Three Seahawks that need to play well in week 10 vs Packers

Carlos Dunlap

Seattle struggled with getting quarterback pressures in 2020. That was until Carlos Dunlap arrived via trade from the Bengals halfway through the season. In the second half of the year, with the help of a revitalized Dunlap, Seattle led the league in sacks. In 8 games for the Seahawks, Dunlap had 5 sacks, 6 tackles-for-loss and 14 quarterback hits.

But what has happened this season? Dunlap appears to be healthy but he is also non-productive. He has played in every game for Seattle this year on 47 percent of all defensive snaps (compared to 57 percent last season in Seattle) but only has a half-a-sack, no tackles-for-loss and just 4 quarterback hits. Dunlap is one of the big reasons the defense started so slowly.

In the last couple of weeks, however, Dunlap has played better. He got credited for his .5 sack in week 7 against the Saints and was in on 5 tackles. In week 8 versus the Jaguars, Dunlap had 2 passes batted down and got another quarterback hit.

Against the Packers, Dunlap needs to have the best game he has had since week 10 of 2020 against the Cardinals when Dunlap had 2 sacks and 3 quarterback hits on Kyler Murray. Aaron Rodgers is a smart quarterback who knows how to move around in the pocket but he isn’t as fast as Murray, of course, so if Dunlap can get pressure, he should also get home on Rodgers. Dunlap has the ability to disrupt the Packers offense and that might be enough for Seattle to win a close game.