ashley Lelie saga, but couldn’t cut a deal – is averaging 3.0 yards on 60 carries. That’s a big step backward from last season, when Jones ranked fifth in the NFC with 1,335 yards and a 4.3 average.
Who knew?
The Bears have as many players remaining from the Broncos’ 1999 draft (one) as the Broncos. Desmond Clark, who lasted three years in Denver, has gone on to have a nice little career. He ranks second among NFL tight ends with 193 yards in receptions. His 12 catches are half as many as he had the entire 2005 season.
Etc.
Two things Mike Holmgren likes most about coming to Chicago – the pizza and playing Da Bears. He’s 14-2 in his career vs. Lovie’s Lads. … In case you just returned home from a tour of the best caves in Afghanistan, Shaun Alexander won’t play in this one because of a broken bone in his foot. … Not that the Seahawks didn’t have issues with the running game before he got hurt. Dude was averaging 2.9 yards per. … Seattle in search of first 4-0 start in franchise history. Bears, meanwhile, haven’t seen 4-0 since 1991. … Bears’ pass rush gittin ‘er done. Former No. 1 pick Tommie Harris leads NFL interior linemen with three sacks. Nothing unusual there except his career high is 3.5, set in 2004. … Chi Town rookie Mark Anderson, fifth-rounder from Alabama, ranks third among NFL rooks with 1.5 sacks. … Matt Hasselbeck in past seven road starts: 6-1, 70.4 percent, eight TDs, zero INTs.
Prediction: Seahawks 19, Bears 17
