It’s already Week Six of the NFL season, and we’re starting to see the playoff picture take shape. The NFC West is looking like one of the toughest divisions in football, and every game moving forward will be vital for the Seattle Seahawks.

This week, the Seahawks head down to the Sunshine State to face the 4-1 Jaguars. Yes, after a thrilling Monday night victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jacksonville Jaguars are sitting at 4-1. You have to give a ton of credit to first-year head coach Liam Coen, who has brought confidence back to Trevor Lawrence and has the Jaguars’ offense playing up to its potential. Running back Travis Etienne has also had a resurgence after a down 2024 campaign, and he’s currently fourth in the NFL in rushing yards.

But it’s not just the offense that’s shining for Jacksonville. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, with his league-leading four interceptions, has helped turn the Jaguars into a top-ten defense and they lead the league in takeaways. When the schedule first came out, this game didn’t look too intimidating. I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore.

For the Seahawks, they played well last week but just fell short against Tampa Bay. The biggest concern right now is the injury bug, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, and Derrick Hall are all questionable for Sunday’s game. Witherspoon and Love missed last week, and Hall was injured early in the first quarter and did not return.

This game may end up being another shootout and if that’s the case, we know the Seahawks’ offense can keep up. Even though they didn’t win last week, the way Seattle’s offense performed put the league on notice. Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all had huge games. Smith-Njigba is currently second in the NFL in receiving yards and has proven that trading DK Metcalf was the right move.

However, not many people had an A.J. Barner breakout year on their radar. Barner scored two touchdowns last week, bringing his total to four on the season, good for a tie for fifth in the league. He was a reliable target last year, but he’s already matched his touchdown total from his rookie season in just five games. He’s been an unexpected bright spot for this offense.

This is a huge game for both teams. Here are my three keys to victory for the Seattle Seahawks

1. Win the turnover battle
As I  mentioned earlier, the Jaguars lead the league in takeaways, which has been a major factor in their four wins. Seattle can’t afford to give Jacksonville’s offense short fields that’s a recipe for disaster, especially if key defensive starters are out. Protecting the football and keeping it in the hands of the offense is a must.

2. Win the time of possession battle
In two of Seattle’s three wins, they’ve won the time of possession battle. They’ve lost it in both of their losses. It’s been just as crucial for the Jaguars, they’ve led in time of possession in all but one game this season. For Seattle, keeping the Jaguars’ offense off the field will be critical.

3. Sack Trevor Lawrence
The Jaguars have done a great job protecting Trevor Lawrence, he’s only been sacked six times this year, tied for fourth fewest in the league. The Seahawks rank 12th in team sacks this season, but that’s going to have to increase this week. The best way to force mistakes from a quarterback is disrupting his timing and making him uncomfortable in the pocket. Getting sacks will be absolutely crucial for Seattle. 

Kickoff is at 10 a.m. this Sunday in Jacksonville.