Seattle Seahawks Keys: Strength will be tested in Week 6

These aren’t the Jags you’re used to.

Yes, Jacksonville is far from a perfect team and isn’t jam-packed with talent (though it’s hard to argue the Eagles aren’t, and we just saw them lose to the Giants in 4K on Monday night).

Seattle Seahawks’ next opponent swaps starting CBs with Browns

The Seattle Seahawks are heading to the East Coast to take on a 4-1 Jaguars team coming off a thrilling victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks, meanwhile, need to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to the Bucs. How do they get it done?

With these three keys.

Don’t turn the ball over

Why not add “control time of possession” and “score more points” while we’re at it? But in this case it’s fair, because this football fundamental is especially true against Jacksonville this year.

The Jags are leading the league in turnover differential (plus-8) with three more interceptions than the next closest team (the Bears and, ironically, the Seahawks with seven apiece). Their interception leader is linebacker Devin Lloyd (yes, you read that right — linebacker Devin Lloyd, whose four picks are leading all players this year).

It’s not that the Jags aren’t turning the ball over themselves — they’ve done it at least once in every game this year. It’s that they’re seizing every opportunity to take the ball away from opponents. They’ve had three takeaways in each of their first three games and four in Week 4. Just once this year have they lost the turnover battle… and they won that game.

The Seahawks’ turnover differential (minus-1) is about league average, but they need that to be better Sunday. It’s fumbles, not interceptions, that are doing the most damage for them this year. Their five lost fumbles are tied for second most, less than only the Jets. And that’s company you don’t want to keep.

Lean into your strength

The Jags are fifth in rushing yards per game this season and, despite a banged-up Seahawks secondary, may still lean into that in Week 6. Why? Because Jacksonville’s leader in receptions, tight end Brenton Strange, just landed on injured reserve and running back Travis Etienne Jr. is off to a stellar start. Never mind a comparatively quiet Week 5; his four targets last week against Kansas City were still a season high and he’s still fourth in the league in rushing yards.

For as much as Seattle struggled last week, it’s still a top-three defense against the run. Granted, the Buccaneers didn’t need to run at all last week; being without Bucky Irving meant little when they could beat Seattle over the top with explosive pass plays. But still, it’s wildly impressive that the Seahawks defense didn’t even allow a rushing touchdown until that game. And the two they did allow still make them first in limiting rushing scores.

Let Sam cook?

Queue the Paul Rudd “look at us, who would’ve thought” meme for this one.

For all the doubt that Sam Darnold would live up to his performance from 2024, Seattle’s new quarterback is actually surpassing his play from a breakout season with the Vikings.

His EPA per play through five weeks is first in the NFL (0.366), surpassing his total through five weeks last year.

The good news for Seattle here? The Jags defense is 27th against the pass.

More Seattle Seahawks coverage

• Daniel Jeremiah: Seattle Seahawks’ Darnold a top-five MVP candidate
• Brock: ‘Unique’ matchup a concern for Seahawks vs. Jags
• Stacy Rost: 3 numbers that matter for the Seahawks
• Status Report: Seahawks’ depth on D challenged as injuries stack up
• Seahawks Injury Updates: Even more defensive players banged up

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