The 5-2 Chicago Bears will play the 4-3 Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in a Week 8 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:15 p.m., ESPN and The U).

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5 things to watch — plus our Week 8 predictions

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba scores a touchdown against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba scores a touchdown against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The Bears and Seahawks are two of the best in the NFC. The Seahawks have lost three games by a combined eight points. The Bears offense has been electric when Williams is healthy — and right now he is.

Both teams swung trades this week, with the Seahawks adding guard Quenton Nelson in a deal with the Colts, while the Bears traded for former Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The moves only bolster the idea that both teams plan on being in the mix as the calendar turns to November and beyond. Read more here.

Are Bears ‘all-in’ with Jeffery Simmons deal?

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Newly acquired Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons warms up before practice Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Halas Hall. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)
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If you want to say the Bears have gone all-in on this season with their major swing to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, no problem.

In weighing the possibility of the blockbuster deal, general manager Ryan Poles pulled the trigger because he views it as a move that better positions the franchise to compete for a championship — both now and in subsequent seasons.

Simmons fills a position the Bears have tried multiple times to make a strength. Read more here.

Amid outside noise, CB Jaylon Johnson is his harshest critic

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson watches fireworks explode after Packers wide receiver Christian Watson makes a touchdown reception in the third quarter on Oct. 11, 2026, in Green Bay. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson watches fireworks explode after Packers wide receiver Christian Watson makes a touchdown reception in the third quarter on Oct. 11, 2026, in Green Bay. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Jaylon Johnson’s overall play hasn’t been getting it done to the level the Bears expect of the player they locked up with a four-year, $76 million contract extension in March 2024 coming off a career season in which he was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a second-team All-Pro.

But coach Ben Johnson’s comments seem to suggest that if his struggles continue, he would take away snaps from the cornerback.

But give them to whom? Read more here

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How do the Bears move on without TE Cole Kmet?

Bears tight end Cole Kmet gets carted off the field during the fourth quarter against the Patriots at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)
Bears tight end Cole Kmet gets carted off the field during the fourth quarter against the Patriots at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland have been deployed together in the Bears’ third-most-used personnel grouping (18 plays), according to the NFL’s Game Statistics and Information System. Kmet played 62% of the offensive snaps in the first seven games.

So what do the Bears do without him?

When asked about the impact of Kmet’s absence on his playbook, coach Ben Johnson said, “None.”

“We trained all our tight ends to be able to do all the jobs,” he said. “I don’t see us really changing who we are or what we do as a result of that.” Read more here.

Latest Bears stadium news

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An artist's rendering from Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill shows a proposed new Bears stadium at the center of a mixed-use district near the current White Sox Bridgeport location. (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)
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Planners keep drawing new homes for the Bears, with renderings of football stadiums full of bells and whistles. But a common thread to the proposals is that the Bears aren’t involved.

The latest would put the Bears in Bridgeport, on the site of the White Sox’s Rate Field. Sterling Bay CEO Andy Gloor made a surprise informal pitch of the plan to Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, along with Carl Williams, a real estate developer who is the father of Bears star quarterback Caleb Williams, Gloor told the Tribune. But the team said they declined to pursue the plan. Read more here.

About last week

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Bears offensive tackle Theo Benedet celebrates after a 30-24 win over the Patriots at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
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If the Bears can take this season where they want to go — or somewhere close to it — there will be more significant triumphs with greater performances in clutch moments.

But a 30-24 win over the Patriots checked a lot of boxes, and in the end, the Bears (5-2) played a more complete game than the defending AFC champions.

Get Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Week 7 win on “Thursday Night Football” at Soldier Field. Read more here.