Seattle, WA
Salk: 4 things Seattle Seahawks can answer in 1st big challenge
The Seattle Seahawks are 3-0, and it’s funny how that statement – while undisputedly true – can generate some immediate, argumentative responses.
Seahawks at Lions Info: TV, radio, uniforms and more
“It’s still September” is one, and it is equally as true.
“They haven’t played a good team yet” is another, but that one is a little more complicated. The Broncos have two wins, thanks mostly to a defense that has played very well since leaving Seattle. The Patriots have seemingly gotten worse, and the Dolphins … well, they’re a mystery because of their quarterback situation. So perhaps the truer statement would be that the Seahawks haven’t played a team with a legitimate, veteran starting quarterback.
That will definitely change when they meet Jared Goff and the Lions in Detroit on Monday Night Football.
The Seahawks have gotten off to a tremendous start. They seem to have a clear sense of who they are and how they want to win. They have made in-game adjustments to correct problems on the fly. They have suffocated opposing passing games and tackled much better than any of the past few seasons. They survived a physical battle across the country with an early start time. Given the assigned schedule, they have accomplished nearly everything asked of them.
But that ask grows in Detroit where they will meet a foe more talented, more physical, better coached, and with loftier expectations than any of the three teams they have already beaten. It will obviously be a greater challenge, but more than that, it will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this team and what they might be capable of accomplishing.
Four questions for Seahawks’ first big challenge
• What does this defense look like against a real passing attack with a legit veteran starting QB and real weaponry?
This is the biggest difference between the Lions and the three teams in the Seahawks’ rearview mirror. Goff isn’t elite, but he is certainly a capable starter with a ton of experience. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Tim Patrick and Jameson Williams are a talented quartet of receiving threats that can beat you in a variety of ways. No one will confuse this offense with the weaponless Patriots, quarterback-less Dolphins, or weaponless and quarterback-less Broncos.
Will Seattle’s secondary continue to shut down everything in its path? I believe this is an extremely talented group that is exceptionally well-coached – they should give good offenses fits. But I wouldn’t expect Goff to miss some of the throws we’ve seen missed against the Seahawks so far, and I would expect him to make some more plays even when defenders are in good positions.
The Hawks don’t need to hold Detroit under 150 passing yards (as they have to each of their first three opponents), but keeping the Lions in check would sure make Seattle’s earlier accomplishments seem more indicative of this defense’s capabilities.
• How will this defensive line hold up against an excellent offensive line?
Unfortunately, the Seahawks are going to be without four of their top defenders up front, so we may not get the complete answer to this question. Setting the edge without Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe will be a challenge. Clogging the rush lanes won’t be any easier without Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy. And the three of these players who have seen the field in the first three games have been instrumental in their early-season success rushing the passer.
Seattle Seahawks Injury Report: Four key defenders out against Lions
But this will be the most complete offensive line they’ve faced, even without Lions starting center Frank Ragnow (who is hurt and was hilariously said to be “put down” by coach Dan Campbell). Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell might be the best tackle combo in the league, and Detroit’s guards are physical and solid. They run block, pass block, communicate and move people. I was really looking forward to seeing how the Seahawks handled this test.
Now it will be even tougher. We’ll find out just how much Derick Hall has really improved. We’ll see how good the Seahawks’ depth is behind Jarran Reed and Jonathan Hankins. We’ll see if coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde can scheme and coach their way through a gauntlet without their top weapons. Cool.
• Is this team ready for a primetime game?
There is something different about being under the lights and in the national spotlight. The Seahawks have played two of their three games at home, and the other was in New England where the rebuild is underway. None of those games were featured by CBS or Fox; most of the country had no idea they were even happening! This is their first chance to play with the pressure and knowledge that America is watching.
Primetime football was a Pete Carroll specialty. The former Seahawks coach was an astounding 29-5-1 at night until falling back in his last couple of seasons. His teams were hyped for those moments and often played with an extra gear, not to mention their penchant for bizarre endings and controversy.
What will this look like under Macdonald’s more serious approach?
• Can they play physical, complementary football against a team that does that as well as anyone?
Perhaps the thing that has stood out most from the first three games of the Macdonald era is how physically they have been played. They have been violent, nasty affairs that have often left both teams a little beat up in the process. While the defense has clearly been the better unit, it’s not like this is the 2024 Mariners: heroic pitching coupled with malfeasant hitting. The wins have been complete team victories and the three phases of the game have all complemented each other. The physical tone has carried from one group to another and everything has fit neatly together.
