Bears’ Mack again shows knack
CHICAGO — Khalil Mack had one of six sacks against Russell Wilson, Prince Amukamara returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown and the Chicago Bears defeated the Seattle Seahawks 24-17 Monday night to give coach Matt Nagy his first victory.
Mack sprinted out of the tunnel to an ovation prior to his first appearance at Soldier Field since a blockbuster trade with the Oakland Raiders two weeks ago. That deal happened after he held out the entire offseason and preseason seeking a contract extension from the Raiders rather than play under the final year of his rookie contract.
The Bears gave him a sixyear, $141-million extension that guarantees $90 million — the richest deal ever for an NFL defensive player.
Mack also had the crowd roaring with a strip sack in the first half, smacking the ball out of Wilson’s hand as he wound up to pass, and he consistently pressured the quarterback. It was more of the same from last week, when he had a strip-sack and interception return for a touchdown at Green Bay, except for one key difference.
The Bears won this time after blowing a 20-point lead against a hobbled Aaron Rodgers in a loss to the Packers.
“That’s a great feeling,” Mack said. “We took it over the top.”
Amukamara jumped the route on a pass intended for Rashaad Penny near midfield for the first touchdown of his career, making the score 24-10 with 6:37 to play. It was his first interception since 2015 with the New York Giants.
Danny Trevathan then stripped Wilson with his second sack of the game. The Bears’ Leonard Floyd recovered the fumble, and Chicago hung on.
The Seahawks (0-2) lost for only the second time in nine Monday night games under coach Pete Carroll.
“We’re still a work in progress,” he said.
Wilson has been sacked six times in each game this season. With the Bears applying constant pressure and his receivers struggling to get open, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed 22 of 36 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky completed 25 of 34 for 200 yards. The No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, Trubisky passed for touchdowns to Trey Burton on Chicago’s first possession and rookie Anthony Miller early in the fourth quarter. But he also had two passes intercepted by Shaquill Griffin — one a deep ball that was underthrown and another that was tipped at the line.
“I’m really proud with how he handled himself from Play 1 until the end ...,” Nagy said. “His attitude was great. He didn’t worry about anything. And so that’s growth.”