Seattle Seahawks: Opponent Preview – New Orleans

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Oct 20, 2021
Seattle Seahawks win Dallas
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks.

The Seattle Seahawks host Big Easy’s team for Monday Night Football. This isn’t your Drew Brees’ Saints team anymore. Will that be a difference-maker in the final results?

The Seattle Seahawks will host a Brees-less Saints team. So far, neither of these teams has been very good this year, and both have their reasons for their ineptitude. This week’s game does not profile as a very entertaining matchup.

It’s preview time.

New Orleans Offense vs. Seattle Seahawks Defense

The New Orleans offense is 31st in total yards; only the Jets are worse. As previously mentioned, Brees is currently retired and the new Saints starting quarterback is Jameis Winston. So far, he hasn’t been anything close to his Tampa Bay days, which is good and bad. That’s because his head coach Sean Payton isn’t giving Winston the opportunity.

New Orleans is the ninth-ranked rushing team in the NFL, averaging 125.8-yards a game. The defensive game plan should be to dare/force Winston to beat Seattle’s secondary. Winston has only thrown the ball 30 times in a game one time this season (last week against Washington). The rest of the times he attempted over 22 passes resulted in losses.

New Orleans Defense vs. Seattle Seahawks Offense

New Orleans’ defense ranks 15th in total yards allowed per game with 354 and yields the third-fewest points, 18.2.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith didn’t have his greatest game last week while filling in for injured Russell Wilson. Smith looked better in relief against L.A. two weeks ago than he did against Pittsburgh last Thursday night. Hopefully, another full week of practice as Smith as the starter will help the offense fare better.

He and his offensive line do catch a break. In six games, the Seattle Seahawks pass rush generated 11 sacks. Believe it or not, New Orleans is worse with only eight. Geno might have time to throw.

Also, it’d be nice if Alex Collins could play. Otherwise, it means more will be asked of Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas, and soon to be activated, Rashaad Penny carrying the ball. New Orleans’ defense is very good at stopping the run, allowing the fewest yards-per-carry (3.3) this year. So, Smith and Co. will need to do a better job passing than they did last week.

Bottom Line

The Seattle Seahawks have currently faced the 3rd, 8th, 11th and 12th ranked rushing teams. Earning a record of 2-2 but both of those wins came against teams that were outside the top 10. It’s a good thing the NFL is so popular because this game will not be entertaining for viewers that aren’t fans of either team.

Some predictions

This will be the lowest-rated Sunday Night Football game of the year. Tyler Lockett has a big game, going over 70-yards receiving with a score. Also, Gerald Everett gets into the endzone and has his highest yardage total on his season. New Orleans 24 Seattle 20. Maybe a reverse jinx will do the trick.

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