The Seattle Seahawks will look to improve to 2-1 this Sunday as they face off against the New Orleans Saints. When the schedule first came out, you may have chalked this up as an easy win for the Seahawks. You probably thought the same about the game against the New York Giants last year — and I don’t need to remind you how that one turned out.
Even though the Saints are 0-2, both of their losses came against NFC West teams and both games went down to the final drive. That said, this is still a game the Seahawks should and must win, though it may not be smooth sailing, as a few key players are banged up.
Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who missed last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, didn’t practice again today. Neither did safety Julian Love or running back Zach Charbonnet. The Friday injury report will provide the clearest indication of their availability, but it’s worth monitoring these players closely heading into Sunday.
Keys to Victory for Seattle:
Balanced Offense
This is the Klint Kubiak revenge game. Seattle’s offensive coordinator was let go by the Saints at the end of last season, and he’ll want to prove on Sunday that it was a mistake.
As I mentioned in my previous article, Kubiak executed a well-balanced offensive attack against the Steelers with a mix of short and intermediate passes, along with an effective ground game. This helped Sam Darnold stay comfortable while keeping the Seahawks in third-and-manageable situations to sustain drives.
This formula must continue against the Saints if Seattle wants to have success. The last thing the Seahawks can afford is a repeat of their Week 1 performance.
Stop Alvin Kamara
The Saints don’t have a ton of firepower on offense, but they do have one of the best pass-catching backs in the league.
Alvin Kamara has averaged 178 scrimmage yards per game in three career games against the Seahawks. That’s the third-most by any player vs. a single opponent in the Super Bowl era (minimum three games).
The Seahawks already allowed 142 scrimmage yards to Christian McCaffrey this season, and now they have their hands full again. Limiting Kamara’s production is a must if Seattle hopes to come out victorious on Sunday.
Keep Feeding JSN
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been the primary focus of the Seahawks’ passing attack, with 23 targets through two games. That puts him second in the NFL in both receiving yards and receptions. He’s also posted back-to-back 100-yard games, and so far, defenses have had no answer for him.
This week, JSN has another opportunity for a big game, as the Saints’ secondary isn’t particularly strong. Expect the Seahawks to look Number 11’s way early and often as they seek their first win over New Orleans since 2013.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 PM at Lumen Field this Sunday.
