Seattle, WA

Key Matchups to Watch as Seattle Seahawks Battle New England Patriots in Week 2

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2024

Key Matchups to Watch as Seattle Seahawks Battle New England Patriots in Week 2

In a somewhat unlikely contest between 1-0 teams, the Seattle Seahawks will hit the road looking to stay undefeated in the Mike Macdonald era with a physical matchup against the New England Patriots on tap in Week 2.

Which matchups will have the greatest influence on who snags an early season victory in Foxboro? Here are six positional battles to watch at Gillette Stadium on Sunday:

–Seahawks tackles Charles Cross and Stone Forsythe versus Patriots edge defenders Keion White and Josh Uche: Amid struggles for the entire offensive line in the season opener, Cross stood out as a lone bright spot, allowing only one pressure and dishing out several quality blocks to spring Ken Walker III in the run game against Denver. The third-year tackle will be tested in Foxboro by two vastly different rushers in White and Uche, however. Built like a defensive tackle at 285 pounds, White has impressive power and length to go with surprising quickness at his size, allowing him to collapse pockets both as a bull rusher and using his long arms for effective counters. He generated 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits in Week 1 while seeing action at multiple alignments up front and may require help from tight ends to keep him from wreaking havoc on Sunday. As for the 6-1, 245-pound Uche, speed and quickness are his calling card, and he’s only two years removed from an 11.5-sack season for the Patriots, which could pose major problems for the 6-8 Forsythe filling in for an injured George Fant on the right side and trying to block him.

–Seahawks edge Boye Mafe, defensive tackles Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy versus Patriots left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard Michael Jordan: While the Patriots may have an advantage with White and Uche going against an undermanned tackle group, they also have their own offensive line injuries to be concerned about that could dramatically impact their ability to move the ball on Sunday. Lowe didn’t start Week 1 coming off an injury, but he quickly came in for Chukwuma Okorafor in the first half and had his share of issues, allowing three pressures and a quarterback hit on just 23 pass blocking reps. Next to him, Jordan fared okay in pass protection with two pressures allowed, but he wasn’t able to consistently create push in the run game starting in place of an injured Sidy Sow. The Seahawks have far better interior talent and depth than the Bengals did with Williams, Murphy, and Jarran Reed all eager to feast on a practice squad guard, while Lowe surrendered six sacks and nearly 40 pressures last year, which should have Mafe and Derick Hall licking their lips ready to go into attack mode hunting down Jacoby Brissett.

–Seahawks receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba versus Patriots cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, and Marcus Jones: For a second straight week, Metcalf will be pitted against a quality young corner in Gonzalez, who allowed three catches on three targets for only 15 yards against Cincinnati last week. The former Oregon standout offers good size at 6-1, 205 pounds and ran a sub-4.40 40-yard dash at the combine two years ago, so he has the physical traits to match up against a freakish athlete such as Metcalf. Still, he isn’t near as polished as Pat Surtain II, and the veteran receiver should have his share of opportunities to make plays against the young defender on Sunday. Now in his ninth season, Jonathan Jones has been around the block for a while and squaring off against Lockett will present a fun contest between wily veterans who consistently get the job done. In the slot, Marcus Jones has been rock solid since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2022, allowing only one touchdown in coverage. He’s just 5-8, however, and the 6-1 Smith-Njigba could create a significant size mismatch for the former Houston star that the Seahawks can capitalize on in the middle of the field.

–Seahawks linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker versus Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson: Seattle held its own against Javonte Williams and Denver’s stable of backs last week, allowing 64 combined rushing yards to the three backs who received carries in the opener. The defense did that with Dodson and Baker being active, however, and both veteran linebackers received questionable designations with injuries on Friday, creating questions both about their availability and their effectiveness if they do play in Foxboro. Under the assumption each player suits up and starts, Dodson and Baker will need to bring their hard hats bracing for the bruising 227-pound Stevenson, who produced an NFL-high 118 yards after contact last week and forced a whopping 10 missed tackles as he put the Patriots offense on his back. New England also has a dangerous change of pace option to throw at the two linebackers in coverage in the speedy Gibson, who has nearly 1,300 career receiving yards with seven touchdowns. If the Seahawks have to play rookie Tyrice Knight and/or untested second-year defender Drake Thomas, this could be a major advantage for the home team.

