The Seattle Seahawks are staring down a Week 6 ‘Thursday Night Football’ clash against the Broncos, and our run game numbers are honestly brutal, especially coming off that heartbreaker against the 49ers. You ready for this? Our backs are averaging a pathetic 0.69 yards before contact per carry, which Tru Media says ranks fourth-worst in the entire NFL. FOURTH-WORST. It’s hard to win when you’re starting in the backfield every single play, man.
The Running Back Problem Is Real, And It’s Getting Worse
Look, we all know it. We couldn’t run the ball when rookie Jadarian Price was healthy earlier this season, and we sure as hell haven’t been able to run it since he’s been sidelined. This trio of Price, Emanuel Wilson, and George Holani has scraped together just 447 yards on 127 carries. That’s a measly 3.5 yards per tote. We just don’t get any push up front, it’s that simple.
Now, credit where it’s due, our guys are fighting for yards. That 2.83 yards after contact per carry is actually respectable, putting us 14th in the league. That tells you our backs, especially Emanuel Wilson, are making something out of nothing. But they shouldn’t have to create everything for themselves! Wilson is likely going to be the main man again with Price and Zach Charbonnet out, and the Broncos defense, for all their faults, has allowed the third-fewest rushing yards before contact in the league at 0.59. But here’s our chance: Denver has given up the MOST rushing yards after contact, 3.92 per carry, and enemy backs are avoiding tackles against them at a crazy 30.1% clip. While they got burned for some big gains earlier in the season, in Weeks 2 through 5, they’re still in the bottom third of the league for yards after contact and broken tackle rate. We gotta make them pay for that, because Wilson barely gets more than what’s blocked for him without breaking tackles. We need him to break tackles.
Broncos Look Vulnerable, But We Have to Capitalize
The Broncos aren’t exactly world-beaters right now. They’re coming off a “lackluster” win against those “decrepit division rival” Chargers, needing a late, game-winning drive to get it done. Sean Payton’s return as play-caller hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard with an “explosive or efficient offense” for them. They’re over .500, sure, but they’re not scaring anyone. Meanwhile, we dropped to 3-2 after falling to the 49ers, who somehow moved the ball “quite well against the vaunted Seattle defense.” Turnovers in our own territory just absolutely haunted us and cost us the game, plain and simple.
And let’s be real about Sam Darnold. He’s struggled to replicate last year’s results in the passing game, and when you can’t run the ball, that puts a ton of pressure on him. This ‘Thursday Night Football’ game at Empower Field at Mile High is huge for us to bounce back and prove we’re better than that 49ers loss. We kick off Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8:20 p.m. ET. You can catch it on Amazon Prime. The odds have us favored by 2.5 points, with an over/under of 40.5. Can Emanuel Wilson break through against a Denver D that struggles with yards after contact? Can Darnold find his rhythm? This is where we show what we’re made of, Emerald City. Let’s get it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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