Inside the matchup Seahawks vs. Saints

The Seahawks (2-4) will host the New Orleans Saints (3-2) on Monday night football airing on ESPN at 5:15 pm. Last week, Seattle’s loss at Pittsburgh keeps them at the bottom of the NFC West and now four games behind the division-leading Arizona (6-0). It’s too early to say the playoffs are out of reach for this team, but any playoff hopes would likely come via a wild card as the division title is quickly becoming out of reach.

Geno Smith didn’t play poorly last week, but two specific possessions, one in the fourth quarter and one in overtime, cost Seattle the game. After the Seahawks recovered a fumble at the thirty-five-yard line, Smith was sacked for a loss of ten yards during their possession which took Seattle out of field goal range and could have won the game in regulation. Later in overtime, Smith was strip-sacked by T. J. Watt, setting up the game-winning field goal for Pittsburgh.

Next week, the Saints’ offense should remind Seattle fans of the Seahawks’ offense early in Russell Wilson’s career. A quarterback who mixed over twenty passing attempts per game with many rushing attempts throughout a game. The Saints are fourth in rushing attempts of any team in the league.

Jameis Winston is the starting quarterback for the Saints. Winston was the first draft pick for Tampa Bay in 2015. Last year Winston was the backup for Drew Brees. Winston’s 60.3% completion percentage ranks twenty-ninth among quarterbacks this season. He’s also toward the bottom of the league in attempts and yards per game. Some of this was expected as the Saints are waiting to get back eight of their starting players, including two of their top wide receivers Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith. Thomas will still be out next week, but Smith could be ready for Monday night’s game.

At running back for the Saints, Alvin Kamara gets most of the attempts for the team. He’s in his fifth season for the Saints and had sixteen rushing touchdowns for them last season. He has also averaged over eighty-one receptions a season for the Saints and has eighteen receiving touchdowns for his career. Expect to see Kamara’s name often mentioned in the broadcast next week. The Saints only other running back to have received significant attempts is Tony Jones Jr., who is listed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

On defense, the Saints already have nine interceptions this season. They are second in the NFL, allowing only seventy-nine yards rushing per game. Against the pass, Marshon Lattimore is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and will probably be shadowing DK Metcalf for much of the game.

In injury news, Darrell Taylor may play next week. His MRI and CT scans were clear.