Chiefs solid secondary could mean another big game for Marshawn Lynch
The Seattle Seahawks spelled it out very clearly on Sunday: Marshawn Lynch is still one of the most dominant backs in the league and he is the engine that keeps the Seahawks offense going.
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Rushing for 140 yards and a career-high four touchdowns against the New York Giants, Lynch demonstrated power, finesse and a rhythm that has been tough for him to get into this year.
But now that Darrell Bevell is giving him the ball, the results are coming in with it.
Seattle faces a tough Kansas City Chiefs team on Sunday in the Midwest, but the Seahawks have the potential — and the talent — to beat the 6-3 AFC West team.
More specifically, they have a Beast, who is just shy of 700 rushing yards this season with nine touchdowns to go along with it.
The Chiefs defensive line, which allows more than 115 rushing yards per game, has the tough task of stopping Lynch on Sunday.
But the way Seattle’s running back has been playing lately, look out.
Lynch should get around 25 carries on Sunday, not just because he deserves them, but because Russell Wilson and the passing game will be opposed by the league’s top secondary.
“Lynch should get around 25 carries on Sunday, not just because he deserves them, but because Russell Wilson and the passing game will be opposed by the league’s top secondary. -Mitch Quesada
That’s right, as far as passing yards allowed per game, the Chiefs have allowed the fewest in the league, giving up only 205.3 yards per game through the air.
That will likely be a turnoff for Bevell and Wilson as far as throwing the ball, but if the Seahawks can establish the run game early, the matchup favors Lynch and that could mean another big game for the veteran.
Lynch hasn’t played against the Chiefs since 2010, a 42-24 Seahawks loss in Seattle. In that game, Lynch’s seven carries for 20 yards were basically a non-factor.
Don’t expect those stats on Sunday.
The Chiefs have been run over in their last two games, allowing 111 yards on the ground last week against Anthony Dixon and the Buffalo Bills, then 139 the week before that against Chris Ivory‘s New York Jets.
In five games this year, the Chiefs’ defense has allowed at least 100 rushing yards on the ground.
Seattle, meanwhile, averages a league-best 170.9 yards per game rushing and set a franchise record with 350 on the ground last week against the Giants.
The Chiefs should also worry about Wilson, who has rushed for 500 yards this year, by far the most by a quarterback in the NFL.
At the end of the day, Seattle’s run game will again be a key to a victory against a tough Chiefs team, who hasn’t lost since Oct. 5. Kansas City’s season opener was their only loss at home this year.
Will Lynch rush for four touchdowns again this week? Probably not, but you can bet he is going to be the biggest offensive factor on the Seahawks for the third week in a row.