The Seattle Seahawks discovered themselves trailing early once more on the street, however this time the win over the Arizona Cardinals was significantly extra comfy than the one in opposition to the New York Jets.
After a 7-0 gap, Seattle’s offense got here to life with 17 factors on its first three possessions and by no means seemed again. The Seahawks led by a minimum of two possessions for the ultimate 32 minutes of sport time, all the way in which to a 30-18 victory over the Cardinals. Perhaps as massive because the win was no season-ending accidents like common at that cursed Glendale stadium. I contemplate this two wins in a single.
It’s Winners and Losers time!
Winners
Zach Charbonnet
I’m fairly certain Charbonnet has no shot to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week with Sam Darnold’s five-touchdown sport and Puka Nacua’s newest masterclass, however perhaps he can win the Ground Player of the Week (which is as much as a fan vote). Every week faraway from his game-winning landing in opposition to the New York Jets, Charbonnet had the very best sport of his NFL profession by a large distance. No Ken Walker? No downside. How about nearly 200 yards of complete offense after coming into the sport with 470 all 12 months?
Charbonnet was affected person together with his blockers, bounced off tacklers all sport, and showcased a stage of open-field pace that we haven’t actually seen fairly often. This was an excellent exhibiting by Charbonnet with the season just about on the road, and he was instrumental on this (comparatively talking) explosion of Seahawks offense.
Offensive line, led by Sautoa Laumea
Geno Smith was solely pressured 5 instances out of 30 dropbacks and sacked ZERO instances after giving up 5 sacks the earlier assembly. There weren’t precisely too many large performs down the sphere even with the constructive cross safety, however Seattle was in a position to maintain Geno clear and a minimum of enable him to search out his checkdown. I’ll take that over weekly breakdowns that give him no probability from the snap.
Sataoa Laumea was my standout performer. The rookie proper guard was a bully within the run sport and sprung that second Charbonnet landing. I don’t assume he allowed any pressures, both. If he retains this up, I don’t see how Anthony Bradford will get his beginning job if he returns from IR. Perhaps there was a way to the insanity of sitting Laumea and letting him develop in apply as an alternative of throwing him into the fireplace.
Ernest Jones IV
Extend him. There is each purpose to increase Ernest Jones’ contract and never let him contact free company. He picked up his first interception as a Seahawk to assist arrange Seattle’s first landing, and continues to be glorious in protection and in opposition to the run. This could go down as the very best defensive midseason commerce of John Schneider’s profession; it’s up there with Quandre Diggs and Leonard Williams in the mean time.
Coby Bryant
Beaten for a landing on the opening drive, Bryant bounced again together with his third interception of the season. Apparently it was a protection bust by somebody not named Bryant, and Coby got here to the rescue. You know who ought to get credit score for shifting Bryant from slot nook to security? Yup. Pete Carroll and his previous employees.
Bryant is revitalized within the beginning lineup and he’s earned his taking part in time over Rayshawn Jenkins and Ok’Von Wallace.
Tyrice Knight
Knight led the crew in tackles however I’m far more targeted on his cross protection. The rookie recorded two passes defensed, considered one of which was in opposition to a tightly coated Trey McBride. From Wright to Knight? Maybe the Seahawks have their future at weakside linebacker.
Leonard Williams
Williams didn’t report a sack on this event, however he nonetheless had two tackles for loss and swatted a Kyler Murray cross down. In Seattle’s greatest run protection moments, Big Cat, Jarran Reed, and Byron Murphy II (who appears to be extra of a run-stuffer than a cross rusher proper now) have been on the heart of the stuffs.
Devon Witherspoon
When he wasn’t making nice open discipline tackles, ‘Spoon was a minimum of slowing gamers down for his teammates to gang sort out. He was unfortunate to not get his first sack of the season on Kyler Murray, however his stress resulted in a clean-up sack for Rayshawn Jenkins.
Derick Hall
Hall formally recorded one sort out. He additionally created the Bryant interception by pressuring Kyler Murray whereas getting held. A 4th down conversion by Arizona was nullified attributable to Hall being held. I imagine Hall drew three holding penalties in complete, so he may not have had the stats however he was impactful manner past the field rating.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
He could be WR1 at this price. Not even 1A anymore. JSN led the crew with 5 catches for 82 yards and the primary street landing of his profession. He’s actually developed terrific chemistry with Geno Smith and is showcasing clutch arms after some early points with drops.
Ryan Grubb
The Seahawks offense has stumbled in all places for a lot of the season, however (penalties apart) this was as clear as Ryan Grubb’s unit has seemed all 12 months. If you are taking away defensive touchdowns, this was Seattle’s first 30-point outing on offense below Grubb. I’m nonetheless involved concerning the struggles producing massive performs off of play-action, however there was a coherence to this gameplan not seen in latest weeks.
