The Seahawks boast a talented defense and a renewed offense, which has them riding high on their own momentum. Quarterback Sam Darnold has carried over momentum from 2024 to this season, while the defense has taken the next step necessary to become one of the more complete units in the NFL. The Bucs will need to be on their A game once again, just like they were in the second half against the Eagles, if they want to get to 4-1.

To get an idea of what is in store for them, we have to get to know the team better. What better way to do that than by going behind enemy lines?

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We did our best Owen Wilson impression and talked with the Managing Editor and Lead Writer of Seahawks Wire, Kole Musgrove. He answered five questions for us about the team and the game today, here they are as well as the answers he provided.

1) How has Sam Darnold looked this year within the Seahawks’ offense? Has the unit taken a step forward or remained the same?

Sam Darnold, in the words of head coach Mike Macdonald, as looked like “one cool customer.” Sam has been incredibly efficient and is operating this offense exactly how it should be. I’d say they’ve taken a step forward. Sam is more efficient than Geno Smith was, and he’s taking what the defense gives him… aka he’s not playing “hero ball.” Sam Darnold has come exactly as advertised. Actually, I believe it was you I asked about for Vikings Wire last season, Darnold vs JJ McCarthy, and you responded with “I think Trevor Sikkema explained it best, this is the Family Guy meme where it explains ‘a boat is a boat but a mystery box could be anything, even a boat.'” Well, it appears the Seahawks got the boat, and the Vikings were left with the free tickets to the comedy club.

2) Nationally, the offensive line is often discussed as the Achilles’ heel of the Seahawks. Is the unit as bad as they advertise it to be?

Yes, it is… and the sad thing is, this is the best it’s looked in about 3-4 years. Rookie guard Grey Zabel is a serious upgrade at left guard; the problem is right guard and center are still issues. This unit has pass protected well, but they are still struggling mightily to get the push needed up front for Seattle to run the ball as well as they want.

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3) Who has been the standout rookie for the Seahawks in 2025 so far?

Overall, I’d say the aforementioned Grey Zabel, since he is playing like a 10-year veteran guard at this point. But I’ll also mention wide receiver Tory Horton, who fell to the Seahawks in the 5th round and is already looking like a steal for Seattle. Horton’s first-ever reception in the NFL was a touchdown against the Steelers. The following week against the Saints, he had a 95-yard punt return touchdown (the longest in Seahawks history) and another receiving touchdown. Again, also history-making, as he became the third Seattle receiver to have both a receiving and punt return score in the same game.

4) Who is someone who could be the biggest x-factor in the game against the Bucs?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is making a case for being the Offensive Player of the Year. JSN has been outright unstoppable this season. His only bad game… no, strike that…. his only bad half was on TNF against Arizona when he had zero receptions. He still finished with 79 yards. JSN is second in the league in receiving yards this year, behind only Puka Nacua of the Rams, despite having less than half of Nacua’s targets and receptions. With Tampa’s injured secondary, I expect a big game from him.

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5) Who wins and why?

These teams are going into the game a little short-staffed, but that won’t fool me. This is going to be a defensive battle between Mike Macdonald and Todd Bowles. I am going to go with Seattle defending home turf in a narrow one late. Sunday is the 50th anniversary of the first Seahawks win in franchise history… which was over the Buccaneers. Give me the Hawks 17-14.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: 5 things to know about the Seahawks