**3\. Can Mike Macdonald's league-leading defense contain Ben Johnson's prolific offense?**
Following the 2024 season, two of the hottest names in the coaching cycle were that of Mike Macdonald, the league's top young defensive coordinator, and Ben Johnson, the top young offensive coordinator. Both coaches interviewed for multiple jobs, and while Macdonald obviously ending up in Seattle, Johnson decided to stay at Detroit for another year before becoming the head coach of the Bears last season. Both coaches have thrived at the helm, with Macdonald leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title last year, and with Johnson leading the Bears to an 11-win season and a trip to the playoffs in his first season on the job. Not surprisingly, the Seahawks come into the game with arguably the best defense in the league, while the Bears have one of the NFL's best offenses.
Seven games into the season, the Seahawks are No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in pass defense, No. 6 in rush defense, fourth in scoring defense, and second in third down defense. The Bears, meanwhile, are third in total offense, first in rush offense, eight in scoring, and seventh in third-down conversion rate.
"They have an identity," Macdonald said. "He does a great job utilizing their personnel to the best of their ability… They play decisive. Talk about play style, it's clear, and it's a style that we respect. The stats back that up, too. The tape backs it up, as well."
Macdonald will always downplay a coaching matchup, such as when he faces off with offensive innovators like Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, saying it's about the players making things happen on the field, but his players do appreciate seeing what their head coach can cook up against another young innovator.
"If you're a fan of the game, and us, being in the trenches, knowing the reasons and the ins and outs of things, yeah, it's exciting," safety [Julian Love](/team/players-roster/julian-love/) said. "You want to see how the game is evolving, and I think these two coaches have been evolving this game. I think everyone is trying to go off of what they're doing. There's only a few (coaches) the past five years who you can say that for. On our side of the ball, we have a challenge, because they're pretty special on offense."