Seahawks Trail Bears 13-9 at Halftime After Smith-Njigba TD

Seattle entered halftime trailing Chicago 13-9 after Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a 43-yard touchdown pass with approximately 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter of their NFL matchup on November 2, 2026. The late score gave the Seahawks momentum after an offensive struggle, while the Bears prepared to receive the ball first in the second half.

According to the Seattle Times live coverage, quarterback Sam Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba for his ninth touchdown of the season. The receiver escaped single coverage from Tyrique Stevenson Sr., executed a double move and broke a tackle near the goal line.

Jason Myers missed the extra point, leaving Seattle four points behind. The Seahawks had previously converted none of their first five third-down opportunities.

Chicago controlled much of the first half, recording 194 total yards. Quarterback Caleb Williams completed 16 of 21 passes for 151 yards, according to the Seattle Times.

The Bears initially established a 7-0 advantage through a touchdown reception by Luther Burden III. Chicago produced a 17-play scoring drive that consumed more than 8 1/2 minutes in the first quarter.

Cairo Santos subsequently extended Chicago's lead with field goals from 44 and 38 yards. His second kick gave the Bears a 13-3 advantage late in the first half.

The 44-yard field goal followed a drive that reached Seattle's 31-yard line before stalling. A poorly executed screen pass intended for D'Andre Swift contributed to the failed scoring opportunity.

Chicago also maintained a significant advantage in offensive production during the first half, outgaining Seattle 139-54 before extending that total to 194 yards.

Seattle's first points came early in the second quarter when Jason Myers converted a 27-yard field goal. Smith-Njigba helped establish the scoring opportunity with two receptions that moved the Seahawks into the red zone.

The drive ultimately stalled inside Chicago's 10-yard line. A screen pass to Zach Charbonnet resulted in a six-yard loss on second-and-goal, while another completion to the running back fell short of the first-down marker.

Myers entered the game having converted 15 of 16 field-goal attempts during the season, according to the Seattle Times.

Seattle's opening two possessions ended in punts, with Darnold absorbing significant hits on both drives. The offensive line also struggled to establish control against Chicago's defensive pressure.

The Seahawks showed some improvement on their third possession by getting the ball to Smith-Njigba more frequently. Seattle finished the first quarter with 53 total yards after recording just seven before the receiver's first touch.

On special teams, Seattle briefly appeared to create a major opportunity when Irv Charles blocked a punt by Chicago's Tory Taylor. However, the ball took an unexpected bounce and traveled 45 yards, allowing the Bears to retain favorable field position.

The matchup also marked the return of running back Zach Charbonnet, approximately 8½ months after surgery for a torn ACL suffered during the NFC playoffs in January.

Rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price was also active after recovering from a chest and rib injury. He had been sidelined since aggravating the injury during practice in late September.

Chicago's offense, led by Williams and coach Ben Johnson, entered the contest as a major challenge for Seattle's defense. Johnson had previously been among Seattle's candidates to replace Pete Carroll before the organization hired Mike Macdonald.

At halftime, Chicago held a 13-9 lead, with the Bears scheduled to receive the opening possession of the third quarter.