Field Gulls
We are just hours away from the biggest regular season game in Seattle Seahawks franchise history. They’ve been the No. 1 seed before, but they’ve never had to clinch it in this fashion on the final day of the regular season. The winner of the Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara gets
It’s time for our some predictions! Let’s first review how last week’s Carolina Panthers game predictions went.
Bold prediction: Kenneth Walker gets the rushing yards needed to hit 1,000
He wasn’t close to 121 yards, but he only needs 70 to hit 1k for the year.
Seahawks offense prediction: Sam Darnold cracks 300 yards
He didn’t even hit 200.
Seahawks defense prediction: Nick Emmanwori forces a turnover in his return home
Quiet day for Emmanwori on the stat sheet, so while the Seahawks forced turnovers, he was not involved.
Panthers prediction: Mike Jackson gets some measure of revenge
WELP.
Game prediction: The Seahawks turn back a determined Panthers team
The Panthers defense was determined to win. Not sure about the offense. I said 30-20 and I gave Carolina too much credit, but the thought was correct.
After legitimate concern over whether or not he’d be available after he was concussed against the Carolina Panthers, Seattle’s Pro Bowl return specialist and wide receiver is all systems go for Saturday night. With Tory Horton likely done for the year, it’s clear that Shaheed is the only non-Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seahawks receiver who can stretch opposing defenses vertically. He had consecutive very productive performances as a WR against the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons before a goose egg (but a punt return TD) against the Rams and then one ultimately concussive catch vs. Carolina.
The 49ers defense is prone to giving up explosive pass plays—five straight weeks with a 20+ yard touchdown pass allowed—and this stat should raise eyebrows.
Is Shaheed WR2 over Cooper Kupp? Probably 2a and 2b at this point, and in this game I think I’d rather see Rashid be WR2. He’ll finally get his first receiving touchdown as a Seahawk, and it’ll be an explosive one.
That Arizona Cardinals blowout seems so long ago. Week 10 is the last time the Seahawks offense put up multiple offensive touchdowns in the first half. Since Week 11, they’ve been held to a whopping two as part of a somewhat concerning trend of slow starts. They’ve been fortunate that the defense has been amazing, such that the Seahawks can wake up in the second half and not have to deal with big deficits.
San Francisco’s defense is 28th by EPA/play in the 1st half and 24th by DVOA. If the Seahawks can’t figure this out now (or, rather, return to their dominant 1st halves from the early part of the year) then maybe this is who they’ll be for...
