It's their run defense, specifically.racepug wrote:"Could"? The Seahawks had exactly one four-week stretch of good football this season. Other than that they've been pretty awful (on "D," in particular). I expect very little from them the rest of this season.
In games they've given up 161+ rushing yards they're 1-7, with the lone [close game] win coming over the John Wolford led Rams. The Bucs and their horrible run game had their best rushing performance of the season against Seattle, as did the Saints (career game for Hill) and Raiders (career game for Jacobs.) The Panthers and 49ers each had their 2nd best rushing days against the Seahawks.
Games they've given up less than 161 yards rushing, they're 6-0.
It's pretty straightforward. And the teams Seattle has beat have to feel pretty dumb for not attacking them with the run. In retrospect the Broncos probably shouldn't have been trying to give Russ his "hero" game and instead gave Javonte Williams more than 7 carries. The Lions game was a shootout with no defense for either team and the lone thing still giving the Seahawks some hope -- since they have the tiebreaker over the Lions if it comes down to them for the final WC spot. The Cardinals had Eno for the first meeting and he's not even with the team anymore, the second meeting they only gave Conner 7 carries and lost. Similarly, the Chargers wanted to air it out all game and only gave Ekeler 9 carries and lost. The only game the Seahawks actually did well against the run (without help from their opponents not trying to run) was the Giants game where they held Saquon to 53 yards on 20 carries. Otherwise every team should run the ball down Seattle's throat and their chances of winning are extremely high.
Was telling that to my friends last week when they were hyping up Seattle's chances against the 49ers for TNF. I kept telling them that Seattle actually have a better chance to win IN Kansas City than they do [did] at home against the 49ers, because SF will, did, and put the game away by running the ball while KC is much more inclined to abandon the run and the Seahawks can play with teams that want to throw all game.