The Seattle Seahawks play host to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon in an NFC showdown from Lumen Field. The Falcons have played two close games, against two potential playoff teams, but are yet to grab that first win of the season. The Seahawks, they shocked in the season opener but looked much more like what was expected out of them in a 20-point loss to the 49ers last week. These two teams last squared off in 2020, with the Seahawks coming away with the 13-point win, while they've won two in a row in the series overall. With both teams expected to finish near the bottom of the NFL standings this season, this could be one of the NFL's most tightly contested matchups.
Atlanta has entered rebuild mode and while the talent and depth are lacking, they've remained competitive in both of their opening games. The opener saw them sprint ahead of the Saints, only to allow them to come back from double-digits late, losing that divisional battle in heartbreaking fashion. Last week, they started their West Coast road trip and were on the other side of a comeback. They were able to take the Rams to the wire but an interception in the final moments, saw them come away with the four-point loss. Being on the road for the second-straight week is far from ideal, though if the Falcons want to take the pressure off of finding that first win of the season, it'll be key for them to come out on top in this one.
The Falcons don't have a lengthy injury report but they do have some key names on there. Calvin Ridley's continued suspension is far from ideal while being without running back Da mien Williams (ribs) takes another veteran presence out of the picture. The main name to keep an eye on is Darren Hall (knee), as the cornerback is instrumental in this group finding success on the defensive side.
Thursday's injury report with updates on Darren Hall ??https://t.co/1GlXfovLd8
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Through the first two weeks, the Falcons have established a strong ground game, which is quite a bit different than the ariel attack employed over the last few seasons. They rank seventh in the league in rushing yards per game and ninth in scoring. The lack of passing weapons is a concern but considering the lack of talent on Seattle's sidelines, establishing the run could be enough to grab the road win. Cordarelle Patterson (5.0 yards per carrying, 80.5 yards per game) is the key within the offense, though, with the experience at quarterback with Marcus Mariota, the Falcons will continue to be competitive.
Defensively, this group has struggled to close out games. They rank 28th in the league in scoring defense and in the bottom half of the league in nearly every other defensive category. The one positive has been their ability to force teams into turnovers, where if they can win that battle against Seattle, they'll find themse lves in good shape. The secondary is the strength of this group and keeping Seattle frustrated and slowing down their group of talents on the outside, will give them a crucial leg up in this one.