NFL Week 8 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 7

The Seattle Seahawks dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars from the opening snap in Week 8, winning 31-7 to remain in the hunt for an NFC wild card.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith captained an efficient offensive attack that produced points on three of its four opening possessions before relying on a much-improved defense to secure the victory.

Jacksonville drops to 1-6 on the year as the team continues its search for its first win of the season on American soil.

Click here for more PFF tools:

Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings

Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback

Smith thrived filling in for the injured Russell Wilson, finishing 20-of-24 passing for 195 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

The nine-year pro worked the ball downfield early and often Sunday, setting a new season-high with three big-time throws while finishing with an average depth of target of 8.3 yards.

Geno Smith: Passing by target depth

Despite the downfield approach, Smith was impressively protective of the ball, as he finished without a turnover-worthy play while recording a season-best 91.3% adjusted completion percentage. The former West Virginia Mountaineer could do no wrong Sunday, as he also scored Seattle’s lone rushing touchdown with a fourth-down quarterback sneak midway through the first quarter.

Running Backs

Alex Collins once again handled lead-back duties for the Seahawks with Chris Carson on injured reserve, accumulating 44 rushing yards on 10 carries in the win. The fifth-year pro collected a team-high three rushing first downs while also forcing one of the team’s three missed tackles. 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Tyler Lockett was Smith’s favorite target Sunday, hauling in 12 of his game-high 13 targets for 142 yards. Lockett and Smith’s connection only intensified when the chains needed moving, as the seventh-year wideout amassed a team-best six receiving first downs in the win.

Lockett’s brilliance did little to diminish D.K. Metcalf’s performance, as he grabbed all six of his targets for 43 yards and two touchdowns. The third-year pro remained dominant in contested-catch situations, leading all pass-catchers with two contested catches in Sunday’s victory.

Offensive Line

The Seahawks offensive line performed competently Sunday, providing ample time for Smith in pass protection while sustaining an overall mediocre Seattle rushing attack. Starting right guard Gabe Jackson was the unit’s strongest performer, as he was the only member of Seattle’s starting offensive line not to allow a single pressure.

Defensive Line

Seattle’s defensive line flourished throughout Sunday’s victory, totaling 21 pressures and 18 quarterback hits in the win. Edge rusher Darrell Taylor led the unit as he accumulated four pressures, two of which resulted in quarterback hits.

Linebackers

Unsurprisingly, Bobby Wagner was the standout of the Seahawks linebacker corps Sunday, as the former All-Pro led all defenders with 14 tackles in the victory. Wagner and Jordyn Brooks were less dominant in coverage, as the pair allowed eight receptions on nine targets for 67 yards as well as the Jaguars’ lone touchdown.

Secondary

Cornerback Ugo Amadi led all Seattle defensive backs with 11 targets, allowing receptions on 10 of them for 65 yards and six first downs. All other Seahawks defensive backs allowed 98 combined yards on 12 receptions, good for a 65.6 passer rating allowed.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback

Fresh off the first victory of his young NFL career, Trevor Lawrence failed to recreate the magic as he put on a dismal performance in Sunday’s defeat. The former No. 1 overall pick completed 32 of his 54 attempts for 238 yards, totaling one touchdown and one interception in the loss.

Trevor Lawrence: Passing by target depth

Lawrence struggled to find receivers in the deeper and intermediate areas of the field, as a mere 31.5% of Lawrence’s attempts traveled past the first-down marker. After displaying some downfield resilience two weeks ago in London, where he amassed an average depth of target (aDOT) of 9.1 yards, Lawrence cratered Sunday as he finished with an aDOT of 6.3 yards, his lowest figure since Week 2. 

Running Backs

Starting running back James Robinson had totaled 39 yards on just five touches before leaving Sunday’s game with an ankle injury midway through the second quarter. He was replaced by Carlos Hyde, who collected 32 yards on nine carries. Hyde was also Jacksonville’s second-leading receiver, pulling in six of his eight targets for 40 yards.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Tight end Dan Arnold led all Jaguars pass-catchers with eight receptions for 68 yards, including a team-high five first downs. The newly acquired tight end did the majority of his damage near the line of scrimmage, as he finished with an average depth of target of 4.5 yards.

Wide receiver Jamal Agnew paced Jacksonville with 12 targets, hauling in six for 38 yards, including the team’s lone touchdown. Agnew displayed impressive shiftiness with the ball in his hands, leading all Jaguars' wide receivers with 27 yards after the catch.

Offensive Line

Jacksonville’s offensive line was up and down in their performance Sunday, allowing just one sack in pass protection while presenting Jaguars rushers with an average of 0.9 yards before contact. Left guard Andrew Norwell was the standout member of the group, finishing as the lone member of Jacksonville’s starting offensive line to not allow a single pressure.

Defensive Line

The Jaguars' defensive line was arguably their strongest-performing unit Sunday, as the group accounted for 12 pressures and three sacks in the defeat.

Edge rusher Josh Allen continued what has quietly been a remarkable season for the former top-10 pick, as he accrued six pressures and a game-high two sacks in Sunday’s loss.

Linebackers

Myles Jack led the Jaguars with nine total tackles, finishing with a unit-best 1.33-yard average depth of tackle. Damien Wilson drew four targets in coverage to lead all Jacksonville linebackers, allowing receptions on all four for 27 yards and one first down.

Secondary

Jacksonville’s secondary was picked apart throughout Sunday’s contest, as the unit allowed 17 receptions on 19 targets for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin was responsible for both touchdowns, as he allowed receptions on all five of his targets for 37 yards.