We’ve reached the end of NFL preseason at long last. The Seattle Seahawks (1-0-1) and Green Bay Packers (1-1) had a contentious but presumably productive joint scrimmage on Thursday, which makes Saturday’s preseason finale at Lambeau Field the battle of the backups and deep reserves. Seahawks fans will undoubtedly be heavily invested in this game because of the 60 minutes of Jalen Milroe we’re set to see!
Let’s review last week’s predictions from Seattle’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs before we get into the Packers game.
Bold prediction: Both teams will lose multiple fumbles
Not only did this not come close to happening, but the only fumble by either team was by Seahawks running back Anthony Tyus Jr, who pounced on the loose ball.
Seahawks offense prediction: The first-team gets a scoring drive
Yup. Touchdown, too.
Seahawks defense prediction: Nick Emmanwori records a sack and/or turnover
Nope.
Chiefs prediction: Gardner Minshew gets into the end zone
Passing touchdown? Yes. Rushing touchdown? No. And that was the requirement for this to be right.
Game prediction: Seahawks win on the scoreboard and in the injury department
Yes and yes. A much higher scoring Seahawks performance than I’d anticipated, though.
Now let’s move to Saturday’s game!
Bold prediction: Jalen Milroe rushes for over 100 yards
Maybe I’m stretching it with “bold take” here but I think Milroe will be running wild all over the Packers defense. Give Jalen a full game in which he’s highly likely to have multiple designed runs and scramble for yards on pass plays and reaching this mark is not inconceivable. I’m personally more interested in how he performs as a passer, but why wouldn’t you want to see Milroe in the open field making defenders miss?
Seahawks offense prediction: Dareke Young scores a touchdown
I will admit that I thought Dareke had little chance of making the Seahawks roster when training camp began. He’s been great through preseason and looks to have created clear separation from Cody White, Ricky White III, and others battling to make the roster. All that’s missing is Young scoring a touchdown, which I think he’ll do… which also means I believe Milroe is throwing his first NFL touchdown pass.
Seahawks defense prediction: Jared Ivey records a sack
Ivey has been talked about quite a bit throughout training camp and preseason as a potential UDFA gem who makes the 53-man roster. He’s nominally an outside linebacker but I don’t think he’ll play that big EDGE role should he make the roster. Ivey has been outstanding in run defense and been in on several pressures without getting a tackle or a sack. Against the Chiefs, Ivey recorded no stats but was more impactful than the box score would suggest.
I think Ivey gets some payoff and takes down either Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford, the backups to presumptive gameday starter Malik Willis.
Opposition prediction: Bo Melton will get a pass defensed
No, this is not a misprint. Former Seahawks draft pick Bo Melton, drafted as a wide receiver and who’s otherwise spent his Packers career as a wide receiver, is now a defensive back just like his brother Max. Thus far in preseason he has five tackles and a pass defensed. How about a PBU in front of the home fans, Bo?
Game prediction: Seahawks lose, but no one really cares
A prolonged stretch of third-string play on the road probably favors the home team, so I’ll go with a 24-20 Seahawks loss to wrap up preseason. Seattle could lose by 60 points for all I care; get out of Lambeau Field healthy and whole and prep for Week 1 versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Make your own predictions in the comments! I promise this will be more interesting when the regular season starts and I’m not studying the bottom-end of the depth charts.
