The 49ers were unable to knock off the Rams, who are hot on Seattle’s heels for the division title – which seems destined to come down to their Week 18 game.
The Seahawks (8-5) face the Packers (9-4) in a big Sunday night matchup, the first of two huge games against NFC North playoff teams. Both Green Bay and Minnesota (11-2) have excellent teams (top seven by EPA), and these games will show just how serious of a postseason contender the Seahawks might be.
The Seahawks and Packers have a rivalry that dates back to 1999, when Mike Holmgren was traded from Green Bay to Seattle. But they have not played for three years, so most of the faces in this rivalry are new.
The Seahawks’ defense is No. 2 in EPA since Week 9, holding teams to 14.8 ppg and 92 rushing yards per game. It goes against the No. 8 and No. 12 offenses the next two weeks.
Ryan Grubb has been under fire by many fans, but DK Metcalf said Grubb “lit a fire” under the offense after the bye, telling the players to clean up the details that had been costing them games.
Grubb called a good game against Arizona. Can he keep it rolling?
Scott Huff, also embattled due to poor play by his offensive line for most of the season, said, “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” Can the Hawks keep running the ball like they did against Arizona?
Sataoa Laumea, a sixth-round rookie, has been a factor in the running game in his first two starts.
Metcalf has taken a receiving backseat to Jaxon Smith-Njigba over the past month, but he still is affecting games.
JSN has been the Hawks’ top receiver for the past six games, averaging 99 yards. Metcalf called it a “proud parent or big brother moment.”
“Coby (Bryant) is a great example of how we want to build this thing,” Mike Macdonald said. “Come in, work, compete, do the things every day, stack all the great reps, get the confidence, get an opportunity, take advantage and run with it. Then let your abilities go from there.”
Uchenna Nwosu returned vs. Arizona in a part-time capacity, and “his role will grow” as he works back to full playing strength, Macdonald said.
Marshawn Lynch’s last game with the Seahawks was a playoff game against the Packers. So it was apropos that he was visiting the Seahawks during Packers week.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 