Seahawks Week 2 Preview: New England Patriots
Seahawks Week 2 Preview: New England Patriots
The Seahawks face a surprise 1-0 Patriots team in their first road game under head coach Mike Macdonald.
On September 20, 2020, Cam Newton threw for 397 yards on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson responded with 288 yards and five touchdowns as the Seahawks won 35-30 in an awesome game. That September 2020 game is the last time the Patriots faced the Seahawks. At the time, Seattle fans were so thankful to have Russell Wilson. And Pats fans thought maybe Cam Newton was the answer they weren’t expecting to replace Tom Brady. Here we are four years later and Russ is a back up in Pittsburgh and Cam is hosting a podcast. Oh yeah, and both teams replaced legendary coaches, and it didn’t shock most of the fan base for either franchise. Just like everyone predicted in 2020, we have Jacoby Brissett against Geno Smith this Sunday. I need a DeLorean and some Libyan plutonium quick.
Patriots Offense
Projected Starters
QB Jacoby Brissett
RB Rhomondre Stevenson
WR DeMario Douglas
WR K.J. Osborn
WR Tyquan Thornton or Ja’Lynn Polk
TE Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper
LT Vederian Lowe
LG Sidy Sow (questionable)
C David Andrews
RG Layden Robinson
RT Mike Onwenu
In the Trenches
Rhomondre Stevenson is a heck of a running back. In week one, Stevenson put up 120 yards on 25 carries while running behind a below average offensive line. Pro Football Focus gave the Patriots a ranking of 27th in both pass blocking and run blocking in the first week of the season. You think the Hawks O'-line is bad? The Pats did not have a single offensive lineman ranked in the top 97 in week one. Ouch. There is a reason that the Pats aren’t playing Drake Maye to start the season.
Patriots Playmakers
Rhomondre Stevenson is the player to watch, the player to be concerned about, and the player to stop. The fourth year back from Oklahoma averaged 4.0 yards per carry in 2023 but only had two games with 20 carries or more. In his 12 games last year, Stevenson never achieved a game with 100 yards rushing. But clearly Jerod Mayo wants to establish the run as he fed Stevenson with 25 carries in week one of 2024. Outside of Stevenson, the playmaking stops. Patriots fans can point to young receivers or a couple decent tight ends, but the reality is that the Hawks need to stop Stevenson.
Match ups to Watch
While Stevenson is the most important player to watch on the offensive side of the ball for the Pats, the match up to watch is the New England wideouts against the Seattle secondary. Jacoby Brissett threw 17 of his 22 passes last week within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. He has talented young wideouts and if Brissett gets hot, it will make the game so much harder for Seattle. It should be pretty fun to see Devon Witherspoon, Tre Brown and Riq Woolen make life hell for Brissett. I would expect them to be dominant in this match up.
Patriots Defense
Projected Starters
LE Keion White
NT Davon Godchaux
RE Daniel Ekuale
OLB Anfernee Jennings
ILB Ja’Whaun Bentley
ILB Jahlani Tavai
OLB Joshua Uche
CB Jonathan Jones
S Kyle Dugger
S Jabrill Peppers
CB Christian Gonzalez
In the Trenches
The Pats provided a surprising pass rush in week one after trading away their best player in Matthew Judon. New England rated 8th best in the league in pass rush by Pro Football Focus, led by Keion White (5th best in pass rush among individuals). At the same time, nose tackle Davon Godchaux came in as the 5th best defensive lineman in football against the run in the opening week. While the Bengals have a tendency to play a terrible game in week one, could it be that the Pats defense is really good?
Patriots Playmakers
For a second straight week, the Hawks will face an absolute stud of a corner. This time his name is Christian Gonzalez. While Gonzalez does not rate highly after one week this year (allowing three catches on three targets but against Ja’Marr Chase), the corner has yet to give up a touchdown in his young career. In fact, the second year plyaer has only given up 19 total catches thus far on 27 targets. Yet it doesn’t start and end with Gonzalez. In week one, the Pats’ Jonathan Jones was rated the 4th best corner in coverage while Marcus Jones was 14th. Those two will likely be tasked with defending Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Hawks need to win these 1-on-1’s in order to establish some threat through the air in this game.
Match ups to Watch
While the passing game match ups on the outside are fun to watch, it is the Seahawks interior blocking (as well as right tackle) that will be the key against New England. The Patriots recorded the 8th best pass rush score in week one according to Pro Football Focus but strangely 0% on hurries according to Pro Football Reference. So depending on which stats you read, the Pats are either going to dominate the Hawks O-line or this could be a “get well” game. That contradiction is perfect for this match up. Seattle needs to block better and it does not matter who they play this week. The guards and right tackle position need to hold their own and allow Geno Smith enough time to get rid of the ball. If that happens, the Seahawks could roll in this game. If not, the Pats could win. It is the most important match up to watch Sunday morning.
Prediction
This game makes me nervous. The Pats are bringing all the 2014 Super Bowl champs to the game and Malcolm Butler is ringing the bell. Thrown in a Kenneth Walker injury, a good Pats defense and a game on the road and let’s just say I have less confidence than in week one. However, the Pats will struggle to score. Give me the Hawks in a field goal fest.
Seahawks 23 (-3.5), Patriots 16
NFL Picks
Record through one week (including Hawks predictions): 1-3-2 (wins-losses-push)
In addition to predicting the Seahawks result each week, I will pick five more NFL games for your reading pleasure. This week it is all about the road teams. So probably should fade these picks.
Rams (+1) at Cardinals
The Rams are really good. Sean McVay might be the best coach in the league. While the Cardinals will be tough all year, the Rams are not starting this year 0-2. It just isn’t happening. Take the money line since it is +1.
Steelers (-2.5) at Broncos
I think the Steelers defense is really good and now the Broncos are sending out an injured tackle in Garrett Bolles. TJ Watt is going to feast and Mike Tomlin will find another way to win by three in a low scoring game.
Saints (+6) at Cowboys
The Saints just might be better than we anticipated and the Cowboys are riding high off beating the Browns. That same Browns team that started Deshaun Watson. Saints cover this on the road.
Chargers (-5) at Panthers
The Chargers might not cover this because they might only score 7 points in this game, but I am going to run with it anyway. The Panthers look like a high school team.
Niners (-5) at Vikings
I that this one. Sam Darnold revenge game? How can I bet against it? Oh right, it is Sam Darnold.