Three Seahawks keys vs. Buccaneers starts with Grey Zabel vs. Vita Vea

Grey Zabel has faced a lot already in his young NFL career. He’s conquered most of it.

Sunday, the Seahawks’ rookie left guard, first-round draft choice and day-one starter gets his biggest — plus fastest, and strongest — test yet.

Vita Vea is coming back to Seattle.

The Super Bowl-champion, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and former University of Washington star will be in Lumen Field with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) to play the Seahawks (3-1).

Zabel vs. Vea on the line of scrimmage is the biggest key to the game for Seattle, and its intent of getting its promised running game going this weekend.

What specifically does the 23-year-old Zabel, playing in his fifth NFL game, see as the challenge of having to block the 30-year-old Vea, the $73 million Buccaneer playing his 100th regular-season game on top of 17 in the postseason Sunday?

“The power that he has,” Zabel told The News Tribune. “He’s an unbelievable football player.”

One Zabel is excited to measure himself against.

“It’s going to be a good challenge to go up against Vita this week, to kind of show where you’re at, how prepared you are.

“And how strong you are.”

There aren’t many football players around the 6-foot-6, 316-pound Zabel isn’t stronger than, at any level.

Vea, as NFL players have learned over his five seasons since the Bucs made him the 12th pick in the 2020 draft, is different.

He’s 6-4 and 347 pounds. He swallows blockers, usually multiple ones as opponents try to double- or even triple-team him out of plays. He collapses offensive lines.

He’s an issue where the Seahawks are most vulnerable on offense: Up the middle. Center Jalen Sundell is quick and athletic. Massive strength isn’t as much his calling card. Right guard Anthony Bradford has struggled at times this season, in run blocking and pass protection.

If Tampa Bay and coach Todd Bowles doesn’t just sent Vea into Sundell and Bradford on the right side of Seattle’s line continually, Zabel knows what he has to do.

Get low, even while two inches taller than Vea.

And be what he’s been all season: Fundamentally, technically sound.

Zabel has allowed just one pressure and no sacks of Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in four games this season, per NFL NextGen Stats. He was the last lineman in the league to not have a QB pressure through him this season. Zabel also has won more than 80% of his run blocks.

And he’s already a Seahawks leader beyond his years.

“He shows a lot of poise out on the field during game day, just the way that he communicates,” Darnold said. “I remember in the Pittsburgh game (Sept. 14, a 31-17 Seahawks win) in that loud stadium on third down, me being able to go up to the line and make a certain call and him coming up to me like, ‘Hey, I got the call, but some of the guys didn’t. Let’s try to somehow be able to clear that up and make it a little bit better.’

“Those are the kind of conversations that help a team grow and become more efficient as a whole.”

Zabel has been all that and more the Seahawks expected when they took him 18th overall in this year’s draft. He’s Seattle’s highest-drafted interior lineman since Hall-of-Famer Steve Hutchinson in 2001.

So it’s stud on stud in Seattle Sunday.

“I mean, it’s leverage,” Zabel said. “It’s being balanced. It’s being powerful. It’s having your hands in the right position. It’s knowing when to strike. It’s understanding the defense, what you have to look for, reading the stances.

“So when you go against a great player like (Vea), I think all your weaknesses are just magnified. You’ve got to try to limit those, and understand that he’s able to beat you in all different kinds of facets of the game.

“You’ve got to understand you’ve got to play your best football, every, single down.”

Who wins that showdown may determine who wins the game.

Coach Mike Macdonald says S Nick Emmanwori is full go to play Sunday for #Seahawks vs Buccaneers @thenewstribunepic.twitter.com/fAi52HZoVb

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) October 3, 2025

Second key: Woolen vs. Egbuka

Mike Evans, a potential future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver, is out injured for Sunday.

But Emeka Egbuka is way in.

The rookie first-round pick from Ohio State and Steilacoom High School this week became the first Buc to win NFL rookie of the month award. He’s the first Tampa Bay receiver to win that award. In September Egbuka had 18 receptions for 282 yards and four touchdowns. That’s the most receiving yards and touchdowns for a rookie in Tampa Bay’s first four games. He is coming off a 77-yard catch and run last weekend against the Eagles. The Buccaneers fell behind by three touchdowns then rallied before their first loss, 31-26.

The Bucs and everyone else in the league are aware Woolen has struggled on passes over him, and with penalties trying to deny receivers more big plays. Woolen is starting again Sunday because Seahawks Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon is out with a bruised knee.

Mayfield and the Bucs are going to use formations, motions and pass routes targeting Woolen, who is second in the league in penalties against with six.

Woolen knows it.

“I like that, for sure,” he said.

“I mean, no corner wants to just get thrown at. But, hey, you throw my way, I love it.

“I ain’t really trippin’ too much. I mean, it gives you a chance to make plays.”

Third key: Corralling Baker Mayfield

Buccaneers top rusher Bucky Irving will not play. He has a foot injury.

That means Mayfield may have to win this game by himself, throwing and running.

The Seahawks have practiced all week to keep the quarterback inside, rushing with discipline from outside in. That’s what Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Murphy, Jarran Reed and Mike Morris have done so far this season, including last week against Arizona’s elusive Kyler Murray.

Mayfield is coming off two Pro Bowl selections in as many years and a new, $100 million contract in a career revival. He isn’t as fast as Murray. But he’s a more decisive, up-the-field runner. And he’s a better passer, including while extending plays.aha

“He’s one of those guys that, by our metrics on the extended play, he’s probably the best in the league right now,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “That’s something you have to deal with.

“But he also plays on time. He’s extremely accurate. He’s got great arm talent. And then when he extends plays, he’s a great competitor. He’s got a playmaking element to his game later on in plays.

“So, a tough guy to defend.”

And the Seahawks’ primary focus for Sunday.

The pick

Irving being out is a big deal — for the Buccaneers, and for the Seahawks. Macdonald has shown in one season plus four games of this one he can scheme and deploy his Seahawks to mostly limit if not shut-down one-dimensional offenses.

Seattle’s run game still struggles. But its defense wins it.

Just as Macdonald has built this team to do.

Seahawks 17, Buccaneers 13