Like two beat up gun fighters from the Wild West facing each other on the blood stained streets of Laredo, the Seattle Seahawks are set to match up against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. One has been winning exhausting shootouts with the reliance of the quickest most accurate gun in the West but is feeling the residual bumps and bruises received from not being able to handily put any opponent away. The other has been thrown through bar windows, punched in the face, and dragged by horse through dusty streets, only to survive this abuse with a gritty determination that would make any sharp shooter leery.

These two hate each other. They know each other, and they want to put each other away. While they see weakness in the other, they also understand the strength each other possesses. While they can each boast confidence in beating the other, in the back of their minds, they both fully know how capable the other is, and there is a degree of concern over who and what they face. Both need to bring their A game in this match.

Here is my break downs and prediction.

Seahawks beat the 49ers by..

Russell Wilson cooking up a winning recipe. The 49er defense has statistically played the pass pretty well, but Russ has lit up a defense that has statistically played it better in the New England Patriots defense. He stayed patient against that defense taking what it was giving in zone, and he found ways to beat its man coverage. The 49ers are heading into this game a bit thin at corner and safety, and I think Seattle will look to take advantage of that with their star receiving duo of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Also don’t be surprised if Russ starts getting rolling with his legs more as the game wears on. Here is a fascinating stat tied to Russell Wilson’s career; he’s an astounding 31-8 following a loss. Having lost a close one to the Cardinals Sunday night, history favors Russell in this one. Let Russ cook.

DK Metcalf has a big bounce back game. Tyler Lockett had an ridiculously productive game against the Cardinals, hauling in 15 catches for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. It is likely that the 49ers are going to be paying attention to him knowing how hot he is and that Seattle is particularly banged up at running back and Russell needs to throw a lot in this match. If they put extra attention on Lockett, San Francisco doesn’t really have a physical corner to match up to Metcalf. If Russell is cooking in this game, expect a heavier dose of DK.

DJ Dallas has a good bounce back game at running back. The rookie runner has taken some heat this week about how he performed at the end of the Cardinal game, not securing a key blitz at the end when he was suddenly tossed into the mix. I have more faith in Dallas. He was noted as a good pass protector in college, and he will have had a week of preparation to potentially be the guy in this game. I also think he is a much better runner than Travis Homer in Seattle’s style of offense, and he is a really good pass catcher. The 49ers have been middle of the round defending the run this year. With a lot of anticipation that Seattle might throw a lot in this one with its injured running back situation, the 49ers may not honor the run as much in this game, and don’t be surprised if Dallas has some explosive plays on draws and screens.

Seahawks get a big boost on their defense just in time. With the 49ers as reliant as they are running the ball, this is a good game to finally get defensive tackle Snacks Harrison active, isn’t it? There’s been a lot of chatter this week about star linebacker Bobby Wagner looking like he has lost a step. I want to see how Bobby plays when he has Snacks in front of him being disruptive and soaking up double teams. I don’t think Bobby has had the luxury of staying clean as a linebacker in quite some time. Jarran Reed and Poona Ford are not space eaters at defensive tackle. Snacks Harrison is exactly that. If he plays, I would expect Bobby to play better, and I would expect KJ Wright and rookie linebacker Jordyn Brooks to continue having good efforts against the run.

Seahawk defenders force Jimmy Garoppolo into key mistakes. Seahawks won’t be getting recently traded for pass rusher Carlos Dunlap for this game due to Covid precautions, but I would expect that trade to perhaps light a fire with other pass rushers. Benson Mayowa has been playing his ass off through six games, and knowing that Seattle traded for a guy likely to eventually spell him as a starter, he might come into this game with a little extra juice off the edge. Expect Seattle to play rookie edge rusher Alton Robinson more in this one knowing Jimmy G isn’t Kyler Murray and they don’t have to use rush linebacker Shaquem Griffin as a spy. I’m not going to suggest that these guys light up the stat board with sacks, but the two things that Seattle’s defense has done through six games is playing against the run and creating turnovers. San Francisco runs the ball and their quarterback tends to turn the ball over. This could be a good match for Seattle’s defense here. I think there is a decent chance Seattle will get to Garoppolo just enough to create turnovers. The key will be taking advantage of them when they come.

