This is anything but a usual week for the Seahawks, who will have to travel on Christmas Day ahead of their Week 17 game in Chicago.
A Thursday road game two time zones away is always a tough task for an NFL team, and that game falling a day after Christmas only adds to the complication—Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted—the team is pushing back what would be their usual Wednesday schedule to give coaches, players and staff a chance to be home for at least part of the morning.
Making this week even more interesting for the Seahawks is that, due to their recent losses, they aren't in control of their own playoff destiny, so they won't know following Thursday's game if they're still alive in the NFC West race (more on the playoff scenarios here).
But with all that's going on this week, the Seahawks know the best thing they can do is ignore the playoff speculation and make the most of a short week so they can be at their best on Thursday.
"On to the next thing like we've always been," quarterback Geno Smith said. "Business as usual. Got a lot of pros in that locker room and guys are going to go about it the right way. Guys are focused and dialed in and preparing for a short week to go on the road and travel on Christmas. You know, going out there and try to get a win.
"Obviously, you got to put the last game behind you and then get right onto your next opponent. Obviously guys got to get their bodies right, study, make sure they know the game plan. So those are some of the challenges, but we have done this before, and today's walk-through looked great; guys are dialed in."
As Macdonald noted a day earlier, even on a short week with a game to prepare for, it's also important to not lose sight of the bigger picture when it comes to life beyond football.
"At the end of the day, football doesn't rank first on the hierarchy of needs here, so it's really important for our players and our coaches to be able to be home with their families," Macdonald said. "So we'll start later on Wednesday, come in around 11:00. It's not ideal, but it should be enough time for them to spend time with their families and they can get out of here (Christmas Eve) night."
The Seattle Seahawks take on the Chicago Bears on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for Week 17 of the 2024 season. Kick off is set for 5:15 p.m. PT. Take a look back at some of their previous matchups.
Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) leaves Seattle Seahawks cornerback Cornell Webster (38) sprawling as he gains 11 yards with a pass from quarterback Bob Avellini in first quarter, Sunday, Nov. 5, 1976 in Chicago. Play was good for a first down. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ray Butler (83) eludes Chicago Bears cornerback Reggie Phillips (48) during an NFL game in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 20, 1987. The Seahawks defeated the Bears 34-21. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Chuck Knox hears words of encouragement from Bears head coach Mike Ditka following the Seahawks 17-0 loss to the Chicago Bears on September 9, 1990 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks Cortez Kennedy (96) during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois against the Chicago Bears from his 1999 season. The Seahawks beat the Bears 14-13. Cortez Kennedy played for 11 seasons all with the Seahawks, was an 8-time Pro Bowler and inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.(David Durochik via AP)
Umpire Darrell Jenkins, left, flies into the pile as Chicago Bears quarterback Chris Chandler (12) scores on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, in Seattle. At right are Seahawks' Norman Hand (96) and Cedric Woodard (98). (AP Photo)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian, left, catches a 40-yard pass for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' Kelly Herndon, center, and Oliver Celestin, right, defend during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006 in Chicago. (AP Photo)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Mike Williams (17) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 18: Linebacker Julian Peterson #59 of the Seattle Seahawks eyes the quarterback against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 18, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 30-23. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Julian Peterson
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VS CHICAGO BEARS - Julius Jones scores on a 39-yard touchdown catch and run up the sideline in the first quarter.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch carries the ball against the Chicago Bears defense and safety Danieal Manning, right in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, left, talks with his brother, Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett, right, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Bears 26-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) makes a touchdown reception against Chicago Bears defensive back Kyle Fuller (23) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
