Welcome everyone to the latest edition of the Saints preview where I take a look at the Saints and break down their upcoming matchup! This week, we look at their game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Last Week: The last time the Saints took the field, the Chiefs kept their home win streak intact despite a late rally by the score of 27-21. The Seahawks on the other hand had a game that more resembled a war of attrition against the Arizona Cardinals ending with a 6-6 stalemate.
Last Meeting: The last time these two faced off, it was in 2014 in the NFC divisional playoff game where they lost a tough one at CenturyLink Field 25-13. The Seahawks have won the last three meetings and the series is currently tied at 6 games apiece.
What to Watch For:
Bizarre Seahawks Team: The Seattle Seahawks are a far cry from what they were after the Super Bowl loss. Last week was probably rock bottom for this team tying with the Cardinals in one of the worst games I’ve seen in recent memory. Sure the stats were there for Wilson, but if you aren’t getting points on the board it doesn’t matter if you’re throwing for around 250 yards. Perhaps the trade between the two during the 2015 offseason had more of an effect on this team than expected.
Change of Scenery May Be Good for Saints: The last three times these two teams met, it was on the west coast at CenturyLink Field, or as it was previously known as Qwest Field. Each of those games ended up with a Saints loss. This is the first time the Saints have hosted the Seahawks since 2010 and that resulted in a 34-19 win. Does this guarantee a win? As we’ve learned in the last couple of seasons, nothing’s guaranteed inside the Superdome.
Return of Graham: The biggest storyline headed into this game is that the former tight end Jimmy Graham is returning to the Saints for the first time since the trade that sent him to the Seahawks for Max Unger. Looking at what both have done for their respective teams, it seems like the Saints came away winners of this trade. Unger has helped improve one of the worst offensive lines, while Wilson has been feeling the pressure since the center’s departure and the lackluster blocking from Graham hasn’t helped keep him vertical as of late.
Saints Will Win If:
The Saints can continue to win games if they can bring the pressure to Russell Wilson throughout the matchup. The Seahawks offensive line’s performance has been almost as bad as the Saints had been for a two-year time period. Wilson looks bad under pressure and if they can get close to him, it’ll be a long day for Pete Carroll’s offense.
Seahawks Will Win If:
The Seahawks can win if they can overcome their Jekyll and Hyde tendencies. Look at what they’ve done all season long. The kicking game is about the lone highlight on this team as most games have seen a ton of kicks and if the offense can wake up, the Saints will have a hard time with their unknown secondary.
-Clint Domingue