Seattle loses this game to San Francisco because..

They can’t stay healthy enough at running back, lose too much balance on offense, and the 49er defenders are successful keying on Russell Wilson in the pass game. Make no mistake, Seattle is entering into this game scary thin at running back. Carlos Hyde will not play. Chris Carson will be a game time decision with a sore foot, and Travis Homer will be as well with a bruised knee. My hunch is that at least Homer will give it a go simply because he finally got a limited amount of practice in on Friday. Ideally, Carson would sit out this one, but he might push to play, and Seattle might decide to use him a bit because they are really only down to one healthy back in DJ Dallas. If injury happens to Dallas in this one, and Homer and Carson can’t go, Seattle might be forced to play a receiver like David Moore at running back. Also, a tight end might be forced to be a third down back with no threat to run. This could easily invite the 49er defense to send the house at Russell Wilson each time he passes. It could get scary in this scenario.

Seattle’s defense can not stop the running game trickery of the 49er offense. The 49ers rely on miss direction and deception in their run game to take advantage of defenders over committing. The Seattle linebackers and secondary players must stay disciple in their reads and assignments. They must trust each other. Everything San Francisco does with their pass game is built off of the run. If they have success on the ground, chances are that they will have success in the air with George Kittle at tight end, even though they are thin at receiver. This is a hug key to the game.

My prediction is..

Seahawks win this game in a battle of gritty determination, 34-30.

Russell Wilson will be extremely focused and determined in this match. He will get just enough of support in the run game from rookie runner DJ Dallas to force the 49er defenders to play honest. I also think their could be some trickery at play with jet sweeps from receivers like David Moore, and I think Russell will find ways to make the 49ers pay with his legs. I think DK Metcalf will have a bigger game.

Defensively, I think it will be another mixed bag, at best, for Seattle. They might be hyper focused to take away the run, and that could leave them exposed just enough in coverage for George Kittle to take advantage. If Seattle should surprisingly have star safety Jamal Adams active, this would be a big bonus, but I’m not expecting that. Therefore, I think San Francisco will probably move the ball and they will find their points, but in doing that Jimmy Garoppolo will make his share of mistakes against an opportunistic Seattle defense, and the game comes down to which quarterback is sharper.

I expect it to be Seattle’s.

Go Hawks.

Carlos Dunlap, Snacks Harrison, Jarran Reed and Benson Mayowa. That is a four man defensive line that, on paper, sounds a whole heck of lot better than LJ Collier, Poona Ford, Jarran Reed, and Benson Mayowa.

With all do respect to LJ and Poona, that is a veteran filled defensive line where offensive coaches now have to think a bit about the size, strength, and savvy of Harrison and Dunlap against the run. More over, with Dunlap added, they have to be at least a bit considered with a player that can beat you with a one on one pass rush. My hunch is that through their first six games of the season, offensive coordinators looked at Seattle’s defensive line, and breathed a sigh of relief more than anything else.

This trade for Carlos Dunlap is a nice start for Seattle to make a mid season revamp of what has been a dreadful defensive line as they head towards the second half of there season. Having Sacks Harrison now active will be a big boost as well, but Snacks is not a pass rusher, and Dunlap is. He is a legitimate pass rushing threat.

How significant is this addition? The only other player on Seattle’s roster that you can say is a pass rush threat is Benson Mayowa, and frankly, he’s probably more of a rotational piece to a pass rush on most other teams. Yet, in Seattle, he has been the guy. So far, through six games, he is tied for the team lead in sacks with two. He is tied with their starting safety Jamal Adams, who has not played for three games now. Yikes.

That’s how bad Seattle’s pass rush has been. Jarran Reed, so far, has not lived up to his expensive contract extension he signed last off-season (as a pass rusher). He had one nice game against the Vikings a couple weeks ago when he was going against one of the worst pass blocking guards in the league, but outside of that, he hasn’t done nearly enough. Poona Ford hasn’t taken a step forward to show he’s an interior pass rusher, either. LJ Collier also hasn’t proven that he’s much of a threat.

The only other defensive lineman that has flashed any real potential is rookie fifth rounder Alton Robinson, and he barely played against the Arizona Cardinals in a critical inter-divisional match last Sunday. That’s not good enough, and frankly, it’s inexcusable.

