Jacksonville’s all-time passing leader is former Husky Mark Brunell; like this jersey, the Jaguars have faded. The high bid for the jersey on eBay is 11 cents.
The Seahawks are going to win on Sunday. I say this not with absolute certainty, but in the same way that I’d say “I’m going to go to work on Monday.” Obviously I could get the flu, or have to deal with some unexpected plumbing issue, but more than likely my cubicle is where I’ll be. Likewise, the Seahawks could lose Sunday to winless Jacksonville, but…they are 20-point favorites, the most the Seahawks have ever been favored by; and only three teams—the 2011 Patriots, the 2007 Patriots, and the 1993 49ers—have ever been favored by more in a game.
So, while not discounting the possibility of a Seahawks loss, I’m not going to dwell on it by suggesting that there are “keys to the game” for the Seahawks. (If there is a “Key to the Game,” it’s “don’t completely fuck up.”) Instead, let’s assume the most likely scenario, a comfortable Seahawks win. Because even if the Hawks win by 20, as Vegas expects, there are three pressing questions that we could have answered by game’s end.
1) How badly will the Seahawks miss Russell Okung?
Arguably the most irreplaceable member of the Seahawks (yes, perhaps even more than Russell Wilson), stellar left tackle Okung injured a toe ligament against the 49ers and spent the week getting prodded on both coasts. Okung’s out for the Jacksonville game and possibly much longer. Sunday will be the Hawks’ first full game without Okung, and his replacements will have their hands full with one of the Jags’ best players, defensive end Jason Babin. Former Seahawk Babin isn’t an elite pass-rusher, but he’s definitely above average. If Babin dominates Okung’s replacements (veteran Paul McQuistan, usually the left guard, and rookies Alvin Bailey and Michael Bowie), the win won’t be in danger — the Hawks could bring extra protection, roll Wilson out to the right, or any number of other mitigating strategies. But they could be in big trouble when they face better competition later in the year.
2) Is Russell Wilson really having a sophomore slump?
Wilson has been inconsistent through two games; he put up good stats against Carolina, but never looked comfortable, and was downright average against San Francisco. He ought to put up a much better showing against Jacksonville, whose top six defensive backs include two rookies, a second-year player, and a guy the Seahawks cut. If Wilson can’t throw against these guys, who will he be able to throw against? The Seahawks may not need much of a passing game — Jacksonville has allowed an NFL-worst 5.7 yards per rush — but in the opportunities he does get, Wilson should be accurate and efficient. If Wilson doesn’t put up at least a 60% completion percentage, that’s a red flag.
3) How will the Seahawk D handle a traditional pocket passer?
The two quarterbacks the Seahawks have faced so far, speedsters Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick, are NFL outliers; both have world-class speed that allows them to turn a broken pass play into a big gain. Most NFL QBs are more like Jacksonville starter Chad Henne—traditional pocket passers who thrive on accuracy, and run, but only do so as a last resort. With their improved interior pass rush and continued stellar defensive back play, the Hawks should be able to get consistent pocket pressure on Henne and sack him repeatedly. But who knows? A veteran like Henne may be able to find holes in the Seahawk defense that Newton and Kaepernick couldn’t.
Seahawks play Jacksonville at CenturyLink Field at 1:25 p.m. Tickets are going for $100-$850 on StubHub. The game is on CBS. Bid on that Mark Brunell jersey here.
PRO TIP: The Jags drafted former Michigan QB Denard Robinson in the 5th round with the idea of using him as an “offensive weapon” a la Reggie Bush or Percy Harvin, but Robinson has just 3 rushing attempts and no receptions through two games. Could Jacksonville be saving him as a way to level the playing field against the Seahawks with a couple of trick plays or unexpected looks?
