The Seahawks are set to take on former AFC foe the LA Chargers for just the sixth time since the NFL re-alignment in 2002. Sunday’s meeting will be the first between the two teams since the Chargers relocated to LA. The Chargers have won three of the last four meetings. The Charger’s third-ranked offense is led by 6’6 236 marksman Justin Herbert who has thrown for 10 td and 1, 716 yards. The Charger’s offense is ranked 7th overall and that is due to the dangerous and versatile Austin Ekeler who is the perfect complement to Herbert. Here are three keys to a Seahawks win
WHO WILL MINIMIZE EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
Explosive plays ( ten or more yards ) will play a major part in this game. Which team makes them, and which team minimizes them? In their game against the Broncos, the Chargers gave up five plays of more than 14 yards. Only one of those was in the second half. The Charger’s offense had eight offensive plays of more than 10 yards. Two of the Charger’s explosive plays were 17- and 11-yard gains by running back Ekeler. The Seahawks gave up ten explosive plays and had ten explosive plays against the Arizona Cardinals. The good news is that two of the Seahawk’s explosive plays were 21 and 34-yard runs by Walker.
CAN THE SEAHAWKS DEFENSE CONTINUE TRENDING?
The Seahawk’s defense kept the Cardinals out of the endzone last week with a season-high six sacks. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll revealed that the team changed some schemes on the defensive line. The change was in the gap and run fits for the defensive line and linebackers. Players’ responsibilities were simplified which allowed them to be in attack mode rather than sit back and react.
“It’s just finding their spots okay and creating more situations for them to be in their spots and do their techniques and things. I let those guys have some fun. There are still other times where they do things within the scheme where they are taking one for the team so to speak, but again, part of coaching is finding things to help your guys be more successful. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen before, but there are always things that you have to adapt and adjust to within a gameplan. Obviously, they took ownership of what they needed to get done. They wanted that and they responded the right way.”
Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt on the change in defensive line repsonsibilities
One player the Seahawk’s secondary will need to contain is Chargers wide receiver, Mike Williams. With Keena Allen out for Sunday’s game, Herbert will look to Williams as the main vertical threat. WR Mike Williams had two receptions for 17 yards against Denver, including a 9-yard catch to set up the winning field goal in overtime. In three home games, he has five receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown, compared to 25 grabs for 367 yards and a score in three road games.
WHAT IMPACT WILL DK METCALF HAVE?
After Friday’s practice head coach Pete Carroll announced that Tyler Lockett will play on Sunday after not practicing all week. It is a given Lockett won’t be 100%. The question for OC Shane Waldron is what plays he will dial up to get DK Metcalf involved in the offense. In the win over the Cardinals, Metcalf had two receptions for 34 yards. He was targeted seven times. With Lockett hobbling Metcalf will need more than two receptions.
“I had an inclination that there were going to be some double teams going on with the way the targets have been distributed to DK (Metcalf) and Tyler (Lockett) right there. When that does occur, Geno (Smith) did a nice job of distributing the ball. Multiple guys got catches, I think Noah Fant led the way with the amount of receptions in the game right there. Then Dee Eskridge, Marquise Goodwin, the other tight ends, and the running backs, everyone was coming to life when they are going to try to do a good job of taking those guys away.”
Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Arizona double teaming Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf
ROSTER MOVES
On Saturday the Seahawks elevated former first-round draft, Bruce Irvin, from the practice squad. The Seahawks re-signed Irvin to the practice squad for the third time ten days ago. Look for Irvin to get some reps on the D-Line. Also called up from the practice squad was cornerback Xavier Crawford. After Friday’s practice, Artie Burns was listed as doubtful for the game ad Sidney Jones IV was placed on the injury list so it makes sense for the Hawks to call up Crawford for game-day depth.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION
| 2022 REGULAR SEASON | SEAHAWKS | CHARGERS |
| Record | 3-3 | 4-2 |
| Total Yard Gained | 2,136 | 2,249 |
| Total Offense ( NFL Rank) | 365.0 (12) | 374.8 (7) |
| Rush Offense | 124.3 (11) | 94.8 (25) |
| Pass offense | 231.7 (14) | 280.0 (3) |
| Points Per Game | 24.3 (t8) | 23.5 ( T11) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 2,465 | 2,099 |
| Total Defense | 165.8(31) | 125.0 (23) |
| Rush Defense | 245.0(22) | 125.0 (23) |
| Pass Defense | 245.0 ( 22) | 228.8 (18) |
| Points Allowed/ Game | 27.2(T30) | 25.3(26) |
| Possession Avg. | 27.2 (T30) | 30:44 |
| Sacked/Yds.Lost | 14/112 | 7/36 |
| Sacks Made /Yds Lost | 14/98 | 15/107 |
| Interceptions By | 4 | 6 |
| Penalties/Yds | 50/435 | 34/267 |
| Punts/Avg | 20/89.9 | 23/44.0 |
| Turnover Differential | +2 (T7) | +2(T7) |
TEAM STAT LEADERS
2022 STAT LEADERS
| Seahawks | CHARGES | |
| Rushing | Kenneth Walker III 243 (44-5.5-2) | Austin Ekeler 349 (75-4.7-4) |
| Passing | Geno Smith 1,502 (188-138-9-2-108.1) | Justin Herbert 1,716 (257-170-10-3-93.1) |
| Receptions | Tyler Lockett 34 ( 423-12.4-2) | Austin Ekeler 41 (261-6.4-2) |
| Will Dissly | Austin Ekeler | |
| ( non kicker) | 18 | 36 |
| Sacks | Uchenna Nwosu 3.0 | Khalil Mack 6.0 |
| Int | Tariq Woolen 4 | Bryce Callahan 2 |
| Punting | Michael Dickson 48.9/44.3 ( 6 In 20) | JK Scott 44.0/42.2 net ( 9 In 20) |
| Kicking | Jason Myers 37 (12/13 FG,14/15PAT) | Dustn Hopkins 39 (9/10 FG, 12/12PAT) |
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HMaz! good work. So do we really believe Pete when he tells us the impoved D is the result of soe scheme change? I’m always cynical when one attributes a positive result to some cange incorporated. We only hear that AFTER the positive result. This goes for sports, business, politics, etc. What do you / we really think?
I tend believe him on this one. In all fairness he was running out of patience with some players inconsistent play. Cody Barton over running tackles, is one example. D-Line was playing undisciplined and that is why you see Boye Mafe starting . And the re-signing of Bruce Irvin.