Week 3 : Hawks hosting the Saints

[4XPIPS]

On paper, this should be a win for the Hawks, but it could be closer than projected. For the Saints, there are no big expectations, and they are in full rebuild mode, so they are a wildcard-type team, playing with nothing to really lose. So this could be one of those games that can catch Seattle at a weak point. In their previous two games, they didn't get blown out, but they did lose to the Cards and 49ers by one score each. With a crucial Thursday showdown against the Cardinals looming, I can see Mike Macdonald shutting down several key players for this game in preparation for the Thursday game, making it a challenge to win without them.

It would appear at this point that we will not have Devon Witherspoon again, and possibly Julian Love. May not even have Zach Charbonet, and just for funsies, why not have JSN throw in on the injury report with an illness? Hopefully, JSN can suit up, but if he doesn't play, I would expect to see a lot more Tory Hornton.

We need to get back to taking care of our homefield advantage, and we have been good on the road, but we have lost our way at protecting our home. I read a report, and I am not sure if you have seen it as well, but the last home game against the 49ers there was a reported 53% turn out for the visiting team to Lumen Field, not sure if that is entirely true, but that wouldn't surprise me as most home venues prefer traveling fans as it usually means more $$ for hospitality.

So it starts here with a win at home against the Saints, and hopefully, we can get through it without losing any key players. Good news is that Jalen Sundell only had cramps, and is good to go this week, which again would be my dream to see us start the same 5 guys all season.

Seahawks 27
Saints 24

[Aseahawkfan]

Seahawks want to be a contender, they gotta win this game. I'd prefer a strong win, but who knows.

[NorthHawk]

I'm actually worried this might not go as expected. We might still play down to the level of our opponent.
21-20 Seahawks.

[River Dog]

JSN is listed as questionable with an illness. We're a little thin at WR, so that could be a big factor today if he can't go.

I'm not sure what to expect. I would like to think that we'll win this one going away, like 30-21, but I've been down this expectation road before.

[Oly]

I'm actually worried this might not go as expected. We might still play down to the level of our opponent.
21-20 Seahawks.

This is my worry, exactly. The Hawks have a history of this. And given the injuries, I think it's even more likely. I think it's equally close, but with more FGs and fewer TDs.
17-16 Hawks

[River Dog]

This is a different team in a different era with different coaches and team leaders than those teams who so often times played down to the level of their competition. I don't think we can look at past history as an indicator as to how this game might play out. Plus, it's early in the season, too early for favorites and underdogs to be firmly established, especially when it involves two non-playoff teams from the year before. If we lose, I honestly think that it won't be due to us overlooking the Saints.

It looks like JSN has beaten the bug that had him on the questionable list and will play, so that's a plus.

After falling ill with a “bug,” Smith-Njiba is expected to play against the New Orleans Saints. Adam Schefter revealed the updated status for the receivers, stating:

“Seahawks are expecting Jaxon Smith-Njigba to play today after he began experiencing “flu-like symptoms” Saturday, per source.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/motors ... ngNewsSerp

[HawkSis]

Not a bad start!

[River Dog]

Yeah, how 'bout those special teams!

[Oly]

This is my worry, exactly. The Hawks have a history of this. And given the injuries, I think it's even more likely. I think it's equally close, but with more FGs and fewer TDs.
17-16 Hawks

Yumyumcrowyumyum

[4XPIPS]

Halftime.

I am partly speechless as I was not expecting this team to dominate this well early in the game. What can go wrong will go wrong for bad teams, and the Saints are just dysfunctional at this point. If we are considered a good team and the Saints are a bad team, well, the score reflects that now.

I would like to draw some attention to Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick. When Spoon comes back, I think Jobe has earned the right to be the starter over Woolen, and Derion Kendrick to come in as the nickel or 3rd corner, as both of them are balling out. The two calls on Jobe are very 'sus', but given this opportunity with Spoon, Love, and Emmanwori out, this has given Derion and Josh an opportunity to show their worth, and back-to-back games, they are both balling out. The deep pass to Shaheed at the end of the half was on Woolen. I don't think Woolen should be cut, but I think Jobe is the better corner.

Tory Horton, what a special player he is. If he keeps playing this way, he could win OROY in my opinion.

For the remaining game it would be nice to see if K9 can get going. 8 attempts for 7 yards.. it should get better from here.

[River Dog]

Halftime.

