Preview: Can Seattle Seahawks Get Back on Track vs. Washington Commanders?

Following a cross-country road trip that ended in complete embarrassment, the Seattle Seahawks will look to get back to their winning ways inside Lumen Field as they host the Washington Commanders on Sunday. 

After rebounding from their upset Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and winning five of their next six games, the Baltimore Ravens completely dismantled the Seahawks 37-3 in Week 9. Many of the concerns that appeared in their close wins over the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns spanned pretty much the entirety of the game in Baltimore.

The Seahawks struggled to convert on third down, had faulty pass protection, turnovers, and even failed to stop the run despite the team’s recent trade for Leonard Williams before the league's deadline. 

All of those issues had piled onto Seattle in the span of four quarters. This was unlike the games before, where it was usually just one problem at a time. 

In all facets, it was a look-in-the-mirror type of performance for the Seahawks, and one they hope to soon put in the past with a win over Washington. Despite losing five of their past seven games, the Commanders gathered momentum with a 20-17 win over the New England Patriots last Sunday.

The win over New England was in large part thanks to standout second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who, despite being under constant duress this season with a league-high 44 sacks taken, threw for over 300 yards for the third time this season. He completed 29 of his 45 passes with a touchdown and an interception. 

After hiring long-time former Kansas City Chiefs assistant Eric Bienemy to be their offensive coordinator, Howell and the Commanders' passing game has been a bright spot in an otherwise struggling offense. Per TeamRankings, the Commanders' passing attack ranks No. 9 in yards per game, and they throw the ball at the highest rate in the league. Contrastingly, Washington’s ground game ranks near the bottom of the league, as its 90.1 rushing yards per game ranks 26th-worst.  

Stopping Howell and the Commanders' passing game, which features Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, will be of the utmost importance for a Seahawks team looking for a rebound performance. 

WHAT: Washington Commanders (4-5, 3-2 Road) at Seattle Seahawks (5-3, 3-1 Home)

WHERE: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA (68,740)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, 1:25 p.m. ET

TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: KIRO-FM Newsradio 97.3 | Seattle Sports 710 AM

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SPREAD: Seahawks -6.5

TOTAL: 44.5

MONEYLINE: Commanders +220, Seahawks -275