–Seahawks tight ends Noah Fant, AJ Barner, and Brady Russell versus Patriots linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai: Tight ends weren’t a big part of Seattle’s passing attack in Week 1 with Fant, Barner, and Russell combining for just two catches and 11 yards. But while Bentley and Tavai are capable downhill tacklers and offer some pass rushing ability as blitzers, neither player brings above average athletic traits to the table as sideline-to-sideline defenders, and both can be liabilities in coverage. Last week, the Bengals targeted Bentley seven times and completed seven passes for 62 yards against him. As for Tavai, he has allowed 78 percent of targets against him in his career to be completed while allowing six touchdowns. If offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb can scheme up one-on-one situations for Fant and the rest of his tight ends against New England’s off-ball linebackers, including on play action with an effective run game, the Seahawks should have chances to attack the middle of the field and potentially down the seam with their receivers drawing a ton of attention on the outside.

–Seahawks safeties Julian Love and Rayshawn Jenkins versus Patriots tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper: Without prime Randy Moss, Wes Welker, or Julian Edelman walking through the door, the Patriots lack proven weapons on the outside and their best weapons in the passing game reside at tight end in Henry and Hooper, two experienced vets with soft hands who can create downfield and after the catch. In the past, the Seahawks have had major issues defending tight ends, though the Broncos only got two catches for 12 yards from that group last week. Hooper led the Patriots with 31 yards on two catches and Henry added two catches for 18 yards, and though those are far from impressive stat lines, both players have extensive track records of doing damage as chain movers and in the red zone. The onus will fall on Love and Jenkins, who each will see action matched up against tight ends on Sunday, to prevent the two veterans from consistently providing a security blanket for Brissett and allowing the home team to stay on schedule.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners sign free agent OF/1B Rob Refsnyder

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Mariners sign free agent OF/1B Rob Refsnyder

The Seattle Mariners have signed veteran Rob Refsnyder to add depth both in the outfield and at first base.

The Mariners could have one of spring training’s biggest stories

The team announced a one-year contract with the free agent on Monday afternoon. The contract is worth $6.25 million with a potential extra $250,000 in incentives, according to Boston Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

Refsnyder, 34, played 70 games in 2025 for Boston, finishing with 1.2 fWAR. At the plate, he hit .269 with a strong .354 on-base percentage and .838 OPS. He had nine home runs, 12 doubles, 30 RBIs and three stolen bases.

“Rob has been one of the most productive hitters against left-handed pitching over the last four seasons and provides balance and impact offensively to our lineup,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in a press release. “We are excited to welcome Rob and his family to the Mariners.”

Refsnyder hit .302 against lefties with a .399 on-base and .560 slugging last season. Seven of his nine homers and nine of his 12 doubles came against lefties, which he faced 138 times as opposed to 71 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.

Born in South Korea, Refsnyder attended Laguna Hills High School in California and played in college at Arizona. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Refsnyder is a 10-year MLB veteran, having spent time with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Red Sox. He had been with the Red Sox for each of the past four seasons.

Refsnyder has never played more than 93 games in a single MLB season but has solid offensive numbers with a career .255/.343/.387 slash line for a .730 OPS.

While the Mariners listed Refsnyder as an outfielder/first baseman, he has just 29 career appearances at first, and he last played the position in an MLB game in 2020. Refsnyder has 356 career appearances in the outfield, as well as 43 career appearances at second base.

Jorge Polanco embracing new position after leaving Mariners

Refsnyder, who hits right-handed, gives the Mariners a backup option behind one-time All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor, who Seattle re-signed to a five-year contract early this offseason.

The Mariners add Refsnyder to a list of additions in free agency that includes Naylor and backup catcher Andrew Knizner. Seattle also added left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer in a trade with the Washington Nationals.

Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

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• Two 2025 Mariners pitchers reportedly join new teams
• Jorge Polanco sends impassioned message to Mariners fans
• Seattle Mariners sign backup catcher to one-year deal

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Seattle, WA

Rick Steves steps in to save Seattle-area hygiene center serving homeless residents

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Rick Steves taking a selfie with community members outside the Lynnwood Hygiene Center near Seattle. He says his purchase of the property secures the future of the center, which provides hot meals and hot showers.

Rick Steves

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Rick Steves

An anonymous donor stepped in last month to save a Seattle-area community center that was slated to close.

Last week, community members learned that the new owner was travel writer and TV host Rick Steves, who pledged to keep it open and free for people needing hot showers and hot meals.

“I vividly remember what it’s like as a kid backpacking around the world to need a shower, to need a place to wash your clothes,” Steves told a crowd who gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the purchase over cake and with words fait accompli written in red icing.

Many homeless people had come to depend on the Lynnwood Hygiene Center, which had operated rent-free on the property since 2020.

