Field Gulls
We are hours away from the Seattle Seahawks starting their December schedule against the Atlanta Falcons. Ever since the Falcons opened up their new stadium in 2017, they’ve yet to beat the Seahawks on four tries. A failure to win on Sunday would eliminate them from the postseason, although their elimination is all but inevitable whether today or within the next couple of weeks. For the Seahawks, there’s a lot on the line in terms of playoff positioning and the NFC West race, and they have to actually secure their postseason berth first.
This is game day morning, so you know what that means! It’s time for some game predictions! Before we get into this Falcons matchup, let’s revisit how accurate last week’s Minnesota Vikings predictions were!
Bold prediction: A Seahawks big fella interception
A lot of interceptions, none of them from a defensive lineman. Awwww.
Seahawks offense prediction: Kenneth Walker III rushes for over 100 yards
Still hasn’t happened since Week 2.
Seahawks defense prediction: Winning the turnover battle
I’d say +3 is winning the turnover battle emphatically.
Vikings prediction: Someone with a ‘J’ first name will score a touchdown
Didn’t even score a touchdown. Someone with the surname Jones did score, but he plays for the Seahawks.
Game prediction: Seahawks win by a healthy margin
I’d say 26-0 is as healthy as a balanced diet.
Seattle’s special teams ranks 2nd in FTN’s DVOA, while the Falcons are a woeful 30th. Atlanta has gone through three kickers, muffed a punt last week against the New York Jets, and allowed numerous huge kick and punt returns.
Special teams touchdowns are nevertheless not common, although we did see Tory Horton take one to the house versus the New Orleans Saints. Chazz Surratt could’ve had a blocked punt TD in the same game if he didn’t whiff on the scoop before the score. Jay Harbaugh’s group has made major improvement on everything but kicking and punting, in which case Jason Myers and Michael Dickson have been their usual selves, and I think if there was ever a time for Rashid Shaheed to announce his arrival as a Seahawk, it’s against his former division foe.
Anyone know who’s the last Seahawks player not named Jaxon Smith-Njigba to get a receiving touchdown? That would be Cody White against the Washington Commanders. We’re looking at 18 consecutive quarters without a TD to someone other than JSN in the passing game. While I fully expect JSN to bounce back and get fed the ball a lot and clear 100 receiving yards again, I’d love for someone else to step up and be a truly formidable second option for Sam Darnold to throw to. Will it be Rashid Shaheed this week? I don’t know.
The Falcons pass defense is better than their run defense, particularly when it comes to their...
