The Seattle Seahawks may be 3-3 after an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 6, but they’re still hanging around the top tier in the latest Week 7 NFL power rankings roundup.
That’s the bigger picture here: this start has been rougher than anyone in Seattle expected, yet the league still views the defending champs as a top-10 team. Across several outlets, the Seahawks never fall far - and in some cases, they barely move at all.
Connor Orr nudged Seattle down just one spot, while pointing to a possible lift on offense when Zach Charbonnet returns, something he expects to happen soon.
"Zach Charbonnet is (likely) back. With a completely new offensive coordinator and similar run philosophy, we’ll see if it makes the kind of difference we expect it to," Orr wrote.
ESPN kept the Seahawks at No. 6, though Brady Henderson noted that the ground game still needs work. He also flagged problems in pass protection and ball security, while saying those issues can be fixed.
"The Seahawks' run game has been underwhelming and their pass protection has been problematic, but no issue is holding first-year coordinator Brian Fleury's unit back like turnovers. It has committed 12 of them, third most of any offense so far," Henderson wrote.
Bleacher Report was a little harsher, sliding Seattle from sixth to ninth. Kristopher Knox pointed to the same trouble spots: the run game and Sam Darnold’s interceptions.
"Backfield injuries have prevented the Seahawks from running the ball effectively. As a team, Seattle has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry.
This has allowed opposing defenses to focus on pressuring quarterback Sam Darnold, who has been the team's other issue," Knox wrote. "With seven interceptions in less than five full games, Darnold has actively cost Seattle wins."
The Athletic had Seattle lower than the rest of the group, placing the Seahawks at No. 10. Josh Kendall and Chad Graff framed the offense’s issues around the running back situation, writing that the unit will keep struggling with Emanuel Wilson as the lead back.
"Why are the defending champions struggling? Because a former undrafted free agent in his fourth year of a journeyman career is their top-scoring running back (9.4 ppg). While Kenneth Walker III is carrying the Chiefs, Seattle first-round pick Jadarian Price has struggled with injuries and fumbles and is 58th in the league in rushing (119 yards) while he rehabs a chest injury on injured reserve," Josh Kendall and Chad Graff wrote.
Nate Davis also moved Seattle down three spots, and he said the workload on Darnold has gone too far.
"Can't have QB Sam Darnold throwing a career-high 51 times − and getting beaten to a pulp in the process − and expect to win. Sure would help to get injured RBs Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet back," Davis wrote.
The throughline in all of it is pretty clear: Seattle’s defense and run game are supposed to be the backbone, and the run game simply hasn’t been healthy or productive enough yet. Even with the slow start, the Seahawks are still being treated like a dangerous team once those pieces come back into place.
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 🡒]