The Seahawks are at home for the second straight week and are looking to improve to 3-0 for just the second time under Pete Carroll, but standing in their way is a talented Dallas Cowboys team that is coming off of improbable comeback win over Atlanta in Week 2.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since Dallas eliminated Seattle from the playoffs two years ago, and if the Seahawks are going to come out on top this time around, these are three matchups that could make the difference in Sunday afternoon's game at CenturyLink Field:
1. Dak Prescott & his weapons against Seattle's secondary.
A week after Russell Wilson took home NFC Player of the Week honors, Dallas QB Dak Prescott earned the award for his performance against the Falcons in which he threw for 450 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns.
And Dallas' offense is far from a one-man show thanks to weapons like running back Ezekiel Elliott (more on him later) and receivers like Amari Cooper and 2020 first-round pick CeeDee Lamb. Cooper leads the way with 181 receiving yards, while Lamb has added 165 in his first two games, and Michael Gallup is averaging 21.6 yards per reception so far, so there's big-play ability from that passing game.
Big-play ability from a passing game is cause for concern for the Seahawks, because through two games they've struggled to slow down explosive passing attacks. To a degree, Pete Carroll is willing to live with the yards his team has given up, particularly while playing with double-digit leads in the second half of both games, but what Carroll does not abide are big plays, and the Seahawks have allowed a league-high 23 explosive passes (16-plus yards) so far this season.
"We've given up too many explosives, particularly in the catch-up mode that we've been in," Carroll said. "We've got to do a better job there, we've got to execute better. We gave away, I don't know, maybe 80, 100 yards there (to New England) in situations there that we didn't need to give up. We have to play cleaner. We're just going to keep working at it."
The Seahawks should benefit form having Quandre Diggs back—he was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit early in last week's game—but they know they're facing a tough challenge in the Cowboys offense.
2. A star-studded, but so far not productive, Dallas pass-rush vs. Seahawks pass protection.
Everyone knows by now what type of start Russell Wilson is off to this year, throwing a league-high 9 touchdown passes with just 11 incomplete passes, and completing a league-best 82.5 percent of his passes to go along with a league-leading 140.0 passer rating.
The talent and depth of the weapons Wilson is throwing to has been obvious as well, particularly in the fast starts by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But an underrated part of Seattle's passing game success has been the protection Wilson has gotten from his offensive line. Yes, there have been five sacks and 18 quarterback hits, so it hasn't been perfect, but it's also worth remembering that the same playmaking ability and mentality that allows Wilson to extend so many plays to created big gains can also lead to him holding the ball long enough to take some sacks other quarterbacks might not. And when one also considers that the Seahawks are breaking in a line featuring three new starters in a year with no preseason, the overall result have been awfully impressive.
"The guys are doing really well," Carroll said. "Honestly, they're doing well. Brandon Shell's a good player, and he's holding up, he has been really consistent so far. Damien (Lewis) is doing a fine job too, he's a really good athlete for the position. Even though there's newness there, he's just got great feel for it, and he's really tough and really strong and all that. And (Ethan) Pocic is playing well. Ethan has given us a transition that was better than we might have thought with a new guy coming in, just because he's been a student of the game since he's been here. He really helps in that regard. And maybe there's a LSU thing going on here with the center and the guard, I don't know, but they're communicating really well. I just think that, plus the rhythm of the throwing game, is really at a good spot right now, so we'll just try to keep it rolling."
Dallas, meanwhile, brings to Seattle a defensive line loaded with talent, and a group that has to feel like it's due for a big game. Dallas so far has just two sacks from a unit featuring four players with Pro Bowls on their resumes—DeMarcus Lawrence, Everson Griffen, Dontari Poe and Aldon Smith—three of whom have recorded double-digit sack seasons in the past.
"I would start with edge players," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about Dallas' defense. "Aldon Smith is playing at a really, really high level, DeMarcus Lawrence is a great, great player, they go out to get Everson Griffen, so those guys are really, really good … As those three edge players get going is when you sense them playing their best level of football. So I think they're a really good group, I really do, and it'll be a fun matchup for us."
3. Ezekiel Elliott vs. an improved Seahawks Run D.
As mentioned earlier, Seattle's pass defense hasn't been up to its standard so far, but a big positive on that side of the ball has been a run defense that is allowing just 69.5 rushing yards per game and 3.0 rushing yards per attempt, both of which rank second in the NFL. After allowing 4.9 yards per carry each of the past two seasons, improving the run defense was a big focus this offseason, and so far at least the Seahawks have been doing a good job in that phase of the game.
Keeping that up will be a tough challenge this week, however, thanks to the presence of Elliott, who has rushed for 185 yards and two scores so far this season while also catching nine passes for 64 yards and a score. Yes, the Cowboys have a good passing game, but a lot of what they do is still predicated on getting Elliott going, so the Seahawks will want to do what they can to limit that part of the Dallas attack, particularly because when you add the threat of Elliott to Prescott's ability to run, that also opens up Dallas' passing game.
