Happy Week 3, everyone! We’re just a few hours away from kickoff between the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, which of course has great importance in Seahawks history in terms of playoff wins. In more recent times, however, the Saints have won four straight regular season matchups, most recently that ridiculous 39-32 shootout in 2022 that otherwise goes down in Seahawks infamy as “The Taysom Hill Game.” It’s about damn time the losing streak to the Saints and the losing run at Lumen Field
are both ceased post-haste.
Let’s review last week’s predictions, which went a hell of a lot better than I thought.
Bold prediction: One of Kenneth Walker III or Zach Charbonnet will rush for 100 yards
It happened! K9 got 105 yards on the day while Charbonnet… well I was one 0 off. And he’s not going to have a chance to get 100 this weekend, either.
Seahawks offense prediction: At least eight play-action passes
Does 10 sound good to you? Darnold was 6/10 for 137 yards, a touchdown to Tory Horton, and a pair of interceptions. Cut down on those INTs and I think that’s a winning formula moving forward, certainly more so than whatever the hell the Week 1 plan was supposed to be.
Seahawks defense prediction: Sacks by both Boye Mafe and Derick Hall
They’re getting close but neither man has a sack yet.
Steelers prediction: DK Metcalf has a 1-to-1 touchdown-to-penalty ratio
DK got the touchdown but was not flagged for anything.
Game prediction: Seahawks somehow find a way to get in the win column
They were finding ways to lose in the first half but found every way to win in the 2nd half!
Bold prediction: The Seahawks go turnover-free at home for once
This seems like a lame bold prediction until you look at recent numbers. Seattle had at least one turnover in every home game in 2024, and while Geno Smith was a major reason for this by having a bizarre home-road split of interceptions, lest we forget the Dee Williams experience and some other key fumbles lost throughout the season. Dating back to 2022, there have only been four home games in which Seattle didn’t have at least one giveaway.
I’d like to think Mike Macdonald values taking care of the ball (and taking the ball away) as much as Pete Carroll does, and it’s time for the Seahawks to drop the carelessness and put a zero in the giveaway box.
Seahawks offense prediction: Elijah Arroyo gets his first NFL touchdown
Tory Horton notched his first NFL touchdown last Sunday in Pittsburgh, and it’s hopefully the first of many to come in a Seahawks uniform. Arroyo has three grabs in the early stages of this season, but that fake toss PA in which he was able to sneak across the formation and pick up over 20 yards (mostly after the catch) is the type of offense I love to see. I think that the tight ends will be a little more heavily involved in the passing game this weekend, be it Arroyo or A.J. Barner. I’m backing Arroyo to follow in Horton’s footsteps and reach the end zone.
Seahawks defense prediction: Riq Woolen picks off Spencer Rattler
Rattler has had no turnovers through the first two weeks and looks at least baseline competent compared to his tough rookie season. Having a much healthier (albeit not perfectly healthy) supporting cast is a big benefit to any quarterback, much less one with scant experience.
Riq Woolen has taken his lumps lately over concentration lapses and making uncharacteristically poor plays on the ball relative to his high total of passes defensed (not to mention his six interceptions as a rookie). Rattler is likely to put the ball in harm’s way, especially if the Saints are playing from behind as the game progresses, and I see this as an opportunity for Riq to get his first pick of the year.
Opposition prediction: Alvin Kamara goes for over 100 yards (again)
The Seahawks have only faced Kamara three times and he’s racked up 194, 179, and 161 total yards on offense in those matchups. I’m a little more worried about Kamara doing damage in the passing game, especially given the injuries Seattle is dealing with in the secondary. I believe the run defense will hold up—Kamara did come just a yard short of 100 against the San Francisco 49ers—but Kamara will be enough of a volume factor as an elite receiving back that he’ll have another big day against the Seahawks.
Game prediction: Seahawks win comfortably, but maybe less so given the injuries
My original pick was 31-13 Seahawks but that’s taken a hit with Julian Love and Zach Charbonnet ruled doubtful for this game. Seattle can likely get by just fine without Charbonnet (although his pass protection clears the other backs on the depth chart) but I’m worried about what this safety room looks like without All-Pro caliber play.
Let’s knock a few points off of Seattle’s total and add a field goal to the Saints’ tally, and call it a 27-16 win in which the Saints are sort of in the game but never truly in position to have a shocking upset victory. Sam Darnold throws two touchdown passes while Kenneth Walker III runs for his second TD of the season. The defense gives up some yards to Rattler, Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, and others but limits big plays and holds the Saints to FGs instead of TDs.
Alrighty. I’ve made my picks. Now make yours in the comments section below!
