The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the most important stretch of their season, and the margin for error has already started to shrink. They’ve dropped their last two games, and the four contests before their bye are lined up to tell the story of where this season is going.
It starts with a heavyweight visit from the Chiefs, one of the league’s three undefeated teams. Kansas City arrives in Seattle after beating the Los Angeles Chargers 22-6, and the Seahawks will need a much cleaner performance than they’ve shown over the past two weeks if they want a shot. It’s a game Seattle can win at home, but only if it cuts down the mistakes and matches the level Kansas City has brought so far.
Stopping the run will be a central piece of that challenge, especially with former friend Kenneth Walker III in the mix. If the Seahawks can slow him down and keep the Chiefs from controlling the game on the ground, they give themselves a real chance to hand Kansas City its first loss.
After that comes the first of three straight prime-time games, beginning at home against the Bears. Chicago is 4-2 through six games and has Caleb Williams back from injury, which only adds another layer to a matchup that already looks tricky. The Bears can score in bunches, but they’ve also had stretches where they’ve looked vulnerable, and this one should serve as a true measuring stick for Seattle in the NFC.
There’s a decent chance that game comes down to the final possession. The small details are likely to decide it, and the Seahawks will need to be sharp if they want to show they still belong among the conference’s better teams.
The next two games bring even more pressure, starting with a home divisional matchup that has to be treated like a must-win. Seattle already beat the Cardinals in Arizona in Week 2, but the loss to the Rams is the kind of reminder that trap games can show up fast. The Seahawks are expected to be favored here, but they still have to handle their business before they can think about the rest of the stretch.
Then comes the game that leads into the bye, and it carries plenty of baggage. Klint Kubiak, Seattle’s offensive coordinator last season, now gets a shot to face his former team after helping guide them to a Super Bowl. That familiarity makes the Raiders a particularly interesting test, because Kubiak should know the Seahawks’ personnel and preparation as well as anyone.
That matchup feels wide open. Depending on who’s available and how Seattle responds to the ways Las Vegas tries to attack its weak spots, it could swing either direction.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Finally Get The Backfield Boost They Need Most
Zach Charbonnet is closing in on a season debut, and for a Seahawks offense that has been searching for more traction on the ground, the timing could hardly be better. After recovering from a torn ACL, the running back was designated to return to practice on Oct. 1, and Mike Macdonald said there is a good chance he could be back in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle has needed a lift in its running game, and Charbonnets return would add a familiar piece to the backfield at a moment when the team could use one. The final step is whether he gets through the week and onto the field, but the possibility alone gives the Seahawks a different look as they head into a tough matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Trade Deadline Debate Starts With One Urgent Roster Question
Before the Seahawks make any real push toward the trade deadline, the conversation has to start with the middle of the offensive line. Seattle has been linked in recent days to a few big names, including Colts guard Quenton Nelson, Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack and running backs Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, but the clearest case may be on the interior. Nelson is drawing attention not just because of his talent, but because his contract situation and fit make him the kind of move that could actually address an obvious need without forcing the club into a long-term gamble.
The Seahawks also have some help on the way in the backfield, with Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price expected back from injury. That makes a running back splash less urgent, and it helps explain why Nelson looks like the cleaner fit if Seattle chooses to spend. The teams general manager has also shown a willingness to trade for players on expiring deals and work out new contracts later, which keeps the door open for a deadline move even if the details are still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Move That Could Change Their Offense
Jonathan Taylor has suddenly become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape around a Colts team that has already slid to 2-4 and is trying to sort out its future. Indianapolis recently fired general manager Chris Ballard, and the front office picture is only getting messier with reports that Peyton Manning could be in the mix as a replacement. Against that backdrop, it is no surprise that teams looking to strengthen their offense are checking in.
The Bengals are one of the clubs linked to Taylor, and the Seahawks have also reportedly inquired, which tells you how much attention a proven running back can draw when a season starts to wobble. For Seattle, it is the kind of phone call that fits a bigger search for answers on offense, even if nothing is settled yet. The real question now is whether Indianapolis is willing to listen seriously, or whether this is just the first wave of interest before the market gets even busier. [Read more 🡒]