After three games the Seahawks have an opportunity to get right. An emotional season-opening win over the Denver Broncos set up some high expectations. A humbling loss to the San Francisco 49ers in week two gave players and coaches perspective on what it will take to consistently win in the NFL. A& week three loss to the Atlant Falcons was disappointing and frustrating. On certain plays, players were in the right position to make a play but were unable. In other instances, players were in the wrong position and were not close to making the play. Here are three things that could determine the outcome of the game and possibly turn the Seahawk’s season around.
CAN THE SEAHAWKS DEFENSE STOP THE BEST RUN TEAM IN NFL?
The Seahawks are allowing a league-worst 157.0 rushing yards per game. Shedding off blockers, getting into proper run fits and good tackling have ailed the Seahawks. Sunday the Hawks have a chance to put it all together. After last week’s loss to the Falcons head coach Pete Carroll indicated that rookie Boye Mafe and Darrell Johnson would both see more playing time at the linebacker position. A clear indication of his disappointment with Darrell Taylor and to some degree Cody Barton’s inability to aid with stopping the run. Sunday presents an opportunity for either or both players to shine.
The Lions will be missing their top two stars on offense, running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Six year back Jamal Williams will see the bulk of the carries Despite being a non-starter Williams leads the Lions in rushing and scored two rushing touchdowns in Lion’s loss to the Vikings.
“Jamaal (Williams) has carried the ball more than D’Andre has. And they’ve got big plays and big production when D’Andre was in there, but Jamaal really hammers the football. So, the plays aren’t changing in these gameplans that we see. They are running the same plays. So, I don’t think it’s going to change much at all. They might not go to the running back as much as they did in the passing game. D’Andre is a good threat, but Jamaal can catch the ball and make plays too. So, he’s a hammer. He has great attitude; brings a real style for them. So, we are not getting a big break there.”
The Seahawks will look to stop Lion’s run game and make the Detroit offense one-dimensional. Lions quarterback Jared Goff is a pocket passer who has average mobility. The opportunity is there for the D-Line to pressure the heavy-footed Goff and create sacks and interceptions.
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CAN THE SEAHAWKS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS ONCE INSIDE THE RED ZONE?
The inability to convert in the RedZone is an issue quarterback Geno Smith and the coaching staff have talked about all week. It’s one thing to have the 28th-ranked offense and another to be ranked 31st in the red zone. The Seahawks have scored just four touchdowns this season, all in the air. The Seahawks have been in the red zone eight times and scored just two red zone touchdowns.
“I just think that we need to finish. When we get into the red zone, we just have to finish. We have to score touchdowns and can’t just be happy with settling for field goals obviously. There are going to be things that will happen, and there have been things that have happened where we shot ourselves in the foot here and there. For the most part, we just have to finish. It just comes down to our ‘want to’ and ‘will’ to finish in the red zone.”
CAN THE SEAHAWKS PLAY MISTAKE-FREE?
The Seahawks continue to make egregious errors on both sides of the ball. In the loss to the Falcons, with 2:16 left in the game a holding call on a screen pass that would have had the ball on the eight-yard line pushed the ball back to the Falcon’s 34 and made it second down and 14.
On third down, Smith was sacked for ten yards. Another costly error. On fourth and 18 from the Falcon’s 38, Smith was intercepted with 1:17 left in the game. On the defensive side of the ball, the Seahawks were able to limit the drive-extending penalties. T
The one big penalty was the defensive holding call in the first quarter on Michael Jackson gave the Falcons a first and goal from the one rather than first and goal at the three. What the Seahawks had were too many mental errors. DC Clint Hurtt believes the team needs to play smart, clean, and aggressive on defense.
Really, this game is about the ability to strike blocks, and defeat blocks so you can get off and make tackles. That pertains to everybody whether you are a D-lineman, edge player, off-the-ball back, or safety. That’s what this game has always been about no matter what era you talk about playing in. So, that’s the area that we need to do better.”
TEAMS STATS
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION
| 2022 REGULAR SEASON | SEAHAWKS | LIONS |
| Record | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Total Yard Gained | 889 | 1,227 |
| Total Offense ( NFL Rank) | 296.3 (28) | 409.0 (3) |
| Rush Offense | 74.7 (29) | 170.3 (3) |
| Pass offense | 221.7 (21) | 238.7 (16) |
| Points Per Game | 15.7 (T28( | 31.7 (2) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 1,192 | 1,224 |
| Total Defense | 397.3 (25) | 408.0 (28) |
| Rush Defense | 157.0 (T30) | 142.3 (27) |
| Pass Defense | 240.3(19) | 265.7 (25) |
| Points Allowed/ Game | 23.3 (T20) | 31.0 (32) |
| Possession Avg. | 26:36 | 30:09 |
| Sacked/Yds.Lost | 6/52 | 4/32 |
| Sacks Made /Yds Lost | 6/32 | 7/43 |
| Interceptions By | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties/Yds | 21/230 | 15/129 |
| Punts/Avg | 9/50.2 | 12/49.7 |
| Turnover Differential | -1(T20) | 0(T13) |
| | | |
2022 STAT LEADERS
| | Seahawks | Lions |
| Rushing | Rashaad Penny 141 (32-4. 4-0) | D’Andre Swift 231 (27-8.6-1) |
| Passing | Geno Smith 717 (102-79-4-2-100.8) | Jared Goff 748 (112-66-7-292.4) |
| Receptions | Tyler Lockett 21 (211-10.0-0) | Amon- Ra St. Brown 23 (253-11.03) |
| Scoring | Will Dissly | Jamaal Williams |
| ( non kicker) | 12 | 24 |
| Sacks | Six 1.0 | Aidan Hutchinson 3.0 |
| Int | Tariq Woolen 1 | Will Harris 1 |
| Punting | Michael Dickson 50.2/46.7 net (3 In 20) | Jack Fox 49.7/44.2 net ( 4In20) |
| Kicking | Jason Myers 17 (4/4 Fg, 5/5 PAT) | Austin Seibert 21 (3/5 FG, 12/12/ PAT) |