But the center said in November that it would close after the property was sold to a developer.

Steves said he learned about the hygiene center’s impending closure by reading about it in a local online newspaper — just weeks before it was set to shut down.

Despite living nearby, he said he hadn’t even known the center existed.

In fact, Steves told NPR he didn’t even know what a hygiene center was until he read about the closure — a place where people can shower, wash clothes, grab a hot meal and spend a few hours indoors.

“I realized, oh my goodness, there’s an invisible community with an invisible center helping invisible people. And it’s not right. It needs to be kept alive,” Steves said.

In a series of posts on Bluesky, Steves said was struck by how difficult it would be to replace.

Steves said he bought the property for $2.25 million.

Members of the community pitched in another $400,000 in donations, which the center says will go toward renovations and expanding services.

“It’s huge,” said Sandra Mears, executive director of the Jean Kim Foundation, which runs the hygiene center.

Rick Steves Gets Uncomfortable In 'Travel As A Political Act'

Mears says before Steves came in, she had been told to plan a goodbye party.

“I didn’t want a goodbye party,” she said.

Thanks to the donations, Mears says the Lynnwood Hygiene Center will continue serving around 700 people in the community, providing upwards of 16,000 hot meals and 10,000 showers a year.

Steves called the purchase the best $2.25 million he could imagine spending.

But he says private donations are also not a substitute for public investment — and shouldn’t determine whether essential services survive.

He describes his decision as a response to what he sees as a failure of public priorities, not a model to be relied upon.

“If we don’t have [$2.25 million] for a whole county to give homeless people a shower and a place to get out of the rain and a place to wash their clothes, what kind of society are we?” Steves said.

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Seattle, WA

Walker’s big night an encouraging sign for Seattle Seahawks

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Walker’s big night an encouraging sign for Seattle Seahawks

It got somewhat lost amid all the late-game drama, but Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III just had one of the best games of his four-year career.

The anatomy of a comeback: How Seahawks stunned the Rams

Highlighted by a pair of explosive plays, Walker totaled 164 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in Seattle’s wild 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. It was the second-most scrimmage yards of Walker’s career, just shy of his 167 scrimmage yards against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7 of his 2022 rookie campaign.

Walker rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries against the Rams’ stout defense, including a 55-yard TD run early in the third quarter where he burst through a crease and hit a top speed of 21.07 mph while racing downfield, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. He also added three catches for 64 yards, including a 46-yard gain on a throwback screen pass that set up a first-quarter TD.

KENNETH WALKER III 55-YARD TD RUN 🚨
LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/4ezXS8hbok
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

In doing so, Walker became the first NFL running back since five-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry in 2020 to have both a 45-plus-yard run and a 45-plus-yard catch in the same game, according to NFL Media senior researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming.

Walker’s two big plays against the Rams were also among the six longest plays of his career. He had five gains of 40-plus yards over his first two NFL seasons, but none over the past two seasons until Thursday night.

During Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Friday, Mike Salk praised both Walker and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

“Best and hardest I’ve seen him run in forever,” Salk said. “Most decisive, most he’s hit holes hard, picked up extra yards. Credit to Kubiak for getting him the ball in space and allowing him to really do the things that he does well.”

Kenneth Walker III all the way down inside the 10!
LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YjVCQMxByg
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

Led by Walker’s performance, the Seahawks finished with 171 rushing yards and a season-high 6.8 yards per carry on Thursday night. Even more encouraging was that it came against a strong Rams run defense, which entered the game ranked eighth in the NFL at just 3.9 yards allowed per carry.

The Seahawks have struggled for much of the season to get their run game untracked – including this past Sunday, when they mustered just 50 rushing yards and 2.3 yards per carry in a low-scoring Week 15 win over Indianapolis Colts.

But prior to that, Seattle had made some strides on the ground, averaging 140.2 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry from Weeks 10-14.

Walker’s showing on Thursday night was another positive step.

“He was a major factor,” Salk said. “Ran for 100 yards in the game. They ran for over 170 as a team, which kind of gets lost in a lot of the other storylines of the game. A huge credit to Ken Walker. … That’s the best I’ve seen him play in forever.”

Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation at this link or in the video player at the top of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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• Seattle Seahawks Injury Updates: Status of trio of DBs
• Seahawks’ Derick Hall suspended 1 game for stepping on player
• Brock Huard: The reason Darnold was able to lead Seahawks over Rams
• Macdonald explains Seattle Seahawks’ game-winning 2-point decision

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