As much as that has defined the early start to this Seahawks season, it has been the Lions’ calling card for the last few years. Ever since Campbell took over and gave Detroit an identity it had sorely lacked for at least a generation, the Lions have played physical, complementary ball. While it won’t quite be like looking in a mirror, in many ways Detroit is a model for the style that Seattle is looking to play. If styles make fights, this one should be a slobberknocker.
Nothing will be determined after four games. In fact, even a blowout loss could be written off as a bad night, especially given the extent of Seattle’s injury situation. But this is an opportunity to learn quite a bit about these Seahawks, and a win would certainly raise the expectations to a new height.
More Seattle Seahawks coverage
• Macdonald previews Seahawks’ Monday night showdown in Detroit
• Bump: How Seattle Seahawks can keep NFL’s sack leader in check
• With strong start to 2024, where does Geno Smith rank in QB hierarchy?
• A Seahawks trend that’s impressed Big Ray and Wyman
• Grubb shares details on Seattle Seahawks’ ongoing right guard battle
In what turned out to be a an offseason of highs and lows for Mariners general manager Justin Hollander and team president Jerry Dipoto. However, they were able to cap off a frustrating few weeks by acquiring infielder and 2024 All-Star, Brendan Donovan.
Wile the club saw last year’s second baseman, Jorge Polanco, and third baseman, Eugenio Suarez depart, Donovan may be a better fit for the club. He doesn’t hit with anywhere near the power of those two former Mariners, but he’s much more consistent. He ranks among MLB’s best in on-base percentage over his for years in the big leagues, and he’s a skilled defender who won a GoldGlove in his rookie season.
A career .282 hitter, Donnie gives the M’s a lot of options in the batting order and fills one of the two vacancies in the Seattle infield. The other spot seems to come down to a comperition between young players, with top prospects Colt Emerson and Cole Young battling it out with second-year man Leo Rivas during Spring Training. The most likely scenario would involve a platoon or a rotating system among at least two of them.
CLICK FOR MORE: Seattle host says Mariners’ trade for Brendan Donovan is ‘what contending teams do’
The Mariners have certainly re-loaded with enough ammo to repeat as the division champs in 2026, but are they still looking to pull off an 11th hour deal as pitchers and catchers will begin reporting to Arizona? COuld there be one more deal up the sleeve of the team’s fantastic front office?
The Mariners seem content with what they have
Heading into the new season, Seattle seems set as they look to repeat as American League West Division Champions. Although you can never put anything past the dealing duo of Hollander and Dipoto, the team can win with the cards they’ve already been dealt.
But as Spring Training unfolds and the cleats hit the field, the team will have a bird’s-eye view of what they’re working with. If management feels like they’re faltering because they’re relying on players like Emerson too much and too fast, look for them to try to bring in a stopgap veteran. Otherwise? There’s no reason to mess with this roster until at least mid-May.
More Seattle Mariners News & Opinions
- Are Mariners supporters still miffed at manager Dan Wilson for last year’s ALCS loss?
- The Seattle Mariners must cut down the clutter in the outfield
- The 2001 Seattle Mariners will be honored with a statue at T-Mobile Park
- Rick Rizzs, iconic voice of the Mariners, announces he will retire after 2026 season
Israel Adesanya will be a featured attraction at UFC Seattle. |
Getty/UFC
The card for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s upcoming trip to the Emerald
City is close to being finalized.
The Las Vegas-based promotion on Wednesday confirmed 11 bouts for
UFC Seattle, many of which had already been reported. UFC
Seattle — also known as UFC Fight Night 271 — takes place on March
28 at Climate Pledge Arena and is headlined by a middleweight
showdown pitting Israel
Adesanya against Joe Pyfer. In
the co-main event, ex-flyweight queen Alexa
Grasso will square off against Maycee
Barber at 125 pounds. The card will air in its entirety on
Paramount+.
Adesanya has lost four of his last five Octagon appearances dating
back to November 2022. In his lone appearance of 2025, “The Last
Stylebender” suffered a second-round technical knockout defeat to
Nassourdine
Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner last February.
Adesanya captured 185-pound gold in October 2019 and authored five
successful title defenses before relinquishing the belt to
kickboxing rival Alex
Pereira at UFC 281.
A two-time competitor on
Dana White’s Contender Series, Pyfer has gone 6-1 in the
promotion since earning a UFC contract in 2022. After suffering his
lone career Octagon defeat to Jack
Hermansson in the UFC Fight Night 236 main event, “Bodybagz”
has rebounded to post successive triumphs against Marc-Andre
Barriault, Kelvin
Gastelum and Abusupiyan
Magomedov.
