The Seattle Seahawks will play the biggest game of the 2019 season, at least so far, on Monday night when they take on the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
The game has massive playoff implications for both teams, and will help reignite the rivalry between the two NFC west foes.
That alone is enough to make this one of the most compelling games of the entire NFL season, but for Seahawks fans, there are even more reasons to watch tonight.
The team could potentially debut both receiver Josh Gordon and defensive back Quandre Diggs, giving fans their first chance to see them in their new uniforms.
Russell Wilson’s quest for an MVP award continues tonight as well, another storyline that has everyone’s attention at this point in the season.
Here are some more notes on what to watch for in tonight’s NFC west showdown.
Four players could make season debut for the Seahawks
It may be Week 10, but in a lot of ways it feels like the Seahawks are just getting started. Consistent roster tinkering, a longtime trait of GM John Schneider, has put the Seahawks in a position where they could see four players make their season debut with the team on Monday night.
Josh Gordon and Quandre Diggs are the headliners. Gordon was claimed off waivers last week, and was not listed on the final injury report on Saturday, a great sign that he will make his team debut. Seattle could keep him inactive if they don’t feel he has a firm grasp on the offense, but it seems likely he’ll get a chance to get involved in the offense against San Francisco.
Quandre Diggs was acquired a few weeks ago in a trade with the Lions, but he has been battling a hamstring injury which has prevented him from playing for Seattle.
He was also not listed on the team’s final injury report, so all signs point to him making his team debut on Monday. It’s unclear if Seattle plans for him to take over one of the starting safety roles, or if he will be in the game at nickel in place of Jamar Taylor.
Tight end Ed Dickson is perhaps the biggest mystery of the group, as the team has yet to officially activate him from the injured reserve. He practiced with the team in each of the last two weeks, but the team’s crowded roster has made it difficult for them to find him a spot. Seattle could still activate him in time for tonight’s game, although each minute that passes makes it less likely that we will see him in action just yet.
Finally, rookie guard Phil Haynes is active and could play on Monday, although he is listed as questionable. He’s not expected to start, so even if he is on the active roster he would probably only see the field in the case of an injury up front.
Can Russell Wilson succeed against well-rounded San Francisco defense?
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is putting together a very serious MVP campaign so far in 2019. He has shown an elite ability to thrive under pressure, his accuracy is at an all-time high, and he’s even sprinkled in more work on the ground this year.
However, San Francisco’s defense – both up front and in the secondary – will present Wilson’s biggest challenge of the season to date.
The 49ers have an imposing defensive front, led by DeForest Buckner, Dee Ford and rookie Nick Bosa, which will cause problems for Seattle’s below average pass protection.
The secondary, led of course by former Seahawk Richard Sherman, has played well all season and will also make life difficult for Seattle’s receivers.
It goes without saying that Wilson will need to be at his best, or at least close to it, for the Seahawks to win this one down in Santa Clara.
Will someone sack Jimmy Garoppolo?
This question, or a variation of it, has been on nearly all of these articles this season – and for good reason.
The Seahawks are one of the worst teams in the NFL at generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. There are a multitude of factors, including poor performances from veteran Ziggy Ansah and rookie L.J. Collier, as well as schematic issues that allow quick passes to succeed at alarmingly high rates.
For Seattle in Week 10, getting to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be crucial in forcing third-and-long situations, and ideally quick three-and-outs the team can take advantage of.
If they allow Garoppolo to make easy completions and march slowly down the field, this game could get ugly.