So, yes. I was leaping for joy in my living room when I heard yesterday morning that Seattle just traded for Dunlap. They desperately needed to make this deal if they are to have any shot of winning a tough NFC West division and advancing further through the playoffs.

Dunlap gives them a player that can be disruptive from either end position. At 6-6 and 285 pounds, he has length and size to play strong at the five technique position, but he also has enough quicks and athleticism to play the leo rush end spot where Pete Carroll hinted that they will use him at. With his size and length, I also wouldn’t be surprised if they ultimately end up moving him around the line on obvious passing downs like they did with Michael Bennett in years past. He is now likely the one player that they can put up against an offensive line’s weakest link to take advantage of in pass protection, thus giving others opportunities.

It cannot be overstated how significant his addition likely is to this defense line because, frankly, I think this line probably has been the worst one in professional football this year, and it was wasting the talents of those behind it. Therefore, there is little reason why I think Seattle can rest comfortably now with this addition.

They need more, and they should add at least one more piece before the trade deadline. In a year in which Russell Wilson is legitimately in MVP contention, and Seattle still has the best overall record in the NFC, Seattle should go all in for this season. There is no excuse for them not to do this.

People will point to the fact that they now have only four picks left in the 2021 draft, and are now tight against the salary cap. I loudly say to that stuff, “so what?!”

There are ways in which they can move money around to create more cap space for 2020. They can and perhaps should extend salaries to Tyler Lockett and KJ Wright, who are both playing out of their minds right now. This would free up space for this year and it would keep them around for a few more years to come. They could also do the same with Dunlap, who’s bigger salary runs through 2021. They could have him locked in through 2022 which would give him a three year window to win a Super Bowl or two after years of toiling in Cincinnati.

Also, instead of trading further picks, they could look to move players that might have value for other teams that are in a rebuild. They are overloaded at tight end, and linebacker right now. Could the possibly work out a player of player trade? I think it’s possible. Here’s one that I would explore.

Atlanta is supposedly looking to shop Tak McKinley right now, who fits Seattle’s profile at the leo end. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal that he signed as a first round pick, and hasn’t lived quite up to the billing after a promising first couple seasons in the league. He’s also been nursing a sore groin, and that likely isn’t going to help his trade value. He’s still probably a better rotational piece at leo end than anything Seattle presently has behind Mayowa right now.

Conversely, Seattle has Cody Barton at linebacker who has started for them but is probably going to be lost in the depth charts with rookie first round pick Jordyn Brooks healthy again, and Seattle also potentially activating Mychal Kendricks off their practice squad. Barton looks like a player that can be a decent coverage backer, and in a division where the Falcons play against Drew Brees, and Tom Brady twice a season, they might see value in Barton as they look to rebuild their roster, especially considering that they can have him on a cheap rookie contract for a couple more seasons.

If they aren’t finding much of a trade market for McKinley, offering Barton might get the deal done, and at least they get something for their former first rounder that can be a piece moving forward. In return, Seattle gets a player that had enough potential a few years ago to be taken in the first round that they can work into their pass rush rotation for this year, and if they like what they see, they can look to extend for future years.

In my opinion, this is a calculated roll of the dice that is worth taking for the Seahawks as they look to compete for a championship now, but also are looking further down the round. This is how a team that consistently drafts later in rounds because they routinely make the post season stays competitive in a tough NFC West conference that hosts three other teams built for both now and for the future.

This is just one example. There are probably many others out there.

I love this trade for Dunlap, but I want more. I hope that the Seattle Seahawks want more, as well, and I hope that they just go out and get more. Just be aggressive. Do it for Russell, Bobby Wagner, and KJ Wright. Do it for the fans.

Go for it. Nobody should blame the team for trying if they did, and it wasn’t enough for 2020. They will have exhausted all means to make a push. They will have gone all in.

But if they fall short of doing that, and didn’t exhaust all means to fortify their struggling defense, then fingers could be pointed a bit more. Then the bellowing sounds of self professed Russell Wilson lover Colin Cowherd (who will surely continue to hammer the point that Seattle isn’t doing enough to support their star quarterback) can and should be heard by Seahawk fans more.

