Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of followers throughout the NFL. Every week we ask questions of probably the most plugged-in Seattle Seahawks followers and followers throughout the nation.
Imagine it or not, November has arrived. Week 9 is already upon us, and what which means: the Seattle Seahawks are again from the bye.
The Seahawks started 12 months two of the Mike Macdonald period with a bang, going 5-2 to search out themselves in a three-way battle for the NFC West division lead. Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Arizona Cardinals all had their bye weeks in Week 8, and are able to return to motion for Week 9. Subsequent on the docket for the Seahawks is the Washington Commanders, who’ve now fallen to 3-5 following their third consecutive defeat. Regardless of getting Jayden Daniels again, the Commanders will probably be with out Terry McLaurin for Sunday Evening Soccer in Week 9.
This week’s ballot was primarily centered on the success of huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was lately named NFC Offensive Participant of the Month for the month of October. JSN presently leads the NFL in receiving yards with 819, acquiring 417 of them during the last month alone—and that was with a bye week blended in.
Naturally, followers should be ecstatic concerning the staff’s efficiency up to now. Earlier than Seattle returns to play, let’s assess how the followers are feeling at this level within the season following the most recent ballot.
Very like with final week’s outcomes, virtually everyone seems to be feeling assured within the staff’s present trajectory. It’s at all times nice to win video games, however it is usually essential to take a step again and see how issues are going at the very least as soon as in a given season.
The Seahawks appear to have improved underneath Macdonald, already starting the 12 months with yet another win than that they had by the primary seven video games of 2024. Final 12 months, Seattle’s fifth win got here in Week 11, a 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium to climb again to .500. It was the Seahawks’ first divisional win of the season after two losses previous to the staff’s bye in Week 10, the second of which was a loss to the eventual division champion Rams.
Seattle nonetheless completed 10-7 and narrowly missed the postseason, going 5-2 over the ultimate seven weeks of the season. Proper now, the Seahawks are already at 5-2 and have a really reasonable shot to advance past the 10-win mark from 2024. There may be loads of motive to be hopeful about this staff going ahead, particularly when you’ve got already received extra video games within the first two months than you probably did in the identical period of time within the 12 months prior.
The extent of fan confidence was mirrored within the predicted outcomes of this week’s recreation as effectively. 97% imagine that the Seahawks will beat Washington on SNF, with 60% feeling that Seattle will win by a number of scores. Between the questionable well being of Daniels and the lack of McLaurin, the Commanders’ offense will seemingly not be as sturdy because it may very well be with each gamers totally wholesome.
As well as, Washington’s protection has not been spectacular to this point this season, rating twenty seventh in yards allowed (372.8 per recreation) and twenty first in factors towards (24.8/recreation). If the Seahawks can get some factors on the board early on, the trail to victory might emerge somewhat shortly.
The Commanders have been outscored 72-29 during the last two weeks, dropping by 20+ in each matchups. Seattle can make the most of this, having remained undefeated on the highway since Week 4 of the 2024 season. With a win on Sunday evening, the Seahawks would hand Washington its second loss at dwelling this 12 months, having beforehand misplaced 25-24 to the Chicago Bears again in Week 6.
Now for the most important query on everybody’s minds: how will JSN do in Week 9? The reigning NFC Offensive Participant of the Month has already put up 5 video games with over 100 receiving yards this season, together with every of Seattle’s final three video games. Thus far in 2025, Smith-Njigba has 50 receptions for 819 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, solely 311 yards and two TDs behind final 12 months’s marks of 1,130 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The followers are fairly assured in JSN’s skill to proceed at his astounding tempo, with 86% feeling that he’ll get at the very least one TD and 82% believing that he’ll end with at the very least 100 yards. 72% imagine that Smith-Njigba may have one other recreation with each of those marks, which might be his fourth consecutive recreation of the season with at the very least 100 receiving yards and a landing. You understand you’re a profitable huge receiver when it’s not a query of whether or not you should have a very good recreation, however how good of a recreation you should have.
Will JSN have one other 100-yard recreation on Sunday evening? What number of factors will the Seahawks rating vs. the Commanders? How will Mike Macdonald fare in his first recreation at Northwest Stadium as Seattle’s head coach?
Tune in to NBC for Sunday Evening Soccer at 5:20 p.m. PT to search out out!
Try FanDuel, the official sportsbook associate of SB Nation.
