The Seahawks don’t get much time to sulk after a 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders. Week 4 brings a home date with the Los Angeles Chargers, and that makes this one feel like the kind of game Seattle has to handle cleanly before the schedule turns brutal.
That’s the backdrop here: the Chargers are 0-3 and fighting to keep their season from sliding away, but the real pressure for Seattle comes from what follows. After Los Angeles, the Seahawks are staring at a nasty run of opponents. Five of the next six games come against teams with winning records.
It starts with the San Francisco 49ers, who are 3-0, coming to Seattle in Week 5. Then comes a short week and a trip to face the Denver Broncos, who are 2-1, on Thursday Night Football.
After that, the Seahawks get two straight primetime tests, with the Kansas City Chiefs at 3-0 on Sunday Night Football in Week 7 and the Chicago Bears at 2-1 on Monday Night Football in Week 8. The stretch continues after a second matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, who are 1-2, in Week 9, before Seattle heads on the road in Week 10 to face the surprising Las Vegas Raiders, also 3-0, led by former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
So Week 4 is less about peeking ahead and more about fixing what’s already been exposed.
One of the biggest issues for Seattle’s defense has been handling the short passing game. The New England Patriots in Week 1 and the Cardinals in Week 2 leaned on it to stay away from the Seahawks’ quick pass rush. Washington followed that same path, working the ball to receivers for five-to-eight yards and then finding other ways to stretch the field.
The offense has its own problems to clean up. Seattle has to get the run game moving before Zach Charbonnet comes back, because he can’t be asked to rescue it.
Against Washington, the Seahawks ran 18 times for 44 yards, which works out to 2.4 yards per carry. The goal-line offense has also been an issue since the season began.
Rookie Jadarian Price needs to start playing like the franchise running back he was drafted to be.
Mike Macdonald’s team also has to look sharper from the jump. Through three games, the Seahawks have scored only 17 first-half points.
And when injuries hit, the backups have to be ready; Julian Love’s sudden injury forced practice squad player AJ Finley into the lineup. There have been stretches where Seattle has looked sloppy, and that’s not going to cut it against a Chargers team that still has talent.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Questions Make One Veteran Trade Idea Worth Watching
Seattles backfield remains one of the more interesting spots on the roster as the season moves along, and the conversation around possible upgrades has started to widen beyond internal options. A veteran Tennessee running back is part of that discussion, along with names like Tony Pollard, David Montgomery and Rachaad White, all of whom bring different combinations of production, contract status and fit. For a team trying to sort out its ground game, the appeal is easy to understand, especially with run blocking still a concern and the margin for error shrinking.
The Seahawks are not being linked to a confirmed move, and this is still firmly in the speculative stage, but the idea is worth monitoring because the choices come with real tradeoffs. Some options would add proven production, while others would require a bigger commitment and raise questions about cost, ball security or how quickly they could settle in. For now, it is less about a deal being close than about which kind of back Seattle would actually want if it decides the room needs another jolt. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Quietly Addressed A Fan Frustration That Matters Right Now
After hearing from fans who had a hard time making out questions during press conferences, the Seahawks are making a small but noticeable change to how those sessions sound. New owner Neal Khosla said the team plans to add two additional microphones, a simple fix aimed at improving audio clarity for the people following along at home.
It is the kind of behind-the-scenes adjustment that does not change the standings, but it does speak to a team trying to pay attention to the details around it. The move comes as Seattle works through the aftermath of a close loss to the Washington Commanders and turns its attention to the Los Angeles Chargers, with every bit of communication carrying a little more weight right now. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have A Growing Concern At Right Tackle
The Seahawks have spent real resources trying to build something sturdier up front, and Abraham Lucas has been central to that plan at right tackle. Since arriving as a former third-round pick, he has offered the kind of run-blocking the team wants, but his work in pass protection has been a different story, with pressure issues showing up early and often in the opening games of the season.
Seattles coaching staff knows the problem is there and is already trying to patch it with extra practice work and scheme help. The question now is whether those fixes are enough to steady one of the lines most important spots, or whether right tackle becomes an even bigger concern as the season moves deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]