The key to the game, imo, will be which team can run the ball effectively against the other.

Both teams have excellent passing QBs and multiple weapons in the passing game.

Seattle relies on their run game to set up their relatively-speaking seldom-used passing game. Thus far this year, Seattle runs the ball 55.6% of the time.

By comparison, the Saints run the ball only 38.7% of the time... and passes the ball 61.3% of the time. That's a lot.

Another key to the game will be whether Seattle's linebackers can quickly close on the ball when the Saints are in the short passing game attack mode. Wright, Wagner and Irvin are all fast and have been very effective in closing down on opponents' receivers in the short passing game, particularly at home.

Should be a fantastic game to watch. I'm stoked!!

I should add that when Drew does go down-field, Seattle has likely the fastest-closing FS in the league in Earl Thomas to be aware of.

Like the Joe Montana led Niners, we use the pass as a run play. It has the very same efficacy or better sometimes. But we have more than one back from which to choose.

Lynch is good, but I doubt he replicates his production from the last time these teams faced each other.

I agree. The key will be whether Seattle LBs can close quickly and stifle that tactic. We'll see.



You know, if you subtract out the 67-yard Beast Quake run, the Saints limited Lynch to just 64 yards on 18 carries for a 3.6 yd/attempt average, which is pretty damn good run D.

With the BQ run included, his numbers were 19 carries for 131 yards.

My prediction is Lynch gets somewhere around 85-90 yards total on Monday night... and RW likely gets ~30 himself in scrambles.