Missed opportunities, penalties hamper Seahawks in 25-20 loss to Saints

New Orleans will have to travel to the West Coast for its Week 9 game. Brees struggled against their secondary in the Seahawks 34-7 in 2013. The Saints rank 23rd against the run, giving up nearly 117 yards per game. If Seattle’s defense can continue to be as dominant as it has been thus far and Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett can help quarterback Russell Wilson exploit New Orleans’ defense, then the Seahawks should have no problem coming home with another win. We’re in the situation during the season where this is the next game, and it’s the most important game.

Seattle middle linebacker Bobby Wagner professed his usual confidence this week about the Seahawks’ ability to counter a Saints offense that averages 339.3 yards passing.

As the New Orleans Saints square off against the Seattle Seahawks in just a few short hours from now, the storylines are virtually writing themselves. He’s had a top-10 run-stop percentage among 4-3 defense ends each of the past three years, as well. Brees’ lone touchdown pass went to Brandin Cooks on a 2-yard slant, which gave the Saints the lead for good early in the fourth quarter.

They rallied, though, and barely outlasted Seattle in a much-needed 25-20 victory. Murray appeared to hurt the toe late in the second quarter on a 19-yard run, although he returned to the game in the second half and ended up rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown.

-Saints DE Cameron Jordan vs. Seahawks LT George Fant.

If Sowell can’t go, the Seahawks are likely to start undrafted rookie George Fant at left tackle. That means that George Fant will play LT for the first time since he was in 8th grade. After making his first career Pro Bowl last season, Bennett is once again one of the more productive members of the Seattle unit.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Seahawks DE Cliff Avril.

Will this decline Seattle offense be able to play in a shootout against the Seahawks? He carried nine times two weeks ago in Oakland, and it appeared that he would slowly ramp up his workload, before the swelling limited him to one carry last weekend.

Steven Hauschka drew Seattle (4-2-1) within 22-20 with a 21-yard field with 6:38 left after the Seahawks wasted a chance for a go-ahead touchdown after having first-and-goal at the New Orleans 5. However, I am still waiting for a Tyler Lockett return touchdown.

Also listed as questionable for the Saints are offensive lineman Andrus Peat (groin), running back Daniel Lasco (hamstring) and offensive lineman Senio Kelemete (neck).

For five years, a focal point of Brees’ offense was tight end Jimmy Graham. In the past four games, he has 23 catches for 355 yards and a TD. He figured he’d get a lot out of playing with record-setting quarterback Drew Brees, and he at least knew the Saints really valued him; they must have to trade a star as prolific as Graham for him. It was the 100th career game with at least 300 passing yards, which extended his National Football League record.