Simply, there is little excuse for John Schneider to not continue being aggressive before the trade deadline next week. Frankly, I don’t even care of they further gut their 2021 draft to do it, if the right player is available. The opportunity to win the whole damn thing is here, right now. They should just go for it, and figure out draft picks later.

This is how I see it, anyways.

Go Hawks.

Hi my name is Curtis, and I’m a middle aged Madden addict.

I’ve been playing Madden since 2003. I know it’s not going to cause me to rob gas stations, or bust into my neighbor’s tool shed at 3AM because of this addiction, and I don’t think I will wake up naked on a grassy knoll beside Interstate-5 during rush hour because of it, either. So I think this is a healthy addiction to go along with my Seattle Seahawks addition.

They make each other complete. At least, that’s how I see things.

So, like you, I have watched these 2020 Seattle Seahawks through six games now, and I have come to the conclusion that they are what they are, and that is that they aren’t a whole heck of a lot better than they were last year. I think they have a good chance to go 11-5, maybe win a tough NFC West division, maybe even get to twelve wins, if all goes well.. just maybe.

Simply put, with that defense, I don’t anticipate that they will go far in the playoff, Maybe they get to the divisional round, just like they did last year, maybe.

It will be a shame if that is the result, because I think Russell Wilson will put up historic passing numbers with the need to win shootouts every week, and I think that will possibly lead to his first MVP award, especially if they somehow manage to win the West.

It will be a shame if they are not battling in the NFC championship game in a year he finally wins MVP, much less the Super Bowl. It will be a shame that he puts up historic passing numbers and doesn’t win MVP because his team’s defense was good enough to help secure the NFC West crown, and they are no more than a wildcard team.

Seattle’s money-ball plan to fix their pass rush over the off-season is not working, so far. I have little faith it will be much better with the players that they have in house as the season goes on, even if Snacks Harrison factors as a run stuffing defensive tackle, and Rasheem Green and Darrell Taylor come off the IR to contribute as edge rushers. I think this defense is what it is. They have some solid talent at linebacker and in the secondary, and they have a bunch of guys who are just guys on the defensive line, at best. That isn’t good enough.

That’s unacceptable for a team that boasts a 4-3 defense, or at least some hybrid version of one. In this league, you need to be able to win some battles rushing with four players. Seattle, presently, can not do this hardly at all. They have to send blitzers, and that leaves them vulnerable in coverage. It’s a terrible catch-22.

I’m not going to be mad at general manager John Schneider for taking a chance at some money-ball means to improving the pass rush last off-season. I actually think that it was a plan worth taking. Jadeveon Clowney is not worth $17 million annually, especially on a team that is paying their quarterback $35 million annually. I think adding Bruce Irvin, Benson Mayowa and drafting Darrell Taylor made sense.

Schneider couldn’t predict that Irvin would be lost to injury early in the season, and with Covid, it was hard to gauge Taylor’s recovery from the leg injury he received in college. Taylor was the best pass rusher available for them in the draft after taking linebacker Jordyn Brooks in round one, and Schneider took that chance. With high picks, you want them to go for the players with the highest athletic upside. That’s how you end up with a Frank Clark or a DK Metcalf at the end of round two. I firmly believe that Taylor was taken because Schneider identified that upside.

So, no, I am not going to demand that John Schneider be held accountable for these decisions like some others are suggesting. What they heck does that even mean? Pin him down and forcibly make him admit that he made a mistake by not overpaying for Clowney? Good God.

Football is football, and sh*t happens. It’s how a team responds to the sh*t happening that matters, and with the trade deadline approaching next week, I think it is time for Schneider to respond by not just trading for a pass rusher, but aggressively trading for multiple players to come in, and make an immediate impact just like Quandre Diggs did for the team last year at safety.

It’s time for John Schneider to go Madden mode, and here are my crazy bold Madden trade scenarios to help Russell Wilson not only win MVP, but for the team to win the whole damn Super Bowl enchilada.

Trade for edge rusher Everson Griffen

It was rumored all Summer long that Seattle was interested in bringing in this former USC Pete Carroll pass rusher. It was practically expected right up to the time Dallas sneaked in and signed him under their nose. The Cowboy season is busted with the loss of Dak Prescott, and they are now willing to deal Griffen. Seattle probably have him for a mid to late round pick, and he would be an immediate upgrade to Benson Mawoya.

