The Seattle Seahawks are trending in the right direction as the 2025 season gets old. The defense is shutting down the offenses it needs to, and the team has won three straight games entering Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts. Seattle should beat Indy, too.
The Colts might get back defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, but will likely be without both starting outside cornerbacks, Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward. Ward is on injured reserve after suffering his third concussion of the season, and Gardner has an injured calf.
Indy will also be without its starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. He tore an Achilles tendon in Week 14 and is done until late next season, most likely. In his place, the Colts signed 44-year-old and previously retired Philip Rivers. Rivers, though, knows exactly where the ball needs to go against the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori versus Colts rookie Tyler Warren will be must-watch
That would be tossing the ball in the direction of rookie tight end Tyler Warren. His production has waned over the last couple of games, but that might not happen against Seattle. Mike Macdonald's team could line up its own super rookie, Nick Emmanwori, against Warren several times in coverage.
Should Warren win those specific matchups, that could be enough to keep the Colts in the game and steal a stunning victory that few expect before the game. While Emmanwori has been fantastic overall, especially in Week 14 when he blocked a field goal attempt, had an interception as well as a sack, he hasn't been perfect in coverage on tight ends.
In Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, Emmanwori was targeted once in coverage against tight end Kyle Pitts, and Pitts caught the ball for a 30-yard gain. In Week 13, the Seahawks' rookie was targeted once against Minnesota Vikings TE TJ Hockenson, and the Vikings receiver caught the pass for a 29-yard gain.
Indianapolis should target Tyler Warren quite a few more times than just one if he sees Nick Emmanwori lined up opposite him in coverage. Not that the defensive back cannot cover the tight end well, but Emmanwori has somewhat struggled against good tight ends in the last two games. Warren is also a good player at his position.
Besides Emmanwori on Warren, Seattle Seahawks fans might want to see linebacker Drake Thomas line up against the Colts' rookie. Thomas has had an unexpectedly good season, and he has been quite good covering tight ends. If Emmanwori struggles at times against Warren, Thomas might see more reps in coverage.