The Seattle Seahawks discovered themselves trailing early once more on the highway, 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 not less than two possessions for the ultimate 32 minutes of recreation time, all the best way to a 30-18 victory over the Cardinals. Maybe 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 Participant of the Week with Sam Darnold’s five-touchdown recreation and Puka Nacua’s newest masterclass, however possibly he can win the Floor Participant 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 most effective recreation of his NFL profession by a large distance. No Ken Walker? No downside. How about virtually 200 yards of complete offense after getting into the sport with 470 all yr?
Charbonnet was affected person along with his blockers, bounced off tacklers all recreation, and showcased a stage of open-field velocity 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 occasions out of 30 dropbacks and sacked ZERO occasions after giving up 5 sacks the earlier assembly. There weren’t precisely too many enormous performs down the sector even with the optimistic cross safety, however Seattle was in a position to preserve Geno clear and not less than permit him to seek out his checkdown. I’ll take that over weekly breakdowns that give him no likelihood from the snap.
Sataoa Laumea was my standout performer. The rookie proper guard was a bully within the run recreation and sprung that second Charbonnet landing. I don’t suppose 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. Maybe there was a way to the insanity of sitting Laumea and letting him develop in follow as a substitute of throwing him into the hearth.
Ernest Jones IV
Lengthen him. There’s 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 will go down as the most effective defensive midseason commerce of John Schneider’s profession; it’s up there with Quandre Diggs and Leonard Williams in the mean time.
Coby Bryant
Overwhelmed for a landing on the opening drive, Bryant bounced again along 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 realize who ought to get credit score for shifting Bryant from slot nook to security? Yup. Pete Carroll and his outdated employees.
Bryant is revitalized within the beginning lineup and he’s earned his enjoying time over Rayshawn Jenkins and Okay’Von Wallace.
Tyrice Knight
Knight led the workforce in tackles however I’m way more targeted on his cross protection. The rookie recorded two passes defensed, considered one of which was in opposition to a tightly lined Trey McBride. From Wright to Knight? Possibly the Seahawks have their future at weakside linebacker.
Leonard Williams
Williams didn’t file 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, Large 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 not less than slowing gamers down for his teammates to gang deal with. 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 Corridor
Corridor formally recorded one deal with. He additionally created the Bryant interception by pressuring Kyler Murray whereas getting held. A 4th down conversion by Arizona was nullified as a result of Corridor being held. I consider Corridor drew three holding penalties in complete, so he won’t have had the stats however he was impactful method past the field rating.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
He is perhaps WR1 at this fee. Not even 1A anymore. JSN led the workforce with 5 catches for 82 yards and the primary highway landing of his profession. He’s definitely developed terrific chemistry with Geno Smith and is showcasing clutch fingers after some early points with drops.
Ryan Grubb
The Seahawks offense has stumbled everywhere for a lot of the season, however (penalties apart) this was as clear as Ryan Grubb’s unit has seemed all yr. In case you take 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 consider Grubb coming below hearth has been deserved and that he’s not dealt with the offensive line struggles properly relative to different Seahawks OCs. With that mentioned, when the OL truly features, there’s a semblance of what offense he needs 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
One other turnover-free recreation for Geno, who wasn’t flashy however he was efficient. He was 24/30 for 233 yards and a landing, and it may’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
In the end, McIntosh obtained prolonged enjoying time. He had seven carries for 38 yards (plus a few brief receptions) and picked up three first downs out of 9 touches. Having him make any form of influence within the offense was a optimistic to me. Possibly extra touches are coming even when Kenneth Walker comes again?
Jaelon Darden
Genuinely, it’s for not fumbling or doing something unhealthy along 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. 4 of his 5 punts have been downed contained in the 20 and flipped discipline place considerably. That was Dickson at his best.
Losers
Tyler Lockett
When Lockett couldn’t herald that fade in the long run zone with 1-on-1 protection on him, I virtually shed a tear. That’s a play classic Lockett makes nearly on a regular basis. It could’ve been a landing to make it 31-10 Seahawks. As a substitute, Lockett ends the day with no catches and one goal. It’s been 5 years since his final catchless recreation, and solely the seventh of his terrific profession.
This doesn’t seem 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 Protection
This can be 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 Payments recreation, and Josh Jacobs is coming into city subsequent week behind a superb Inexperienced Bay Packers offensive line. Hopefully that tightens up rapidly.
Last 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 recreation in opposition to the Cardinals, which is difficult 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 most likely my solely officiating gripe in what was usually a well-officiated recreation.
Wasn’t thrilled with the lackadaisical strategy to the two-minute drill earlier than halftime. Seattle has been nice in two-minute conditions and the Seahawks consciously performed for a discipline purpose and ended up punting.
Michael Wilson’s landing was the one explosive cross allowed all recreation by the Seahawks protection. Mike Macdonald has discovered the system on protection and that is not less than an above-average unit in my eyes.
The Los Angeles Rams successful over the Buffalo Payments is a bummer, as a result of now there’s a brand new component to the Seahawks playoff chase I wasn’t relying on. If the Rams win out (which, frankly, may be very attainable given the schedule) then they win the division. If we nearly discard the Cardinals, the Rams are actually again within the image and looking out ferocious on offense. It could very properly come right down to Week 18 for the Seahawks to make the playoffs. That’s all of the extra purpose why the Inexperienced Bay Packers recreation 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 highway file—Glendale was like Lumen Discipline Southwest—possibly it’s not the worst factor on the earth? I’d nonetheless reasonably win the division and provides the Lumen Discipline followers a house playoff recreation once more. I do know subsequent Sunday evening will really feel like a playoff ambiance.