UFC Seattle Card
Israel
Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer
Alexa
Grasso vs. Maycee
Barber
Marcin
Tybura vs. Valter
Walker
Chase
Hooper vs. Lance
Gibson Jr.
Michael
Chiesa vs. Carlston
Harris
Navajo
Stirling vs. Bruno
Lopes
Mansur
Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri
Belgaroui
Casey
O’Neill vs. Gabriella
Fernandes
Julian
Erosa vs. Lerryan
Douglas
Kangjie
Zhu vs. Marcio
Barbosa
Carol
Foro vs. Stephanie
Luciano
(Tuesday morning on Elliott Bay – photographed by Mike Burns)
Lots of possibilities for your Wednesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, have numerous highlights:
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fontanelle (so if you didn’t see this in the calendar in time, here’s a reminder for next week).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, play at the new location of Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
VR FOR TEENS’ MENTAL HEALTH: Try it out at 2:30 pm, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
ART WORKSHOP: Drop-in art for kids withRec ‘N The Streets at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 3-4:30 pm.
HOLY ROSARY FUNDRAISER AT LADY JAYE: “Eighth grade students from Holy Rosary are raising money to go to Washington DC after graduation this June. There will be a fundraiser tonight, Wednesday, February 4th, at Lady Jaye from 4 pm until close. It’s Whiskey Wednesday featuring Old Fitzgerald 7yr wheated bourbon for $8 all evening. Please make sure to mention Holy Rosary School to your server!” (4523 California SW)
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), free drop-in help for students.
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
16TH SW PARKING MEETING: As previewed here, a community discussion with city reps about possible parking restrictions on 16th SW is being hosted by South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), 5:30 pm in Cascade Hall.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of throwing it out! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
PIANO NIGHT: 6 pm, monthly piano night at Upwell Wine & Coffee (4811 California SW).
‘LET’S TALK ABOUT THE S–T WE’RE PRETENDING IS FINE’: That’s the topic as a new women’s group called The Commwell convenes, 6 pm. (5446 California SW)
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, drop in and create at this cozy pottery studio. (3400 Harbor SW)
CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: This month’s book is “On the Beach“ by Nevil Shute. Come to Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor) to talk about it, 6 pm.
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: You’re invited to this 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT AT THE EAGLES: Wednesdays at 6 pm are cribbage-tournament nights, all welcome, membership not required. (4426 California SW)
KUNDALINI YOGA – NEW TIME: Now at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Get moving at midweek on the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, regardless of what pace you run at!
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY CHOIR OPEN REHEARSALS: “From seasoned vocalists to shower divas,” everyone’s welcome to sing with this choir at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7 pm.
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle trivia venues on our Wednesday list: at Future Primitive Beach Bar (2536 Alki SW), 7 pm, free to play … 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), free to play … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, it’s trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: West Seattle’s longest-running open mic! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: Sing at the pub starting at 8:45 pm, after trivia. (2306 California SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A “Jane Doe” in the R. Kelly trials is ready to share her real name. And her story.
Republicans attack ‘woke’ Netflix — and ignore YouTube
Britain drags feet on IRGC terror designation as Iran-linked center allegedly sells extremist merchandise
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Nearly 40% of cancers can be prevented with 3 lifestyle changes, study finds
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Council of Europe chief calls for political and financial backing of Ukraine Special Tribunal
Republicans pan Democrats’ demands for ICE reform in DHS funding, with little time to reach deal
LIVE: White House press briefing
The Long Goodbye: A California Couple Self-Deports to Mexico
-
Indiana4 days ago13-year-old rider dies following incident at northwest Indiana BMX park
-
Massachusetts5 days agoTV star fisherman, crew all presumed dead after boat sinks off Massachusetts coast
-
Tennessee5 days agoUPDATE: Ohio woman charged in shooting death of West TN deputy
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoVikram Prabhu’s Sirai Telugu Dubbed OTT Movie Review and Rating
-
Indiana3 days ago13-year-old boy dies in BMX accident, officials, Steel Wheels BMX says
-
Politics1 week agoVirginia Democrats seek dozens of new tax hikes, including on dog walking and dry cleaning
-
Austin, TX6 days ago
TEA is on board with almost all of Austin ISD’s turnaround plans
-
Texas5 days agoLive results: Texas state Senate runoff
