Can the Seahawks play better at home, to give themselves a better shot at playing another home game?
While the Seahawks have been outstanding on the road this season, winning five of six away from Seattle, they have struggled at Lumen Field since winning their first two home games of the season, losing five of their last six at home. Seahawks fans still bring plenty of passion to gameday, so the team would like to reward them with a win in the final regular-season home game of the year, helping increase their odds of hosing another game or two in the postseason if they can win the NFC West.
“What we can do is go out there and be the best team at home,” Smith said. “Give our fans something to cheer about. Give them something to want to pack the stadium and be a part of it. Like I said, they been that since I’ve been here, before I got here, and I think that will be long after I’m gone. You know, this fan base is one of the best. Like I said, I mean, the more we win the atmosphere gets crazier and crazier. That’s something we’re building and working towards.”
Which team’s highly productive receiving duo shines brighter?
As mentioned above, the Vikings have a dangerous receiving duo in Jefferson, a three-time Pro-Bowler who has over 1,000 in each of his first five seasons, and Addison, who is chasing his first 1,000-yard season after finishing his rookie season with 911 yards and 10 scores. Jefferson and Addison’s combined 2,014 receiving yards is the second most by an NFL receiving duo this season trailing only Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who have combined for 2,082 yards.
Not far behind those two pairings are Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf, who have combined for 1,834 yards despite Metcalf missing two games due to injury. While Smith-Njigba, who is just six yards away from his first 1,000-yard season, has thrived of late, leading the team in receiving yards in seven straight games, the Seahawks are trying to find ways to get Metcalf the ball a bit more, despite the considerable attention defenses dedicated to slowing him down. Yes, the attention Metcalf gets from opposing defenses help Smith-Njigba and others find room to make plays, but the Seahawks still want to get the ball in his hands more often.
“It’s a weekly balance,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “DK’s a weapon no matter what. We’re lucky he has such a positive demeanor, he’s just a stud. Just the way he goes about it, when he gets that much attention, it frees u other people to get the football. But at the same time, we’re always working to get DK the football. Last week, this was probably the first time after the game, the next day, where I talked to him—it bothered me, it pissed me off that I couldn’t get him the ball more. A guy like that, you’ve got to find ways to get him the football.”
With Jefferson and Addison leading the way, the Vikings have 55 receptions of 20 or more yards this season, the most in the NFL, meaning Seattle’s secondary will need to be on its game.