The 2019 NFL season is upon us, and for just the seventh time in the last 20 years, the Seahawks will start their season with a home game, hosting the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
Since Pete Carroll and John Schneider took over in 2010, the Seahawks are 9-0 in home-openers and 14-0 in September home games, including 3-0 in season-openers at CenturyLink Field. If the Seahawks are going to keep those streaks going, these are three key matchups that could make the difference on Sunday:
1. The Seahawks defense vs. the unknown.
With the addition of Jadeveon Clowney last weekend, and the return of Ziggy Ansah, the Seahawks are feeling really good about their defense heading into the season, and about their front seven in particular. But as good as Seattle's defense has a chance to be, it could take a little time for that group to hit its stride seeing as Clowney just arrived and Ansah only returned to practice last week.
And in this particular game, a big challenge for Seattle's defense will be the fact that it will in all likelihood have to adjust on the fly. With the Bengals turning over nearly their entire coaching staff this offseason, it's impossible for the Seahawks to know what they're going to see, particularly out of head coach Zac Taylor's offense. Taylor spent his last two years with the Rams, so it's expected that Cincinnati will feature elements of that very successful offense, but Taylor is sure to add his own wrinkles, ones the Seahawks won't have film on to study leading up to the game.
"The Bengals are a team, for us, that we have to figure out as the game goes on because they're brand new," Carroll said. "They can do anything offense, defense, and we have some thoughts and all but we won't really know until we get there. So it's a game we have to be ready to adjust and make sure that we stay ahead of it the best we can.
"It's a big challenge and it's a good challenge too because of the style of offense that we have to face in our division as well. There's been a lot that goes into it. If the style is similar, then we know that we have a number of games that will be within the same format so we will really be able to zero in on that thought and see it and we'll see what happens. There's just an unknown. You guys don't know until you get there. All first games are like that because people can change and adjust things. This was a little bit more out there because you haven't seen them. Preseason, I don't think, was much of a tell to what's happening."
At the end of the day, however, it's still football, new offense or not, so the Seahawks are confident that they'll be able to work through any necessary adjustment.
"I'm sure they're saving plays, obviously they didn't show everything in the preseason," linebacker K.J. Wright said. "At the end of the day, it's find the ball and tackle the guy with the ball. We're not going to know all their plays, but you've just got to read your keys. It's just football."
2. Joe Mixon vs. Seattle's run defense.
While talking defensive philosophy earlier this week, Carroll noted that the goal "has always been to stop the run first. Always. That's where we begin." And for most of Carroll's tenure in Seattle, the Seahawks have defended the run very well, ranking in the top 10 in opponent rushing-yards-per carry in six of the last nine seasons, including allowing a league-low 3.4 yards per carry in 2016.
Last year, however, the Seahawks allowed opponents to average 4.9 yards-per-carry, a stat that demonstrated not so much an inability to stop the run play after play, but rather an uncharacteristic amount of big rushing plays allowed. The Seahawks gave up 41 explosive runs (12-plus yards) in 2018, 10 more than in 2017 and well off their 2017 pace when they gave up a league-low 17 explosive runs.
"It's got to be clean," Wright said. "It has to be clean. One big run is too much. If we communicate right, get lined up right, tackle well, then we'll be a sound defense… We've got to get back to that style of stop the run, earn the right to get after them on third-and-long."
Cleaning up the run defense against Cincinnati is no easy challenge, as the Bengals feature running back Joe Mixon, who last year led the AFC with 1,168 rushing yards while averaging 4.9 yards-per-carry.
"Joe is a really good football player; he can do everything," Carroll said. "Run, catch, block. He can do it all. (Running back Giovani Bernard) is a good player too. He's a heck of a player. I've always loved the way that guy plays since his Carolina days."
3. The Seahawks offensive line vs. Cincinnati's D-line.
While the Bengals are facing plenty of question marks coming off a disappointing 2018 campaign that saw them lose seven of their final eight games and make a coaching change, one element of their team that no one is doubting is their defensive line talent. Leading the way are defensive tackle Geno Atkins, a seven-time Pro-Bowler who has 39 sacks over the past four seasons, and defensive end Carlos Dunlap, a two-time Pro-Bowler who has recorded at least 7.5 sacks in six straight seasons.
