But for all that the offense does well, there are two areas that the Seahawks want to improve before the playoffs: the too-frequent turnovers and, most recently, the sluggish starts to games. Neither has rarely punished the Seahawks severely – evident by their 13-3 record and league-best point differential of +181 – but given the quality of their upcoming opponents, starting with Saturday night’s game, they know they have to do better here.
Even if the Seahawks often win games despite turnovers, they are not satisfied with their total of 28 – the second highest in the NFL.
“That’s not a number we’re proud of – on the contrary. We constantly preach that we have to improve here,” said Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak. “We want to maximize our periods of possession because we give away points when we give the ball away. Whether it’s decision-making on the throw, ball security or protection so that there are no sack fumbles – there are a lot of things that come together. But if we want to be a championship team, we have to do better in this area.”
As a player who has the ball in his hands on every play and makes the most important decisions, Sam Darnold has naturally been involved in most turnovers – which is normal for his position. Even though many of them came about entirely or partially outside of his control, he knows that ball security starts with the quarterback.
“Losses of the ball are unacceptable,” said Darnold. “It doesn’t matter how they happen. Even with deflected passes, you ask yourself: Did I have to put myself in that position for the ball to be tipped? With every turnover, there’s something I could have done better. And that’s basically true for every play – you can always be a little better. This team always wants to improve, and I look at myself first. That’s the best thing about this team: We have a lot of guys who look in the mirror first and ask, ‘How can I be better? be for the team?’ With this mentality – and we have it – we will continue to get better.”
As for slow starts, it hasn’t been a consistent season problem, but it’s one that has become more common lately – like last week, when the Seahawks only made one field goal in the first half. The good news: With the exception of a narrow, low-scoring win against the Colts, strong second halves followed. Nevertheless, the Seahawks know that they have to get into the game earlier against top opponents.
“We can get into the game quicker,” Darnold said. “We have a clear plan of how we want to approach a game, we just have to do it better. There are always things that can be improved.”
3. Does Seattle’s running game continue its strong performances?
When the 49ers and Seahawks met to open the season, Seattle managed just 84 yards on 26 carries – a far cry from the physical ground attack whose importance had been discussed in preparation.
Almost a full season later, the run game is significantly improved. After recording fewer than 90 rushing yards in four of their first eight games, the Seahawks have rushed for at least 114 yards in seven of the past eight games – including two of their three season-highs in the past two weeks, when they produced a combined 334 rushing yards against the Rams and Panthers.
“You can just see how the guys are getting better and better,” Kubiak said. “The offensive line is coming together, the running backs are running hot, the receivers are blocking, the quarterbacks are putting us in the right situations. It’s a season-long process.”
A key factor is the ability to use two running backs with starter potential. Two weeks ago, Kenneth Walker broke the 100-yard mark and added 64 receiving yards; In Carolina, Zach Charbonnet’s first 100-yard performance of the season followed.
“I said from the start: We have two regular players in this position,” said Kubiak. “One game it’s K9’s day, the next it’s Zach’s day, and at some point it’s Cam Akers’ day. Whenever they’re called upon, they deliver.”
4. Will Seattle’s dominant defense hold up against another elite running back?
Among the many things the Seahawks do well defensively is run defense in particular. Seattle has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season – the streak now stretches back over 25 games and is the longest running streak in the league and the longest in team history. Opponents are limited to an average of 3.7 yards per carry, a league-best, and the third-fewest rushing yards overall. This in turn allows the quarterback hunters to be particularly effective when the opposing playmaker is under pressure to cover large distances with a throw.
Most recently, the Seahawks have already controlled two of the league’s top backs – Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor – as well as the Rams’ strong rushing duo. Now perhaps the toughest test yet awaits: Christian McCaffrey.