"With mobile quarterbacks, when they do RPOs and things of that nature, you have to respect their ability to run, but then also having a back like Zeke, we have to respect that as well," Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "It kind of opens everything up for them. You've got to respect (Prescott's) ability to run, Zeke's ability to run, (Prescott's) ability to pass and find open guys off of those run actions."
The Seahawks and Cowboys face off on Thursday Night Football, Nov. 30, 2023. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Cowboys.
Seattle Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway (84) pulls in a 44-yard touchdown pass as Dallas Cowboys' Kevin Smith (26) defends on the play during the second quarter in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998. (AP Photo/Bill Janscha)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (8) runs for a first down against Seattle Seahawks defenders Chad Brown (94) and Michael Sinclair (70) during the third quarter in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998. The Cowboys won 30-22. (AP Photo/L M Otero)
Seattle Seahawks' Darrell Jackson (82) grabs a long fourth-quarter pass as Dallas Cowboys' Darren Woodson defends, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, in Seattle. The Seahawks scored on the next play and won, 29-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) goes down after crashing through the Seattle Seahawks line for an 11-yard run during the fourth quarter. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, in Irving, Texas. In the background is Seahawks corner back Ken Lucas (21). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Seattle Seahawks' Rashad Moore (95) tries to knock down a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde in the second quarter Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, in Seattle. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson (82) eludes a tackle from Dallas Cowboys strong safety Lynn Scott and runs for a 35-yard pass reception that set up a two-yard touchdown reception by Jackson on the next play in the first quarter Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Ryan Hannam (83) comes up with the ball after catching a 1-yard touchdown pass to tie the score in the fourth quarter as Dallas Cowboys' Scott Shanle lays on the ground during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005. The Seahawks won 13-10 with a field goal in the last seconds of the game. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) scrambles away from Dallas Cowboys' Jason Hatcher in the second quarter in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo, right, botches the hold on a 19-yard field goal-attempt by Martin Gramatica as the Seattle Seahawks defend with 1:19 left in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. Romo was forced to grab the ball and run, but was stopped at the 2. The Seahawks won, 21-20. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rolls over after fumbling on a hit by Seattle Seahawks' Ken Hamlin, right, with Grant Wistrom (98) picking up the ball behind during a botched field goal-attempt with 1:19 left in the game in an NFC wild-card playoff football in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. The Seahawks went on to win, 21-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Ken Hamlin celebrates after a botched Dallas Cowboys field goal-attempt by the Cowboys with 1:19 left in the game in an NFC wild card playoff football in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. Behind is kicker Martin Gramatica (7). (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates after stopping Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo following a botched field goal attempt late in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. Babineaux has earned his teammates' nickname "Big Play Babs after a last-second play against Dallas last season, then the tackle of Romo that saved the Seahawks season. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo scrambles away from the Seattle Seahawks defense during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Seattle Seahawks safety Deon Grant (24) makes a tackle on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton (84) following Crayton's reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch jumps over Dallas Cowboys' Gerald Sensabaugh as the Cowboys' Alan Ball moves in for the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
Seattle Seahawks players break up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys' Miles Austin, center, in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs for a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath goes down after missing the tackle in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks Doug Baldwin, right, blocks a punt by Dallas Cowboys punter Chris Jones that was run in for a touchdown by Seahawks' Mike Morgan in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) finds running room as Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) gives chase during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) gains yardage after a pass as Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Carr (39) gives chase in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) catches a touchdown pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (33) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson rushes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. Carson rushed for 102 yards in the game. In consecutive weeks, the Seahawks produced 100-yard rushers. The novelty was it being two different backs, neither of which was rookie first-round pick Rashaad Penny. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Seattle's Jacob Martin brings down Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
Captains for both teams meet at midfield for the opening coin toss.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin manages to keep both feet inbounds on this 22-yard reception in the third quarter to keep a drive alive.
Seattle special teams captain Neiko Thorpe keeps the ball from entering the end zone on a Michael Dickson punt and the Cowboys took over at the two-yard line.
Seattle's Mike Davis spikes the ball after scoring on a successful two-point conversion.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field at CenturyLink Field following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf atoned for an earlier fumble with this 29-yard touchdown reception from Russell Wilson.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett breaks for more yardage after a second quarter catch.
Seahawks safety Ryan Neal, called up from the practice squad on Saturday, intercepts a pass in the end zone to seal Seattle's 38-31 win over the Cowboys.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin flies through the air after an interception in the second quarter.
Seattle's Benson Mayowa recovered a Dak Prescott fumble and returned it to the Dallas five-yard line at the beginning of the second half.
Seahawks Jamal Adams and Jordyn Brooks hit Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just as he releases the ball on a pass in the first quarter.
Seahawks receiver Penny Hart catches a 35-yard touchdown pass from Drew Lock in the first quarter.
Seahawks defender Myles Adams hits Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush as he releases the ball resulting in a QB hurry and incomplete pass.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock looks to the end zone.
After the game, Seahawks star receiver DK Metcalf and Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons exchanged jerseys.