He would also be a player rookies Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson would benefit learning from. Frank Clark had the benefit from learning from Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Taylor and Robinson should be afforded a similar benefit.

Make this deal now, John Schneider.

Trade tight end Jacob Hollister to Baltimore for edge rusher Jaylon Ferguson

The Ravens have just traded for Yannick Ngakoue, and now are a bit stacked at edge rushing position. They need a boost for their passing game, and a pass catching tight end would probably be pretty desirable. Tight end is one area on the Seahawk roster that is log jammed, and Russell Wilson appears to prefer throwing to his receivers more this year. The math adds up here.

Ferguson was a raw yet productive edge rusher in college that Seattle had brought into their facilities just prior to the 2019 draft. He was the player I thought that they were likely targeting with their first pick, instead they took LJ Collier to play the old Michael Bennett role, and the Ravens were able to land him in round three.

Ferguson is different than Collier. He’s a pure edge rusher, and on top of being an immediate part of the rotation now, he would give Seattle three young edge rushers to build off of in future years along with Taylor and Robinson. This isn’t just a trade for 2020, like the Griffen scenario is. This is a trade for 2021 and 2022.

Trade for NY Jet defensive tackle Quinnen Williams

The Jets are a dumpster fire, and in result, they are presently having a fire sale. Ridiculously, they are now supposedly interested in trading their young talented defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams, who was a top five pick in 2019. It is rumored that they want multiple second round picks for him.

Honestly, if I am John Schneider, I am considering this heavily. Williams has rare athleticism for a DT. They have no player on their defensive that comes close to matching his upside. It’s unlikely that they will find a defensive tackle at the end of round two that matches that upside.

It seems like forever John Schneider and Pete Carroll have been searching for that illusive three technique pass rusher. They drafted Malik McDowell hoping that he would fill that role. They trade for Sheldon Richardson with the hopes he would do it. They extended Jarran Reed for two seasons in the hopes that he would finally grow more into it. Williams could be it for the next three and a half years of club control.

That’s worth a couple late second round picks for me, even knowing that the team will be without first and second round picks for the next two offseasons. They can figure it out later.

But for fun’s sake, here is an alternative trade scenario with New York that I can see might get the deal done. Maybe, just maybe, Schneider can convince the Jets general manager Joe Douglas to take Seattle’s 2021 second round pick, their 2019 first round pick LJ Collier, and there 2022 third round pick for Williams. Douglas would probably feel like that is a fairly handsome haul, and I think each former 2019 first rounder might be better fits on their new clubs.

Collier has been a fine rotational piece for Seattle this year. He’s flashed as a bit as an inside/out rusher, and has made some flashy run stops at critical times. I also think he looks more like a 3-4 five technique end than he does a 4-3 one like Michael Bennett was. The Jets’ 3-4 might be a way better fit for him.

Conversely, I think Quinnen Williams is a pure 4-3 defensive tackle, and that is the style of defense that would allow him to reach his full potential. I would even consider trading Jarran Reed and a second round pick for him (although, I think it is unlikely Seattle wants to part with Reed mid season this year).

Ideally, adding Williams to an interior defensive line rotation of Reed, Snacks Harrison, and Poona Ford would give Seattle’s a huge boost for the remainder of 2020. Suddenly, with Everson Griffen, Jaylon Ferguson, and this cat added, Seattle can have a defensive line rotation that can start winning some battle rushing with four.

I will say it again, but I think it is something John Schneider should strongly consider, even if it further guts their 2021 draft. I say just go for it.

Do a rare inter-divisional trade with San Francisco for receiver Dante Pettis

Despite a rash of injuries to their receiving group, the much hated 49ers appear desperate to get rid of former Husky and second round pick Dante Pettis. He’s been almost entirely phased out of their offense, and they have all but conceded that he has been a busted flush for them as a high round pick. He simply does not fit what they physically desire at receiver to mix with their dedicated run game.

Seattle flirted with signing Antonio Brown last week. It’s debatable how much interest Seattle actually had in Brown, but it does signal that they are looking to continue adding to their offensive attack. For one thing, it is unclear when Josh Gordon is ever going to be reinstated by the league. For another thing, it also feels unclear when Phillip Dorsett is going to get back from is foot injury. These are two reasons why Seattle might be seriously looking to add more to this group.

