How Bad Will It Be? NFL Week 3: Jacksonville at Seattle
Sep 15, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril (56) shows the safety sign during the 1st half against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY SportsThe Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars both scored their first points of the season on safeties. Other than that, the similarities are non-existent. Few would bet against the Seahawks in Sunday’s game.
Kickoff is at 1:25pm at Century Link Field. Seattle has one of the best home field advantages in football. The Jaguars, on the other hand, are struggling to score points, let alone win a game.
In fact, the Seahawks’ defense goes in to the game allowing an average of five points per game. That is due in large part to a revamped defensive line that has seen Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril put constant pressure on the opposing teams” quarterbacks.
On the other side of the ball, the Jaguars’ offense averages only five and a half points per game. This is due in part to lack of a clear franchise quarterback.
In the match up of the NFL’s premiere defense vs. its least efficient offense, the only question is, “Which team’s numbers will improve?”
For the Jaguars, all they have to do to improve their scoring average is get a touchdown. And they have actually done that once this season. That leaves the challenge for the Seahawks to hold Jacksonville to three points or less. So far, no team has scored more than once against them so it is possible.
A more realistic goal for the Seahawks may be to avoid more injuries to their star players. At the same time, Pete Carroll has been known to extol the virtues of winning big. So, I expect them to show no mercy.
Aug 8, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-USA TODAY SportsIf the Jaguars have anything going for them, it’s the advantage of the unknown. Unlike the division rival 49ers who face the Seahawks twice a year, the Jaguars and Seahawks have only faced each other three times in history.
The last time they met was in 2009 when the Seahawks were rebuilding. Incidentally, the Seahawks won that game 41-0.
This game will be a chance for Seattle to get their offense rolling, and to get some work for an offensive line that has to play indefinitely through the loss of left tackle Russell Okung.
In that sense, consider this game a tune up for Houston in Week 4. I still expect Seattle to beat the twenty-point spread.
Prediction: Seattle 38 Jacksonville 0