Seahawks vs Saints: 3 bold predictions for Monday Night Football
By Lee Vowell
Saints Alvin Kamara has 180 total yards
Kamara has been underused this season. Oh, I get that Kamara has the fifth-most touches (109) of all running backs in the league this year and touches the ball 21.8 times a game, also fifth in the league. But for a team that doesn’t trust its quarterback, giving your best offensive player the ball at least 25 times a game is a good thing. Kamara is a great talent and has the ability to win on his own.
The Seahawks without K.J. Wright don’t cover running backs as well when the backs are targeted in the passing game. While the Seahawks defense was still bad in 2020 and gave up 92 receptions to running backs (6th-worst in the league) they also allowed just 647 yards on those receptions (7.0 yards a catch). In 2021, Seattle has allowed 39 receptions by opposing running backs (5th-worst) but 360 yards (2nd-worst). This equates to an average of 9.2 yards a catch. That’s nearly a first down every time a running back catches the ball.
Kamara is great at running and catching and is going to have a huge day doing both combined versus the Seahawks. I expect Kamara to have 70 yards rushing but 110 receiving.