I am partly speechless as I was not expecting this team to dominate this well early in the game. What can go wrong will go wrong for bad teams, and the Saints are just dysfunctional at this point. If we are considered a good team and the Saints are a bad team, well, the score reflects that now.

I would like to draw some attention to Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick. When Spoon comes back, I think Jobe has earned the right to be the starter over Woolen, and Derion Kendrick to come in as the nickel or 3rd corner, as both of them are balling out. The two calls on Jobe are very 'sus', but given this opportunity with Spoon, Love, and Emmanwori out, this has given Derion and Josh an opportunity to show their worth, and back-to-back games, they are both balling out. The deep pass to Shaheed at the end of the half was on Woolen. I don't think Woolen should be cut, but I think Jobe is the better corner.

Tory Horton, what a special player he is. If he keeps playing this way, he could win OROY in my opinion.

For the remaining game it would be nice to see if K9 can get going. 8 attempts for 7 yards.. it should get better from here.

As injury prone as he is, I don't think we'll see a lot of K9 in the 2nd half. As a matter of fact, I doubt that we'll see a lot of starters once we get into the 4th quarter.

[Aseahawkfan]

Haha. A brutal beatdown on a terrible team. Nice to see.

[River Dog]

Haha. A brutal beatdown on a terrible team. Nice to see.

Best special teams performance that I've ever seen out of a Seahawks team. Going into the 4th quarter, we have scored on every drive. Defense still hasn't allowed a TD. We haven't had a game like this in a long time.

[c_hawkbob]

Boy how long has it been since we've been able to pull our starters for the fourth quarter of a regular season game?

[River Dog]

Boy how long has it been since we've been able to pull our starters for the fourth quarter of a regular season game?

You got me!

Rams lost today, and either the Niners or the Cards will lose, so not a bad Sunday.

[4XPIPS]

Great game.

Didn't hear anything on the broadcast, but saw Robbie Ouzts sort of limping when he came off the field, walking around the sideline. So hopefully it isn't anything big. It has been a long time we dominated a game in all three phases.

When Darnold is given a clean pocket, he can make those throws; his arm talent is really good. Even with a mediocre run game today, our pass game was elite.

Tory Horton in the record books!

It's nice to see Byron Murphy create some havoc up the middle. Well, not to get over hyped, because the Saints are a crap team, but Thursday's showdown will be a good game to watch.

[River Dog]

Great game.

Didn't hear anything on the broadcast, but saw Robbie Ouzts sort of limping when he came off the field, walking around the sideline. So hopefully it isn't anything big. It has been a long time we dominated a game in all three phases.

When Darnold is given a clean pocket, he can make those throws; his arm talent is really good. Even with a mediocre run game today, our pass game was elite.

Tory Horton in the record books!

It's nice to see Byron Murphy create some havoc up the middle. Well, not to get over hyped, because the Saints are a crap team, but Thursday's showdown will be a good game to watch.

The Saints lost two close games, to the Cards and the Niners, so I'm not quite ready to pronounce them a crap team.

I had the sound muted for much of the game as I had the Red Zone on, but it appeared to me that the 12th man finally showed up, which might have accounted for some of those pre-snap penalties that the Saints committed. It would sure be nice to get some of that old magic back in the stadium.

Hopefully, this big win carries over to this Thursday night as we have a big game on the road against the Cards. We win that one big and we can call it a signature win. The Cards lost a heartbreaker to the Niners today.

[Aseahawkfan]

Great game.

Didn't hear anything on the broadcast, but saw Robbie Ouzts sort of limping when he came off the field, walking around the sideline. So hopefully it isn't anything big. It has been a long time we dominated a game in all three phases.

When Darnold is given a clean pocket, he can make those throws; his arm talent is really good. Even with a mediocre run game today, our pass game was elite.

Tory Horton in the record books!

It's nice to see Byron Murphy create some havoc up the middle. Well, not to get over hyped, because the Saints are a crap team, but Thursday's showdown will be a good game to watch.

That's what I understand is the hit on Darnold, similar to Geno. You give them time, they can make plays. You pressure them and they crumble. They also don't play great in tight games in crunch time with the pressure on. This has always been what separated the journeyman from the top tier QBs. You can win the big game with a journeyman or B tier QB, but the rest of the team has to be amazing.

