By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Seahawks will begin title defense with a depleted defensive backfield

The Seattle Seahawks will begin their Super Bowl title defense when they host the last NFL team they played, the New England Patriots.  The Wednesday night Prime Time kickoff will begin the 2026 NFL season. Both teams have made personnel changes that coaches hope will improve their teams in 2026. Here  are some storylines that will impact the game

SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE BACK

Starting safety Ty Okada is out for the game, and it is highly unlikely  Nick Emmanwori will play. Okada suffered a hamstring injury sometime after the Seahawks preseason game, while Emmanwori continues to recover from offseason ankle surgery. Rookie Bud Clark suffered a broken ankle in the second preseason game. These moves follow the team losing Coby Bryant in the offseason to free agency.  

General Manager John Schneider traded a draft pick for rookie Avery Smith to add depth.  The Seahawks will most likely elevate D’ Anthony Bell from the practice squad for the Patriots game.  Okada will be one of several players the team will make inactive as they add depth. Julian Love will anchor the secondary regardless of who replaces Okada.

WHO WILL WIN THE RUN GAME

The Seahawks had the best run defense in the NFL last season. The good news for Seahawks fans is that the majority of the interior and middle of the defense returns.  Leonard Williams,  Byron Murphy, Jarran Reed, DeMarcus Lawrence, Derrick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu, Drake Thomas, and Ernest Jones IV all return and had good pre-seasons that were injury-free.

If the group can stuff the Patriots’ run game, they will earn the right to go after Drake Maye, as they did in the Super Bowl.  The Patriots added AJ Brown and Romeo Dobs to bolster their passing game, so the Seahawks have to keep the Patriots in third-and-long territory. If the  Patriots can establish a run game, it could make a long day for the  Seahawks defense.

CAN THE SEAHAWKS OFFENSE HELP OUT THE DEFENSE

The Seahawks offense returns ten of the starting eleven players from the Super Bowl—all five interior linemen return, which is a rarity in the NFL.  Sam Darnold proved he is a poised leader during the Super Bowl run, and he also showed his game management and passing skills.   Jaxson Smith- Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, and AJ Barner form one of the most dynamic passing-catching units in the league. The question mark for the Seahawks and new Offensive Coordinator Brian Fleury is the run game. 

The Seahawks will be looking to rookie Jadarian Price to prove his worth under the bright lights. The Seahawks used their first-round pick on the former Irish star, hoping he will be the answer to replace former Super Bowl MVP  Ken Walker. George Holani is back for a third season, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will look to build a two-back running attack.  If the Seahawks offense can establish a rhythm and score early, it will give time for Head Coach Mike Macdonald and DC Arden Durde the luxury of making in-game adjustments at their pace

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