While Pettis is not the most physical pass catcher, he is a player that can get deep with their vertical attack, and he is a player that also provides huge potential as a punt returner. He is also well loved in the Seattle area as a former Husky and has a personality that would probably blend well with Russell Wilson, and DK Metcalf and such.

Simply, I think he is worth taking a flyer on. He has zero catches for the season, and might be had for a conditional 2021 seventh round pick. I doubt the 49ers are going to get much offers for him, and I doubt those offers are going to be much more than that. Given how he has played for them, they might be happy to face him twice in their division. I can see this trade happening.

Finally, bring back an old face at running back through free agency

Chris Carson’s foot injury is unfortunate, and he is listed as week to week. This means that he is probably going to miss the game against San Francisco, and it like means that he could miss a few other games afterwards. While Seattle has Carlos Hyde to step in and likely be serviceable, they also have third down back Travis Homer with a bruised knee, and Rashaad Penny doesn’t appear close to coming back from his knee injury from last year.

Suddenly, Seattle appears to potentially be in a bit of a bind at running back, and that isn’t a great thing heading into their match against the 49ers. There is even speculation that they might move receiver David Moore (who played RB a bit in college) to the position, as they presently have no running back to promote from their practice squad. Probably also not an ideal situation.

Is sure would be great to see Beastmode again, wouldn’t it?

Yeah, I’m not sure that’s going to happen again. Instead, CJ Prosise just got released from the Texans, and he would have intimate knowledge of the Seattle scheme. As injury prone as he is, he’s probably the player that they could sign today to get ready to play against San Francisco. He’s been in the league practicing, and therefore, he’s in shape to play. Until Carson is ready to go, why not just have him on the roster for a few weeks, and let Moore stay as a receiver.

Final thoughts.

If John Schneider makes one move, it should probably be to bring in Everson Griffen. His contract is affordable, and he would be an immediate upgrade to what they presently have at edge rusher, which isn’t much. If he is the only player John Schneider adds, that would probably be a successful trade deadline campaign.

However, I want Schneider to do more. I want a lot more. I want them going all in for 2020 and beyond. I want them to show the boldness that they have shown in years past, and what they showed during training camp with the splash trade for Jamal Adams.

Go get Quinnen Williams today. Go big, and don’t worry about the high draft capital. Williams and Adams can be the building blocks for the future. You’re not likely to find an young defensive tackle with his athletic potential at the end of the second round. Be aggressive getting him into Seattle and having cheap club control over him for a few years. Don’t be afraid to add a player you like on your roster into the mix.

Go get another young edge rusher like Jaylon Ferguson if the opportunity is there. You’re not going to be drafting high for the next couple years, so be creative finding young talent to build off of. Let’s see what cream comes to the top in a battle between Ferguson, Taylor, and Robinson.

My father used to say that you can never have enough defensive linemen. Come on, Schneider, hear his words. Read this blog!

Be creative. Be bold. Now is not the time to play it safe.

With a few pieces added, this defense will not likely suddenly become like the legendary one that dominated from 2012 through 2015, but it can be one good enough to legitimately help win a Super Bowl in a Russell Wilson MVP level year. The defense, as it presently is, will likely not be enough to get it done, and that would be a shame.

This team has toyed with 10-6 and wild card births long enough. It’s time to win the West, and get back to the big show.

So do whatever is needed to get that done.

Go Hawks.

He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.

This is perhaps my favorite bible quote, and it is one that stays with me. Not only was the Prince of Peace great at curing leprosy, the dude was also hip to the Eastern philosophies of Karma. He understood that what comes around, goes around.

On a much lesser extent, this philosophy can be reflected in the game of football. It was clearly demonstrated Sunday night when the Arizona Cardinals handed the Seattle Seahawks a big dose of their own medicine for all to see. One could easily say “he who lives on miraculous play from quarterback and timely defensive plays, dies by miraculous play from quarterback and timely defensive plays.”

Thus far through the 2020 NFL season, Seattle has squeezed out narrow victories against New England, Dallas, and Minnesota playing this way. Now Arizona did it to them.

