The NFL playoffs are right around the corner, and the Seattle Seahawks are entering Week 18 with a lot at stake. A win over the San Francisco 49ers, and the Seahawks win the NFC West and secure a bye. A loss would make the Seahawks go on the road in round one.
With the playoffs approaching and the Seahawks gameplanning for some of the best teams in the NFL going forward, there is one key weakness that Aaron Schatz of ESPN identified for Seattle.
While their defense has been great all season long, there's one area of concern that the 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles could take huge advantage of this playoffs: The Seahawks struggle to cover tight ends.
Seahawks' biggest concern could be matchup nightmare vs. Eagles, 49ers
"Concerning weakness: Covering tight ends," Schatz noted. "... And the Seahawks might have to get through top tight ends such as 49ers' George Kittle and the Eagles' Dallas Goedert if they want to make it to the Super Bowl."
With the Seahawks struggling to cover tight ends, ranking 29th in the NFL in yards per game allowed to the position according to Schatz, there's real concern over their ability to cover the position.
While the 49ers have Kittle, and the Eagles have Goedert, the other teams in the NFC playoff field are far from easy matchups. The Los Angeles Rams run 13 personnel with three tight ends often, and could be a matchup nightmare for Seattle.
The Chicago Bears have two options in Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, which would make up a serious threat to the Seahawks defense if they meet in the playoffs.
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Only the Green Bay Packers, due to Tucker Kraft's injury, and the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers wouldn't be as much of a threat to Seattle.
If the Seahawks can contain tight ends in the playoffs, their odds would be significantly better. Making the Super Bowl is the goal, and stopping top tight ends might prove to be the difference in making a run or not.
They'll get a huge test in Week 18 against the 49ers, as Kittle, the best tight end in the NFL left in the playoff field, will prove to be a tough matchup regardless of how healthy he is.
There are some concerns with Sam Darnold and the running game, but if the Seahawks stout defense can get beat by tight ends, their top competition for the NFC title all pose to be difficult matchups for the Seahawks this playoffs.
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