The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos are entering Week 6 on Thursday Night Football with some similar issues. Both starting quarterbacks, Sam Darnold and Bo Nix, have struggled to some degree. Whoever plays better will clearly impact the outcome.
But that is obvious, just as the fact that each team's defense is elite is. Denver will be missing some key players on the back end of their defense, but enough talent exists to slow Seattle's offense.
Could the game become a low-scoring slugfest? Absolutely, and maybe that should be expected. If that unfolds, the Seahawks have to win the matchups that follow.
Matchups the Seattle Seahawks have to win against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football
Jaxon Smith-Njigba against the Broncos banged-up secondary
JSN hurt his ankle in Week 5 and had it taped late against the San Francisco 49ers. The hope is that he is close to 100 percent because Denver will be without elite cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga. That would imply Smith-Njigba should have a big game, but that isn't necessarily so.
The Broncos have a well-coached defense and will understand how to give help on JSN's side. That could require other Seattle receivers to finally step up (maybe Tory Horton?), but Smith-Njigba is obviously going to get a lot of targets and needs to beat the Broncos' backups.
Josh Jobe against anyone he is covering
Jobe was re-signed this past offseason to a three-year deal worth as much as $24 million. He hasn't yet met the expectations of being Seattle's top outside corner. In three of the five games this season, Jobe has been nothing short of terrible.
He was abused by the 49ers' Mike Evans, allowing 100 receiving yards to the much taller receiver. If Jobe is trying to cover the 6'4" Courtland Sutton, the Denver wideout could finally have a very good game. If Jobe plays as well as he did last season, though, Seattle's defense will be in great shape.
Seattle Seahawks running backs against themselves
Seattle still won't have Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price while both work their way back from injuries, which means that once again Emanuel Wilson and George Holani will carry most of the load. Wilson has been somewhat productive, but has also coughed the ball up. Holani appears to always be on the verge of fumbling.
Not only do the backs need to avoid turning the ball over, but they need to make would-be tacklers miss. They have struggled in that area, too. Even with the Broncos missing key players in the secondary, the Seattle Seahawks need the running game to help quarterback Sam Darnold. Wilson and Holani have to be good and turnover-free.
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