It will be interesting to see how Seattle responds playing against a red hot 49er team next week. Suddenly, victory against their uniquely hated division rival feels less certain. But maybe, this is the dose of reality that Seattle needs to have right now, if they are to reclaim the dominance that they once had. One would hope, anyways.

Here are my notes about this game.

The Good

I had a sneaking feeling that Tyler Lockett was going to have a big game against the Cardinals heading into this game, and he did not disappoint. Had Seattle found a way to win this in overtime, all the talk would have been about him being the player of the game. 15 passes hauled in for 200 yards and three touchdowns is an incredible stat line, but those stats don’t being to tell his story in this one. He made multiple miraculous catches against tight coverage, and it was an incredible display. This loss to the Cardinals stings perhaps the most because it spoiled an incredible effort from Number 16. He should have won this game. He did everything asked out of him to win it. It’s a shame.

Carlos Hyde looked great on the designed outside run plays he had come his way as he stepped in for an injured Chris Carson. That looks like a very interesting wrinkle in Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook. I could stand to see more cleverness out of the run game going down the stretch. It was another strong effort that was wasted in this loss.

Perhaps the most impressive play of the night that was wasted in this loss was DK Metcalf chasing down Budda Baker after the pesky Husky picked off Russell Wilson for what should have been an easy pick six. Seattle’s defense held off the Cardinals in the ensuing series, and had Seattle held on for the win, this would have been the play talked about all week. Brutal that DK’s effort on this play was wasted in this loss.

There’s not a ton of bright spots for me to note about the Seattle defense in this one, but I thought rookie linebacker Jordyn Brooks showed some nice plays against the potent Cardinal running attack. He looks the part of a starting NFL linebacker. Seattle needs this guy to continue stepping forward into his starting role in a big way, especially next week against the Niners.

The Bad

Russell Wilson continued his MVP quest making numerous incredible throws, but at least two of his three interceptions were bad throws and probably bad decisions.

Russ simply did not cook well enough in this one. Instead of lofting a pass in the flat for a potential touchdown that was way too easily picked off by Budda Baker, he probably should’ve put more zip on the ball. His second intercepted pass in the red zone was just a bad throw that never should have been thrown in the first place, and while it looked like Isaiah Simmons made a great play on his third intercepted pass at the end of the game, it also looked as though it was another pass that probably shouldn’t have been thrown, either. In result, instead of showing upstart second year quarterback Kyler Murray who is boss quarterback in the NFC West, Russell was the more inconsistent passer in this game, and it pains me to state that.

What is even more painful to state is that Seattle has become so quarterback dependent in 2020, it practically requires Russell to have perfect games each and every week. Very, very few quarterbacks are capable of that. Even the greatest of the greats have rough outings.

Seattle has got to figure out how to protect leads and close games, or this whole Let Russ Cook thing is likely going to fall short of any deep playoff run, much less any return to the Super Bowl. This is probably why Russell was clamoring for the team to add Antonio Brown. He knows how many points that they have to pour on with this defense. He’s likely figuring that if they aren’t going to consistently hold teams down in the fourth quarter, he’s going to have to be able to score at will most games.

At this point of the season, through six games, I frankly don’t know what the solution is to fix this defense. Yes, it’s true that they have been playing without Jamal Adams the last three games, and he is an X factor. Yes, it’s also true that they are likely getting Damon Snacks Harrison activated to play defensive tackle will help against the run, and perhaps getting Rasheem Green back will help some with the pass rush, somewhat. But how much can we honestly expect out of this unit without a true pass rushing difference maker up front?

Seattle obviously needs to add another pass rusher. It’s painfully obvious to the point that the announcers are saying it during each television broadcast. At this point, I don’t even think it matters if it is another edge rusher, or if it is a pass rushing defensive tackle. Just get somebody.

I also know that they were playing Kyler a certain way with their rushes as to contain him instead of aggressively going for the sack, but they needed someone to get home on him. Jarran Reed is a fine defensive tackle, but he is not a primary pass rusher. At best, he is a complementary piece. Benson Mayowa is probably a serviceable edge rusher, but he is not enough. LJ Collier and Damontre Moore, at this point, are just guys. Same with Poona Ford.

