1\. Can the Seahawks avoid turnovers against the league's most opportunistic defense?
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Ball security is a big topic for every NFL team on a weekly basis, but for the Seahawks to function at their best on Sunday, they'll have to be especially on top of that element of the game when they face the Jaguars.
Jacksonville, which last year finished last in the NFL with nine takeaways, made a drastic improvement in that part of the game, recording an NFL leading 14 takeaways through five games. Last week, the Jaguars' lone takeaway was a huge one, with linebacker Devin Lloyd returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, and prior to that, the Jaguars had at least three takeaways in each of their first four games.
The Seahawks haven't been terrible when it comes to giving the ball away, but they do have at least one turnover in every game so far this season, and they know that they'll have to really be sharp if they're going to end that streak this week.
"They do a good job raking at the ball, do a good job of dropping into their spots and zones, so definitely something we're cognizant of," said tight end AJ Barner. "That's every week, obviously taking care of the football, but, when you're playing a team like this, definitely a point of emphasis. Getting into contact, definitely want to put a seatbelt on it, put two hands on it. Really just like any other week, but they do have a talented defense, and they are good at taking the ball away."
Said quarterback Sam Darnold, "They do a great job when ball carriers are out in space of punching the ball out, just attacking the football. You see them all over the tape tying their pressures in with their coverages, understanding where passes are, where they're more vulnerable as a defense with their pressures. And I feel like their DBs, and linebackers do a really good job of getting into those certain spaces. So, they've been doing a really good job, like you said, of taking the ball away, and we're just going to continue to do our part to limit those turnovers."