Seattle's offensive line, which returns four of five starters from last year's team that led the NFL in rushing, comes into the season confident in its ability, and for good reason, but that group will face a very good early test in the Bengals' front.
"They're really good," Carroll said. "Really good. Geno has always been a good player. He can make things happen, run and pass. The big fellow on the edge (Dunlap), man he's hard to deal with. He's big and long and tough and all that. They play him really, kind of in what looks like the right manner. He's a problem. A real problem."
The Seahawks and Bengals face off on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. Kickoff is set for 10:00 a.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Bengals.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent (80) is seen in action against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Louis Breeden (34) during an NFL game Sept. 6, 1981, Cincinnati. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth shakes a Seattle Seahawks defender as he runs for an 18-yard gain on a pass from Bengals quarterback Turk Schonert in the second quarter of the Bengals 27-21 win in the season opener at Cincinnati, Sept. 6, 1981. (AP Photo)
Cincinnati Bengals Ickey Woods (30) runs away from Seattle Seahawks Jacob Green in the second quarter of the Bengals 21-13 AFC semi-final victory in Cincinnati, Jan. 2, 1981. The Bengals will play for the AFC championship next Sunday in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) gets a pat on the helmet from teammate Norm Johnson after Largent caught his 100th career touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Dec. 10, 1989. Largent broke the 44-year-old NFL record he shared with Don Hutson. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent catches his 100th career touchdown pass in the first half of their game with the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium, Dec. 10, 1989. The touchdown broke the 44-year-old record held by Don Hutson. (AP Photo/Rob Burns)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason carries the ball during the Bengals AFC divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks in Cincinnati, Dec. 31, 1989. The Bengals will play the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl XXIII, in Miami on January 22. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Stanford Jennings, center, of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by Nesby Glasgo, bottom, and Cortez Kennedy (96) of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of NFL game in Seattle, Oct. 2, 1990. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle's quarterback Dave Krieg steps away from a Cincinnati defender in the second half of NFL game in Seattle, Oct. 1, 1990. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Nose tackle Cortz Kennedy (96) of the Seattle Seahawks rushes quarterback Boomer Espason (7) of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
The Seattle Seahawks play against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Kingdome in Seattle, Wash., Sunday, Nov. 6, 1994. Seattle lost 20-17. (AP Photo/Bill Chen)
Seattle Seahawks running back Ricky Watters (32) is shown Nov. 7, 1999 in their game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna (3) releases a pass while avoiding a sack by Seattle Seahawks' D.D. Lewis, right, in the third quarter,Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, in Cincinnati. Kitna completed 19 of 31 passes for 240 yards as the Bengals won, 27-24. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Itula Mili pulls in a first-quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (9), center, hands the ball off to running back Kenny Watson (33) during in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh catches a pass in the end zone as Seattle Seahawks cornerback Kelly Jennings, left, and safety Brian Russell defend and carry him out of bounds denying the Bengals a touchdown during the first quarter of their football game in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. The Seahawks went on to win 24-21.(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, second from right, passes to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, left foreground, for a 35-yard touchdown with Seattle Seahawks' Chuck Darby defending during the first quarter of their football in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) runs for yards in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch in action against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington returns kick against the Cincinnati Bengals during a game on October 30, 2011. The Bengals defeated the Seahawks 34-12.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu pulls in a reception over Bengals defensive back Leon Hall during a game on October 30, 2011. The Bengals defeated the Seahawks 34-12.
Seattle Seahawks' Tarvaris Jackson in action against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks face off in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton sets to pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks Thomas Rawls (34) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 11, 2015.
( Tom DiPace via AP )
Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 11, 2015.
( Tom DiPace via AP )
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 27-24. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Seattle Seahawks' team captains take the field for the pregame coin toss during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 11, 2015. The Bengals defeated the Seahawks 27-24.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson evades Bengals defenders as he looks to pass down the field during a game on October 11, 2015. The Bengals defeated the Seahawks 27-24.
