Zach Allen is the matchup Seattle's line has to solve

Zach Allen is the matchup Seattle's line has to solve

Zach Allen is the matchup to watch on the offensive line. The model's board has him beating Grey Zabel for a projected 0.4 pressures on the 12 reps they're likely to share.

HB matchup model on Sumer Sports charting. Edges: the model's biggest projected advantages, 'Projected' over the reps shown. Battles: the best even fights between two good players. Same as hawkblogger.com's Matchups to watch.

Byron Murphy counters inside, projected for 0.4 disruptions on his 10 shared reps with Ben Powers, a matching edge for Seattle. Two more fights are close to even: Charles Cross against Nik Bonitto, and DeMarcus Lawrence against Mike McGlinchey, both separated by a tenth of a point or less.

A.J. Barner projects to lose his run-blocking reps against Alex Singleton, and Charles Cross gets a second pass-rush matchup, against Jonah Elliss, though both rest on just three to five shared reps.

Surtain and Surratt, both out last week, still aren't practicing

Denver has filed one practice report so far. Cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) did not practice. Surtain was ruled out last week. Cornerback Riley Moss (ribs), also out last week, was limited. So was defensive end Sai'vion Jones (shoulder). Guard Ben Powers (biceps) and safety Brandon Jones (foot) were full.

Seattle has filed Monday and Tuesday. Linebacker Chazz Surratt (calf), ruled out last week, did not practice either day. Linebacker Drake Thomas (ankle) sat out both days too. Quarterback Drew Lock (right forearm), receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) and defensive tackle Leonard Williams (ankle) were limited both days. Guard Beau Stephens (shoulder) went from limited Monday to full Tuesday.

Team injury reports. As each club filed them. Collected 2026-10-14T00:16:20+00:00 UTC. Denver's page listed its one report under Wed; it is Tuesday's. None of these is the final report. That one, with game status, comes Wednesday about 1:30 PM Pacific.

Running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) was limited both days, but he's on the PUP list and can't play until he's activated. Receiver Irvin Charles (knee) was full both days. He's designated to return from injured reserve.

Team injury reports

Corrected Oct. 14: the table had Denver's one report under Wednesday and called it the final report. It is Tuesday's, and neither team had filed its final report when this issue went out.

Seattle's offense has the worst EPA per play in the NFL over the last two games

Seattle's offense ranked in the league's top third to open the season. Here's how far it has fallen the last two games, and why.

Play action gave Seattle's offense a lift against the 49ers

Seattle leaned less on play action against San Francisco than it had earlier this season, using it on 9 of its 36 pass attempts, 25%, down from 36.1%. It mattered more when it did. Those nine throws averaged 0.039 expected points per play; the other 27 averaged -0.381.

FTN charting

Motion went the other way. Seattle put a man in motion on 60.3% of its snaps against the 49ers, more than the 57.8% rate it carried into the game this season. The offense still lost expected points on those snaps, -0.344 a play, but not as costly as the -0.521 it lost without motion.

FTN charting

Run-pass options were rare: two snaps, 3.2% of the game, in line with Seattle's season rate of 2.5%. Together they averaged 0.485 expected points per play, but two plays is too small a sample to read into.

FTN charting

nflverse, FTN

Initial focus areas vs Denver

The Seahawks grade out ahead of Denver in point differential and net EPA entering Thursday. An 11 personnel slump is on them to fix, and Denver's own blitz habits may be working against it.

Julian Love anchors Seattle's defense, Zach Allen is Denver's one true weapon up front, and Eyioma Uwazurike is the way in

One safety has almost no weakness. One pass rusher carries Denver's defense. One interior lineman grades below replacement. Here's the full picture on all three.

Byron Murphy wins from one spot, and only one spot

Byron Murphy is one of the best interior pass rushers in the league from exactly one alignment. Here's how narrow that specialization is, and what it's buying Seattle.