[4XPIPS]

That's what I understand is the hit on Darnold, similar to Geno. You give them time, they can make plays. You pressure them and they crumble. They also don't play great in tight games in crunch time with the pressure on. This has always been what separated the journeyman from the top tier QBs. You can win the big game with a journeyman or B tier QB, but the rest of the team has to be amazing.

Back to back weeks, Darnold has shown how to handle a collapsing pocket, as he rolled out and converted a 20+ yard pass to JSN for a 1st down. So I am not quite sold he is an elite QB, but he is showing some growth, and it's these little plays that he makes with his feet that are smart plays on his part in keeping the drive alive.

[4XPIPS]

The Saints lost two close games, to the Cards and the Niners, so I'm not quite ready to pronounce them a crap team.

I had the sound muted for much of the game as I had the Red Zone on, but it appeared to me that the 12th man finally showed up, which might have accounted for some of those pre-snap penalties that the Saints committed. It would sure be nice to get some of that old magic back in the stadium.

Hopefully, this big win carries over to this Thursday night as we have a big game on the road against the Cards. We win that one big and we can call it a signature win. The Cards lost a heartbreaker to the Niners today.

They were pretty bad today. I believe they are a crap team. Spencer Rattler has been garbage his whole career. I got sick of hearing him hyped up in Arizona when he was in high school, and he was featured on QB1 Beyond the Lights, and he acted like he was going to be the next Patrick Mahomes. He isn't going to be a starter for very long, and all the pre-snap penalties and illegal formations were half due to the crowd, and other half bad coaching.

If you look at the 49ers and Cards three games this season, all 6 of those games came down to one-possession wins, and one loss for the Cards. I personally still follow Arizona sports, and there is a growing concern before the season started if they believe Kyler is the real deal, and lately, he hasn't been using his legs to escape the pocket to save plays. Kyler at times looks disinterested on the sideline. The writing is on the wall, if they don't win this year and get into the playoffs, they will have to eat a big portion of his contract and dump Kyler, because he isn't carrying his team to victory.

[Aseahawkfan]

Darnold is not elite. He never will be. He had his shot to become elite. This is his 8th year in the league. He will at best be a B tier QB that can make a very good team competitive. If you pressure him heavy, play against a very good defense, or are in crunch time, we'll see the difference between B tier QB that can win games against the weak and A+ tier elite QBs that lead Super Bowl teams to back to backs and years of consistent playoff contention.

I don't want to see John Schneider let off the hook even one more year. He needs to upgrade the talent to Super Bowl competitive level including the QB before the elite talent we do have costs too much. JSN is an elite receiver. We need a better QB throwing to him. JSN helps make Darnold look better than he is, but JSN could look even better if we get a real elite QB throwing to him. JSN is awesome. Darnold is benefitting.

[trents]

The last several years we've had trouble beating the teams we're supposed to beat. We've made a habit of playing down to the competition. Not today! It was sweet!

[River Dog]

The Saints lost two close games, to the Cards and the Niners, so I'm not quite ready to pronounce them a crap team.

I had the sound muted for much of the game as I had the Red Zone on, but it appeared to me that the 12th man finally showed up, which might have accounted for some of those pre-snap penalties that the Saints committed. It would sure be nice to get some of that old magic back in the stadium.

Hopefully, this big win carries over to this Thursday night as we have a big game on the road against the Cards. We win that one big and we can call it a signature win. The Cards lost a heartbreaker to the Niners today.

They (the Saints) were pretty bad today. I believe they are a crap team. Spencer Rattler has been garbage his whole career. I got sick of hearing him hyped up in Arizona when he was in high school, and he was featured on QB1 Beyond the Lights, and he acted like he was going to be the next Patrick Mahomes. He isn't going to be a starter for very long, and all the pre-snap penalties and illegal formations were half due to the crowd, and other half bad coaching.

If you look at the 49ers and Cards three games this season, all 6 of those games came down to one-possession wins, and one loss for the Cards. I personally still follow Arizona sports, and there is a growing concern before the season started if they believe Kyler is the real deal, and lately, he hasn't been using his legs to escape the pocket to save plays. Kyler at times looks disinterested on the sideline. The writing is on the wall, if they don't win this year and get into the playoffs, they will have to eat a big portion of his contract and dump Kyler, because he isn't carrying his team to victory.

I'm certainly not disagreeing with your take on the Saints or their QB. Obviously neither did anything yesterday that would cause one to defend them. I'm just a little hesitant to add a label to any team this early in the season.

I feel pretty good going into the Cards game this Thursday.