Good morning and Joyful Sunday, Seattle Seahawks followers! It’s Week 15 and the Seahawks are in high spot within the NFC West. Presently final season, Seattle was mathematically out of the race. Will the Seahawks make it 5 straight wins and knock off the favored Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday Evening Soccer? In the event that they do, we is likely to be speaking a few particular late-season run. If not, it’s not the top of the world though the Los Angeles Rams would lead the division on tiebreaker, however margin for error can be out the window.
Earlier than we get into this week’s predictions for the Inexperienced Bay sport, let’s recap final week’s predictions for the Arizona Cardinals rematch.
Daring prediction: Seahawks particular groups forces a takeaway
Didn’t occur and there weren’t many alternatives for it to occur.
Seahawks offense prediction: Jaxon Smith-Njigba lastly catches his first highway landing
This did occur, although!
Seahawks protection prediction: Leonard Williams retains his sack streak going
Huge Cat did document a sort out for loss towards the run, however the sack streak is over.
Enemy prediction: Cardinals power at the very least two Seahawks turnovers on offense
Clear! Not a turnover in sight from the Seahawks, however the protection did get two INTs off of Kyler Murray.
Recreation prediction: Seahawks commit too many offensive errors, lose to Cardinals
The penalties returned however in any other case this was a really incorrect prediction.
Properly these had been some actually dangerous predictions! However the essential ones relating to the turnovers and the ultimate rating had been the great sort of incorrect.
Let’s see what this week brings!
Daring prediction: Julian Love intercepts Jordan Love
Jordan Love has thrown 11 interceptions, however none over his final three video games. Caring for the ball was a problem for him early within the season however he’s fared lots higher just lately, and his capability to suit passes into tight home windows is well considered one of his greatest traits.
…However there’s a security on the Seahawks named Julian Love (no relation) who’s prepared to finish that streak of no picks for Jordan! That’s the daring choose of the week! This isn’t simply Jordan love throwing an interception, however throwing it to the J. Love who’s having an impressive season for the Seahawks.
Seahawks offense prediction: Jaxon Smith-Njigba units a franchise document
Do you know that JSN is on a five-game streak of at the very least 70 receiving yards? A formidable quantity in itself that highlights how closely he’s featured within the offense over the previous a number of weeks. Did you additionally know that if he does it once more on Sunday evening it’ll be a franchise document?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 70+ receiving yards in every of his final 5 video games, tied with DK Metcalf (2020) and Steve Largent (1985) for the longest streak in a season in Seahawks historical past
— Dante Koplowitz-Fleming (@DanteKopFlem) December 8, 2024
JSN has seemed just like the participant the Seahawks thought he can be when he was taken at No. 20 general final season. With DK Metcalf nonetheless commanding double groups or at the very least having safeties shaded to his aspect, JSN is consuming from the slot and comfortably leads the NFL in receiving yards from the slot place.
The Packers have proven main vulnerability on passes to the center of the sphere, which is the place I consider there will probably be alternatives for Smith-Njigba to strike the jackpot with explosive performs and transfer the chains on shorter positive factors. I see him getting at the very least 70 receiving yards for the sixth straight sport… and possibly even attain the top zone once more.
Seahawks protection prediction: Josh Jacobs held underneath 80 speeding yards and 4 yards/try
Josh Jacobs is third in speeding yards with 1,053, and he appears to be like like a really efficient Aaron Jones alternative because the lead again. The final time the Seahawks confronted Jacobs, he rushed for over 200 yards and had a walkoff successful additional time landing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
This will probably be an enormous check for Seattle’s improved run protection, which ranks third in rush EPA since Week 9. Inexperienced Bay’s speeding assault is within the top-10 on the season for rush EPA and the offensive line has been superb.
Seattle’s run D had some faltering at instances towards the Cardinals final week, however mild bins invited favorable appears to be like for Arizona. The Packers are a distinct problem however not the identical model of offense, and Jordan Love isn’t the identical working menace as Kyler Murray. I see Seattle holding Jacobs down by way of his yards per carry and his general complete. The defensive position is enjoying extraordinarily nicely and Tyrice Knight and Ernest Jones IV have been upgrades over Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker.
Enemy prediction: Xavier McKinney will get his eighth interception of the yr
The principle former New York Giants star who’s discovered on the spot success elsewhere is Philadelphia Eagles working again Saquon Barkley. On the defensive aspect of the ball, one of many nice free agent signings all season has been Packers security Xavier McKinney. He’s tied with the Detroit Lions’ Kerby Joseph for the league lead in interceptions, and has been the important thing participant in that Inexperienced Bay secondary. McKinney has a nostril for the ball and is enjoying at a excessive degree.
For no matter motive, Seattle has not taken care of the ball at house the way in which it has on the highway. Geno Smith has thrown 10 of his 12 interceptions at Lumen Subject, and has had just one house sport with out a turnover. He’s been turnover-free over the previous two weeks (once more, each on the highway), however I’ve a sense there will probably be some over-aggressiveness that can get punished by McKinney.
Recreation prediction: Seahawks make main assertion at house, upset Packers
The Packers are considered darkish horse contenders for the Tremendous Bowl. Their protection is improved from current seasons they usually’ve seemingly effortlessly transitioned from one franchise QB to a different (once more). Matt LaFleur is a good offensive thoughts and he has the Packers offense buzzing with out a true celebrity large receiver or tight finish (regardless of Tucker Kraft’s stand up the ranks as a high participant at this place). If Mike Macdonald’s protection isn’t resolute, then don’t be shocked.
However has this offense turned a nook? The offensive line has performed higher in cross safety over the previous two weeks, and the run blocking opened up holes for Zach Charbonnet he’s seldom seen since getting into the NFL in 2023. This sport will probably be determined by Ryan Grubb’s offense, and whether or not his unit can operate in addition to it (largely) did in Arizona. Is that speeding success sustainable towards a more durable protection? Will the play-action begin to open up from sure run appears to be like? Can they exploit the center of the sphere and Inexperienced Bay’s questionable linebackers? Will Tyler Lockett have extra of a optimistic influence than we’ve seen in current video games? Is DK Metcalf going to have his greatest sport since coming back from his MCL sprain?
I consider the offense nonetheless has some structural points that can forestall it from reaching most potential this yr, however it will possibly nonetheless be adequate to win. Screw it, let’s choose a win! The Seahawks as soon as once more climate an early deficit and rally for a season-defining 27-23 victory in entrance of probably the most amped up Lumen Subject crowd because the 2022 win over the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson.
Possibly JSN has a “Golden Tate caught it” second or Jason Myers throws a pretend area objective landing to Mike Jerrell. Let’s have some enjoyable!
