3 Questions: How much will Seahawks run in Chris Carson’s return?
Nov 29, 2020, 6:02 PM
Chris Carson is set to return Monday after missing four games with a foot sprain. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks are back in first place in the NFC West after the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams (7-4) on Sunday. On Monday night, Seattle (7-3) has a chance to strengthen that lead with a win over the struggling Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1).
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Going against Philadelphia isn’t without its challenges. Second-year running back Miles Sanders has been a bright spot and leads the team in total yards from scrimmage (701). On the other side of the ball, the passing defense has held opposing quarterbacks to 209.3 passing yards per game, sixth-best in the NFL.
Quarterback Carson Wentz hasn’t been the passer he was in years’ past, however, and while the Seahawks’ defense won’t get any standing ovations for handling this offense, it’s incredibly important that it does – especially in a tight divisional race.
Here are three questions for Monday’s game, which airs on 710 ESPN Seattle beginning with the pregame show at 2 p.m.
Can the Seahawks’ defense continue to build?
It was encouraging to see the version of the Seahawks’ defense that beat the Cardinals 10 days ago, but it still needs to prove it’s one that can stick around. There’s no better opportunity to prove that than by going against a struggling Eagles offense.
About that Seattle defense. The talent has been there but the production hasn’t, which has baffled fans and critics for weeks. The pass defense has been the biggest weakness by far. Seattle managed without both starting cornerbacks last week, but left cornerback Shaquill Griffin (hamstring) is expected to return Monday night. He hasn’t had a perfect year, but he and Tre Flowers should have an advantage against an Eagles passing offense that’s averaging 209 yards per game (28th) and 6.2 yards per attempt (30th), and has thrown 14 interceptions (second-most).
The most encouraging sign is improvement in the pass rush, which has continued for a stretch of three weeks, so there’s reason to believe that’s a trend rather than an aberration. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap has been the biggest difference maker with 3.5 sacks in three games since coming over in a trade. Other contributors are getting healthier. Safety Jamal Adams, who missed a month of action, has 3.5 sacks in three games since returning, while pass rusher Benson Mayowa came back last week from a high ankle sprain.
Seattle’s pass rush will have its best opportunity yet against an Eagles offensive line that’s now down to just two of its Week 1 starters. Monday night marks Philadelphia’s 10th offensive line combination in 11 weeks. The Seahawks won’t get a rousing applause or a ton of credit for outplaying a Philly O-line that’s allowed 40 sacks but they’ll certainly hear about it if they don’t take advantage.
What will the Seahawks’ offense look like with Carson back?
Two weeks ago, we wondered whether something had broken with Russell Wilson.
OK, maybe not seriously. Wilson is clearly a franchise star and Hall of Fame quarterback, but he was off his game, making so many uncharacteristic mistakes that some fans questioned whether he was injured. It was such a poor stretch of performances that it was fair to ask whether Seahawks coach Pete Carroll – who is always in favor of a powerful, downfield running attack – would take the ball out of Wilson’s hands a bit more.
The return of running back Carlos Hyde in Week 11 brought some aid for Wilson in the form a real threat in the run game, but Wilson also managed to shake off any doubt and lingering issues. He completed over 82 percent of his passes and finished with a pair of touchdowns. This team still wasn’t afraid to take shots (a 42-yard pass to DK Metcalf was called back on a questionable holding penalty) or throw on first down, which they did almost 55 percent of the time, but it’s clear it’s much easier for Wilson to get cooking when this offense isn’t completely one dimensional.
Related: Can the Seahawks’ offense be physical and still ‘Let Russ Cook’?
Starting running back Chris Carson’s return Monday from a foot sprain brings a two-fold interest. The first is a question of whether Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will lean more into the run than in the last several weeks. But because I don’t expect them to suddenly take the ball out of Wilson’s hands, and because their receivers have been such a threat, I tend to think that matters a bit less than the second takeaway, which is this: If Carson’s return makes Seattle’s offense even more dangerous and dynamic than it was last week, those defensive struggles suddenly seem less fatal.
Can Cedric Ogbuehi fill Brandon Shell’s shoes in his first start?
As one starter returns, another has been sidelined.
I’ll say this again and again: I was dead wrong about Brandon Shell. I didn’t expect him to be one of Seattle’s most impactful free agent acquisitions and yet he has played no small part in the success of Seattle’s offensive line.
But this week, he’s sidelined with a high ankle sprain. In his place, the Seahawks will turn to another free agent signing: Cedric Ogbuehi. Ogbuehi played briefly after Shell left the game last week, but this will be his first start for Seattle.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, Eagles 24.
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