The defending champion Seahawks lose for the third time in four games

The Seattle Seahawks are 4-4 after a 34-17 home loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. That is three losses in four games for the defending Super Bowl champions, and the margin ended a 30-game run, playoffs included, in which Seattle had not lost by more than four points, according to the AP recap on ESPN.

The offense never got going. Seattle converted one of 11 third downs and finished with 252 yards. Sam Darnold went 17 of 34 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and he was sacked three times. Jaxon Smith-Njigba did his part with six catches for 118 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half. Jason Myers missed the extra point after that score, and Seattle went to the locker room down 13-9.

The run game is still a problem. Seattle traded for three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson last week and got Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price back from injuries. It ran for 81 yards. Price had 29 on 10 carries, and Charbonnet had 23 on six.

There was a stretch where it looked like the crowd might carry them. Andre Booker blocked a Myers field goal early in the fourth quarter, but DeMarcus Lawrence forced a fumble on the next series, Darnold found Cooper Kupp for a 7-yard touchdown, and Tory Horton caught the two-point conversion. It was 20-17 with 11:46 to play.

Then Chicago went right back down the field and D'Andre Swift scored from 5 yards out. Darnold threw an interception on the next drive, and Swift scored his third touchdown to make it 34-17 with 4:41 left. Chicago's new defensive tackle, Jeffery Simmons, had a sack and six tackles, according to the Bears. ESPN tracked Seattle at 3.0 yards per play with Simmons on the field.

Caleb Williams went 24 of 34 for 247 yards and did not turn it over, against a defense that entered the week first in the NFL against the pass.

Seattle also lost defensive lineman Leonard Williams to a stinger in the second half. He did not return.

The Seahawks host Arizona next Sunday. The Bears (6-2) host Tampa Bay on Sunday night.