Vision Board: Seahawks-Chargers
Seaside Joe 1326: Ken Walker's breakout day, Uchenna's revenge, and gluing hands to the ball
How did last week’s Visions against the Arizona Cardinals go?
Tyler Lockett gets 91 yards (Vision: DESTROYED)
Lockett caught two of five targets for 17 yards.
Sack Kyler Murray three times (Vision: 40/40)
This vision was even twice as good as perfect vision, as the Seahawks sacked Murray six times.
Abe Lucas lights it up (Vision: DESTROYED)
There were definitely positives from Lucas and Charles Cross in Week 6, but it wasn’t the same type of performance as previous weeks, including Lucas getting bullrushed by a future Hall of Famer.
But Lucas of course keeps getting better each week and this vision was a little ambiguous; maybe there’s a pancake highlight out there and I missed it? Tell me how your visions went in Week 6 against the Cardinals:
The Seahawks face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Here are my three visions of the week. Remember, these aren’t just predictions… They’re visions. They’re literally going to happen. If they don’t, that’s just the universe playing hard to get.
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Ken Walker III gains 200 yards
That’s a big backyard. Some could say it’s even like 200 yards.
I’ve long said that predictions should be bold or they should be kept to yourself. With Walker now a full-go as the lead back, I’m ready to rock. In the ongoing argument of whether offensive or defensive-minded head coaching hires are preferential, Brandon Staley isn’t doing “Team Defense” any favors.
Despite having stars like Derwin James, Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, and Joey Bosa (for half of the season, at least), the Chargers rank 31st in yards per carry allowed and 26th in points allowed. Jackson was benched in his most recent games. And running backs are amassing yards against the Chargers like a boy with a summer break and a dream to buy a Sega Genesis with the money he earns from mowing lawns.
Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce each rushed for over 130 yards against L.A. but only had 17 and 14 carries, respectively. The Chargers have allowed the 10th-most rushing yards but are only 29th in the number of rushing attempts against their defense. And teams spread out the runs very evenly against Staley:
64 carries for 376 yards, 5.9 YPC in the first half
67 carries for 362 yards, 5.4 YPC in the second half
And at least 5.4 yards per carry in each four quarters, spread out evenly by attempts. Teams are able to consistently move the ball against the Chargers, probably because L.A.’s pass defense is merely “OK” despite the amount of money and draft resources spent on that side of the ball. The Chargers are 11th against the pass by DVOA, but their last three opponents have been Davis Mills, Jacoby Brissett, and Russell Wilson.
Against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars a month ago, the Chargers lost 38-10. James Robinson had 17 carries for 100 yards, backup Travis Etienne had 13 carries for 45 yards and 30 receiving yards. Jacksonville has lost their last three games.
Why not now as the time to turn up the heat against the Chargers defense by feeding Ken Walker at least 22 times?
In his last season of college football, Walker had games of 264 rushing yards, 233 rushing yards, 197 rushing yards, and 172 yards, with the latter two ending up 208 total yards and 189 total yards. He also had four other games of at least 126 yards. Walker has so consistently been the same player year after year, I don’t see why he can’t have an inordinate amount of 200 yard games either. In fact, I do see it!
I envision at least 200 total yards by Walker against the Chargers in Week 7.
Seahawks have zero turnovers
What’s the opposite of butterfingers? Glue hands, of course.
The Seahawks have turned the ball over in all six games this season, but they’ve only turned it over more than one time once, in Week 2 against the 49ers. Seattle has won the turnover battle by a 2:1 margin in every other game this season.
I see this as more of a 1:0 winning the turnover battle margin.
The Chargers are 19th in takeaways, but that’s mostly predicated on six interceptions, including two by Bryce Callahan. Half of those interceptions came against Derek Carr in Week 1. Two more came against Davis Mills in Week 4.
I don’t fear Geno Smith throwing an interception in this game. Nor do I expect Smith to throw for a lot of yards, but this could be another game that comes down to the Seahawks needing Smith to finish a game-winning touchdown drive in the final moments to get a victory.
The defense might have its struggles against Austin Ekeler, who has scored six touchdowns in the last three weeks, but L.A. has only run for more than 81 yards in one other game this season. That was 238 yards against the Browns in Week 5. Fumble luck could be out of my hands, but the Chargers have only recovered one of the seven that they have forced so far this season.
Knowing that this could be a close contest, the last thing that Seattle can afford is a mistake. Good news: I don’t see that happening.
Uchenna Nwosu has two sacks
If you’ve ever wondered what Jason Voorhees looked like under the hockey mask, there you go. That is actor Ted White, and in a matter of pure (unfortunate) coincidence, he died one week ago.
I was trying to think of what good movies would qualify as “revenge stories” for this Vision, such as Jason Vorhees avenging his mother. Then it occurred to me, is every horror movie actually just a revenge story at its core? Seems to be a theme at least and I think it is also fair to say that teams and players do not typically part on good terms.
Players want to be paid and if you are able to play out your rookie contract without an extension or an offer to return, that’s the start of a revenge story. As Earl Thomas put it, “The disrespect has been noted.”
Nwosu was sort of like L.A.’s version of Rasheem Green last season, having a career year but not doing enough to re-sign with his original team. Nwosu has had a sack in three of six games, and he’s had at least one QB hit in five of six. This comparison makes me think of Leonard Floyd, the Rams linebacker who had 10.5 sacks in his first year with L.A., after the Bears declined to keep him.
Five of those sacks came in two games against Russell Wilson. But another two came when he faced the Chicago Bears.
Justin Herbert actually has the lowest sack rate in the league (2.7%) despite losing All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater for the year. But Nwosu knows this opponent as well as anybody can and I sense he’s out for revenge. It’s his chance to rip off the mask and show the Chargers what they missed out on.
What are your Visions for this week?
The Tight End trifecta / hat trick: Fant, Dissly, and Parkinson are getting teeders.
Either Woolen or Coby or both will extend their forced fumble / interception streak.
I like 200 yards on 22 touches for Walker, that seems about right to me given the opponent. Two TDs for Walker, 1 pass 1 rush.
I see a Dee Eskridge touchdown, too!
On D, Tariq gets another INT to keep his steak going.
A W in another game as a 'dog. #GoHawks