Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears NFL Week 15 Free Picks

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears NFL Week 15 Free Picks: The Hawks are playing some pretty good football and the Chicago Bears just aren’t. I think some of it has to do with Matt Forte, his contract situation, and his injury. Everyone on the Bears (and most of the league) know that Forte is one of the better players in the game, and definitely a top running back. He’s been everything to the Bears’ offense since Kyle Orton was wearing that ridiculous facial hair and winning football games in Chicago. It took Cutler a while, but he eventually figured it out as well; he started handing the ball to Matt and checking it down to him in the passing game. If you can make Jay Cutler check it down, your talent is respected. But the Bears didn’t want to pay him like a top running back (despite him being young and very good and the most important part of their offense). Then he sprained his knee a couple weeks ago and everyone in Chicago took a deep breath (other players as well) to consider the situation. I think it’s hard for guys to see that transpire and not think twice about their situation. Thinking twice in football is not a good thing. You add that to the fact that Chicago’s offense is no longer a threat to move the ball down the field (without Jay and Forte) and now defenses can key in on the first 15 yards. The Bears are struggling, and while the Hawks could be a good team to sneak out a win on, they’re playing pretty good football as well.

Seattle’s defense is a very good unit. They are especially physical and big, which is tough for the Bears’ soft little receivers to deal with, and with no Cutler it will be tough to beat them deep. The Hawks front 7 is also legit, as they’ve shut down just about every rushing attack they’ve faced all season long.

Seattle’s offense isn’t pretty, but they can run the darn football and Tarvaris Jackson is starting to form a nice relationship with two young guys that weren’t expected to do anything this year (Golden Tate and underafted rookie, Doug Baldwin). Baldwin has been legit all year while Tate is picking it up of late. The key cog in Seattle is BEASMO (beast mode) Marshawn Lynch. He’s just flat impossible to tackle with the first guy – probably running as well as any back in the league right now. I think the Hawks win on the road, something they don’t do often.

Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) @ Chicago Bears