I imagine Grubb coming below fireplace has been deserved and that he’s not dealt with the offensive line struggles nicely relative to different Seahawks OCs. With that mentioned, when the OL really features, there’s a semblance of what offense he desires to run. I’d say he’s additionally made some changes post-bye concerning extra duo runs, G-T counters, and under-center seems. It’s now about working a number of performs from those self same seems to stamp out predictability.
Can’t actually argue or complain a lot with 409 yards and seven/15 on third down, are you able to?
Geno Smith
Another turnover-free sport for Geno, who wasn’t flashy however he was efficient. He was 24/30 for 233 yards and a landing, and it might’ve been three if not for a misfire to Pharaoh Brown on the opening drive after which a drop by Tyler Lockett within the third quarter. Smith was not forcing issues and he was taking what the protection gave him, all whereas nonetheless ripping some slick intermediate throws on scoring drives. That was a composed exhibiting by Geno with few errors.
Kenny McIntosh
At lengthy final, McIntosh acquired prolonged taking part in time. He had seven carries for 38 yards (plus a few quick receptions) and picked up three first downs out of 9 touches. Having him make any kind of affect within the offense was a constructive to me. Maybe extra touches are coming even when Kenneth Walker comes again?
Jaelon Darden
Genuinely, it’s for not fumbling or doing something dangerous together with his few kick/punt returns. That’s the place I’m with Seahawks particular groups at this level.
Michael Dickson
He put the Seahawks on his healed again. Four of his 5 punts have been downed contained in the 20 and flipped discipline place considerably. That was Dickson at his most interesting.
Losers
Tyler Lockett
When Lockett couldn’t usher in that fade in the long run zone with 1-on-1 protection on him, I nearly shed a tear. That’s a play classic Lockett makes nearly on a regular basis. It would’ve been a landing to make it 31-10 Seahawks. Instead, Lockett ends the day with no catches and one goal. It’s been 5 years since his final catchless sport, and solely the seventh of his terrific profession.
This doesn’t appear like it’s turning itself round any time quickly. Lockett solely has 7 catches for 65 yards because the bye week. Seattle has much less of a WR trio and extra of a duo. JSN is stepping up simply in time for Lockett’s decline.
Run Defense
This is a minor nitpick however the Seahawks run protection was not tremendous sharp in comparison with earlier weeks. James Conner had 90 yards on 18 carries and some explosives given up. It was undoubtedly the worst Seahawks rush protection exhibiting because the Buffalo Bills sport, and Josh Jacobs is coming into city subsequent week behind a great Green Bay Packers offensive line. Hopefully that tightens up rapidly.
Final Notes
- A.J. Barner trucked a person on his solely goal of the sport. You like to see it.
- DK Metcalf continues his stretch of by no means having a 60-yard receiving sport in opposition to the Cardinals, which is tough to fathom. He nonetheless had 4 grabs for 49 yards.
- I don’t perceive why the Geno Smith intentional grounding penalty was upheld. He’s being hit as he’s throwing and AJ Barner was within the neighborhood. We’ve seen the usual for “within the space” be very liberal in these conditions and but that was not adequate? That was in all probability my solely officiating gripe in what was typically a well-officiated sport.
- Wasn’t thrilled with the lackadaisical method to the two-minute drill earlier than halftime. Seattle has been nice in two-minute conditions and the Seahawks consciously performed for a discipline aim and ended up punting.
- Michael Wilson’s landing was the one explosive cross allowed all sport by the Seahawks protection. Mike Macdonald has discovered the system on protection and that is a minimum of an above-average unit in my eyes.
- The Los Angeles Rams successful over the Buffalo Bills is a bummer, as a result of now there’s a brand new ingredient to the Seahawks playoff chase I wasn’t relying on. If the Rams win out (which, frankly, may be very potential given the schedule) then they win the division. If we nearly discard the Cardinals, the Rams at the moment are again within the image and searching ferocious on offense. It could very nicely come right down to Week 18 for the Seahawks to make the playoffs. That’s all of the extra purpose why the Green Bay Packers sport is so vital, as a result of successful to get to 9-5 not solely retains them within the division lead, it creates a path for Seattle to have a Wild Card choice to fall again on. And given Seattle’s 5-1 street report—Glendale was like Lumen Field Southwest—perhaps it’s not the worst factor on the planet? I’d nonetheless somewhat win the division and provides the Lumen Field followers a house playoff sport once more. I do know subsequent Sunday evening will really feel like a playoff environment.
