SAINTS KICKING GAME VS. LEON WASHINGTON
Although Washington's 25.6 kickoff return average did not lead the NFL (he was eighth), there isn't a more explosive returner deep on the kickoff.
Against San Diego, Washington became the first player in 50 years to average better than 60 yards per return, gaining 253 yards on four returns, including a 101-yard touchdown and a 99-yard touchdown. He added a 92-yard touchdown return against San Francisco in week 13.
The Saints did a good job of containing Washington last time, as the Seahawks' average starting field position of their own 23-yard line was the second-worst the team had this season.
Payton indicated that, with a dangerous return man, the Saints sometimes favor Garrett Hartley kicking off because he can place the ball on a spot better than Thomas Morstead, who has the leg to kick it deeper. But McMahon, trying to keep his options open, said Hartley got the call most often against Seattle in November because Morstead was coping with a since-healed hip flexor.
MARSHAWN LYNCH VS. REGGIE BUSH
The weather is expected to be vintage Seattle rain and cold, with a sky the gray of the Seahawks uniforms. So even though both offenses favor a passing attack, one of them -- most likely the winner -- will have to establish some sort of running game, if only to keep the defense honest and make play action more effective.
With Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory out, Bush will be called upon to not only gain positive yardage consistently in the running game, but also provide a threat as a pass receiver coming out of the backfield, one of the Saints staples, especially in the red zone.
Julius Jones' fumble on the goal line last week against Tampa Bay could mean the team leans on Bush even more in the red zone today.
SAINTS SECONDARY VS. MATT HASSELBECK
Seattle seemingly abandoned any pretense of trying to run the ball when they visited New Orleans, opting instead to have Hasselbeck throw 44 times. He completed 32 for 366 yards and a touchdown, earning a quarterback rating of 104.9, his third-highest of the season. "You can look at it that way if you want to," Saints cornerback Tracy Porter said, when asked it the secondary hoped for some payback today.
"Regardless, we gave up over 300 yards passing and 400 yards total offense to those guys, and that's something we don't pride ourselves on doing."
Hasselbeck is particularly effective in the red zone, where he has amassed a touchdown/interception ratio of 117 to 13 since 2001. With Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins out, there will be more pressure on Porter and Jabari Greer on the corners, as well as whoever New Orleans puts in the slot.
Rookie Patrick Robinson has been playing well the past two weeks on special teams, but it would not be surprising to see defensive coordinator Gregg Williams opt instead for the deeper experience of Leigh Torrence and Pierson Prioleau.
GAME PLAN
The Saints aren't likely to overhaul their offensive approach radically, even without Thomas, Ivory and rookie Jimmy Graham, who has emerged as New Orleans' most potent threat at tight end. That means the passing game will be more important than ever. Quarterback Drew Brees probably will try to get wide receiver Marques Colston involved early, as he tends to be a player who gets better as a game progresses and he is frequently targeted. Colston's reliability will have to be matched by tight end Jeremy Shockey, and that will give Brees a chance to take shot plays with Lance Moore and Robert Meachem. Conversely, possibly weakened Hasselbeck, a strong Lynch and bad weather could mean Seattle will try to slow the game down and grind out first downs. Surely the Seahawks know they must limit the Saints' possessions to keep the game close into the second half.
