"Emerald City Sports Spotlight with Peter D~ Seahawks 2025 First Impressions -

Seahawks 2025 First Impressions

By Peter Duncan-Bey, Sportswriter for The Facts Newspaper

 The Seahawks’ preseason opener against the Los Angeles Raiders — and the return of former head coach Pete Carroll and QB Geno Smith — brought plenty of buzz. Geno holds Seahawks single-season records in passing attempts (578, 2024), completions (407, 2024), completion percentage (70.42%, 2024), and passing yards (4,320, 2024). Carroll’s Seattle legacy includes back-to-back Super Bowl appearances (2014, 2015), a Super Bowl XLVIII win, nine straight winning seasons (2012–2020), and 137 total victories. The nostalgia was real.

But the bigger preseason questions were clear:

What do they have in Drew Lock?

What can the backup defensive backfield add?

Is the hype around Jalen Milroe real?

QB Rotations & Offensive Identity

Geno’s Raiders debut was brief — 1-for-3 for 15 yards — before giving way. Seattle kept starter Sam Darnold off the field, handing the first half to veteran Drew Lock. Top backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet sat, so second-year RB George Holani got the start, competing with rookie Damien Martinez for RB3.

In fitting irony for a “run-first” offense, Klint Kubiak opened with a pass to Tory Horton, but the ground game quickly took over. Holani ripped a 19-yard run, added multiple short gains, and helped move the chains. The drive ended in frustration after three straight passes in the red zone, culminating in a Lock interception. Still, the takeaway was clear: the offense can move the ball, but its strength lies in the run game — even with the backups.

Run Game Cooks Early

Seattle’s second possession leaned into that strength: six rushes to four passes. Holani capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, initially ruled out at the 1 before review overturned it. An undrafted special-teamer last year, Holani looked like a legitimate contributor.

Defense Makes Early Statement

With many starters resting, Seattle’s defense took advantage of opportunity. The Raiders failed to score in the first quarter, and Josh Jobe’s 28-yard interception return set up prime field position (though Seattle couldn’t capitalize). Two first-half picks on the Raiders’ backup QB helped Lock command a 16-3 halftime lead, despite his earlier red-zone mistake. Lock finished 12-for-22 for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The Jalen Milroe Show

Then came the main event: rookie Jalen Milroe. The rookie QB went 6-for-10 for 61 yards and a touchdown, showing poise and efficiency. But fans were waiting for his legs — and they got their money’s worth with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter. From the shotgun, Milroe broke right, hit the edge, and sprinted 27 yards. He didn’t turn the ball over, completed 60% of his passes, scored through the air, and flashed the mobility that will likely earn him special packages to exploit his speed and creativity.

First Look Takeaways

Though the game ended in a tie (no overtime in preseason), Seattle’s debut offered plenty of optimism:

The run game can thrive behind Kubiak’s upgraded scheme and improved offensive line.

Lock is a capable second-string QB who can bounce back from mistakes.

The cornerback room is competitive and opportunistic.

Milroe’s dual-threat ability could be a real problem for NFC defenses.

For a first look, this was a promising start. The Seahawks have depth, scheme versatility, and playmakers ready to contribute — and they may have just found their most electrifying rookie weapon in years.