The Seahawks face a tough Broncos team in Denver tonight, where is should be in the low 20s at kickoff (at least there is no precipitation on the Doppler). The Seahawks get a chance to feast on a rookie quarterback making his first start, but that might not be as mouthwatering as lining up opposite Jake Plummer. The cornerbacks should have more confidence after Marcus Trufant, Kelly Herndon, and Kelly Jennings all picked off passes last week and that should translate into interception chances.
The Seahawks will be bringing the heat on Jay Cutler, but they must do it effectively or he will beat the secondary. The Broncos have all kind of trouble at left tackle - Matt Lepsis tore his ACL and backup Erik Pears is probable with an ankle injury. Lepsis was in line to go to the Pro Bowl after Willie Roaf retired. The Seahawks will likely bring the heat with Julian Peterson from Cutler's backside, but Leroy Hill could be the better option. Hill has been misused this year, but he can really get to the quarterback. It would be nice to see pressure come from Hill at times because Peterson is better in coverage. It is too late in the season for a major change, but Hill would be more effective on the right side.
Kelly Herndon could be the key to this game. He used to play in Denver, so Mike Shanahan knows how to best take advantage of him. Herndon should be covering the older, slower Rod Smith, but Herndon's toe appears to be bothering him. Marcus Trufant will need help to contain Javon Walker, so Herndon will be matched up one-on-one more often than not. Herndon should be up to the task, but he needs to keep Smith in front of him if he can. If the Seahawks choose to put Herndon on Walker or not give Trufant help on Walker, then Jay Cutler will find #84 for more than one touchdown.
The Seahawks must stop the run, and that means Tatum Bell. He is supposed to be back this week, and he is the type of back that can break a long run (like Chester Taylor or Frank Gore). The Denver zone-blocking, single-cut system is something the Seahawks should have success against. The Seahawks struggle with plays like the power sweep, which Denver rarely runs. If Tatum Bell is patient and allowed to get to the outside, the Seattle safeties will suck up to the line and he will blow by everyone. Fortunately, Shanahan's offense is designed to run straight up the middle, where Seattle has been successful in stopping the run. The Seahawks should get a couple chances at fumble recoveries. A rookie quarterback making his first start and a fumble-prone running back returning after a month off is the perfect storm for putting the ball on the ground.
The Seahawks offense needs to keep it simple. Don't throw at Champ Bailey. Bailey closes on the receiver when the ball is in the air and makes great plays. He should be on Darrell Jackson, so it will be a big day for Deion Branch. However, if Jackson happens to be covered by Darrent Williams, then mark him down for a Reggie Wayne type game (see Week 8). The Seahawks really need to avoid turnovers and the game should be theirs. Hasselbeck was terrible last week in the first half, but otherwise the Seahawks played a fairly complete game.
Al Wilson should make it tough for Shaun Alexander to put up a game like last week, but Denver usually only puts seven in the box and four in coverage. That might change this week, which would help out Jerramy Stevens and Matt Hasselbeck. If they keep the safeties back, then Alexander will be ripping off seven and eight yard runs all day. Running the ball often will keep the defense fresh (something Mike Holmgren seems unaware of), which will keep the pass-rush effective late into the game. All of that about the Seahawks stopping the run up the middle goes out the window if the defense is constantly on the field.
