5 things to watch for in Thursday's Seahawks vs. Raiders game

Russell Wilson battles the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 preseason.



SEATTLE -- Ah, the fourth and final preseason game. A time when even the most hardcore fan sighs, leans over to their partner and asks:

"Is it regular season yet?"

If there's one thing we learned about the Seahawks Friday against the Bears, it's that the first team is really, really good. But 12s, we already KNEW that.

What we didn't get a handle on is the Seahawks second and third string players. Could they score with any consistency? Could they break through pedestrian defenses? Will these question be answered by the time the Hawks play the Green Bay Packers a week from Thursday in the regular season opener on Sept. 4?

As the fourth preseason game is almost exclusively for backups, we'll get a great look at them. And that works out fine, because it remains one of the few unknowns.

5 Things to Watch for in the Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders Game on Q13 FOX

5.  The Raiders' footwork and feel -- Thursday won't be the only time the Hawks play the Raiders -- an old AFC West rival -- in 2014. They'll meet again in the regular season on Nov. 2 at CenturyLink Field. While the game plan will undoubtedly be different as neither team is likely to show their regular season cards Thursday, it's a good opportunity for the Hawks to get a feel for the Raiders. The plays will change, but the pace of the game, the speed of the pieces, will not.

4. Sprained ankles and twisted knees -- Talking to Q13 FOX News anchor Bill Wixey about Thursday's game, he claims there's only one thing that fans need to watch for: Health. While some disagree, Wixey says the game is all about staying healthy. It's hard to disagree with Wixey, since even a routine tackle or step can end in an ACL tear. Look for both teams to avoid tough hits and be more comfortable with stepping out-of-bounds than usual.

3. Christine Michael -- The Seahawks running back has taken enormous strides since he was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Of course, seeing little if any playing time in the regular season has meant those strides have come on his own accord.

Undeniably a breakout runner, Michael has struggled to pass block, fall in formation and hold onto the ball. It's these "Small things" he worked on all off-season and during the preseason, he told the Seattle Times. Look for Michael's improvements as he's expected to see significant playing time Thursday.

2. Twenty-two players on the chopping block -- Can you spot 22 players who didn't get much playing time? Or, if they did, they missed blocks, tackles, or maybe -- God forbid -- fumbled the ball. Seattle has to trim the roster from 75 to 53 players by Saturday, guaranteeing some wearing a Hawks jersey won't be by next week.

1. Terrelle Pryor -- Pryor spent two seasons with the silver and black, starting nine games with the Raiders last year. The main question is not how he handles his old team, though. It's how and if he secures a roster spot on the Seahawks. Largely considered the third-string quarterback behind Russell Wilson and backup Tarvaris Jackson, Pryor will need to his reportedly stunning skills in order for the Hawks to justify carrying three QBs on the roster.

So far though, he's been up and down, throwing an interception on only two attempts against the Chicago Bears, but also breaking free for a 44-yard TD run against the Chargers earlier this preseason. Whether or not Pryor shows up to play Thursday could determine whether or not he calls the Emerald City his home for the 2014 season.

Coverage of the game starts with Q13 FOX News at 4:00 followed by Seahawks Gameday. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. on Q13 FOX.