An why wasn’t Alton Robinson factoring in more? Isn’t he supposed to be the surprise rookie edge rusher who was flashing all through training camp? He flashed in earlier games this season. I don’t think I saw him on the field once. Why?

At this point, I have long passed sounding like a broken record, but let me state it one more time. Seattle needs to add another pass rusher. If they are not going to add through free agency with a Clay Matthews type, then they need to trade for one.

And if by chance they aren’t going to pull the trigger on getting a proven veteran pass rusher, then they might as well trade for another pass catcher to give Russell even more to throw to because he’s probably going to need it at this rate. This is why I was kind of into the team signing Antonio Brown. Yes, I felt dirty as dirty can be about wanting that, but I saw the logic.

Good freaking grief. Enough is enough. Do something!

The Ugly

Despite that faulty defense, and Russell Wilson not being his absolute sharpest, Seattle was still in position to win this game in the fourth quarter.. until that f***ing ref called that bulls*** roughness call against Bobby Wagner.

It was a routine bang bang football play that should have been allowed. It would have forced Arizona to punt, and potentially give Seattle good field position. Instead the BS ref made a BS call that literally helped the Cardinals score seven points, which was a massive difference in this game. Massive.

If I’m Pete Carroll, I am calling into the league about that play first thing after my alarm goes off Monday morning. That was total BS, and I hate blaming refs on losses, but good lord almighty.

Unacceptable. It’s like the league is doing everything they can to take the defense out of the game so the offenses can score more points. It’s gross.

There, I’m done writing about it. Moving on.

Moving Foward

Seattle will be hosting the San Francisco 49ers next week, and suddenly, it feels like there is more pressure to win that game. The 49ers look like they are circling back around to being a strong team again despite their long list of injuries. That’s the sign of a superbly coached team.

If Jamal Adams is able to be back for this one, and Snacks Harrison is finally ready to go at defensive tackle, it would be hugely beneficial for Seattle. Maybe even having Michael Kendricks active to rotate in at linebacker, as well.

The Seahawks going to need to be able to play fast and tackle well at linebacker and safety to handle all of the exotic run plays that San Francisco relies on. They will also need to be stout up front. I think this is why Jordyn Brooks was drafted, and why Jamal Adams was traded for, and probably why Kendricks was brought back and Snacks was signed. It’s to play against these NFC West division foes. It would have been helpful had these players played against Arizona. They are going to need them against San Francisco.

Oh, yeah. One more thing. Go get a fricking pass rusher, John Schneider. Bring one in this week. Pretty please.

Go Hawks.

Don’t let their docile name fool you, these Arizona Cardinals are a scary team. They have an exciting dual threat quarterback who is poised to give the NFC West Division fits for years. They have also surrounded him with an exciting group of receivers that features perhaps the best receiver in the league, he has a decent offensive line, he is paired with an explosive running back, and a fast play-making defense. The only thing that plagues them is youth and inconsistency. It would be helpful for Seattle if some of those inconsistencies show up Sunday night.

Expect this to be another very close game. The real test to how much of a Super Bowl contender Seattle is right now begins with this match. Here are my keys to the game, and final prediction.

Seattle Seahawks win this game against the Arizona Cardinals because..

Russell Wilson stays on point and takes whatever this harassing Arizona defense offers. This could easily mean not chasing as many deep passes as he did against the Vikings defense a couple Sunday nights ago. The Vikings defense featured the top safety tandem in the league that was determined not to be beaten over the top, and Russell still sought to throw against them when there was options underneath. He can’t do this again against Arizona. The Cardinals defense has top flight talent at safety with Budda Baker, and at corner with Patrick Peterson. This might be a game where Russ chooses underneath patterns to running backs and tight ends a bit more to keep the Cardinals honest. Quick passes to Tyler Lockett might also be more of a bigger factor at play.

All the potential Antonio Brown to Seattle hubbub has lit a fire under DK Metcalf, Lockett, and David Moore. Not that they needed this fire to be lit because each has been playing pretty well this season, but these men are competitors (especially DK). They probably understood their quarterback’s interest in Brown and were well aware of his interest in the pass catcher for months, but it would be hard to not let human nature take over for a bit, and they come out with points to prove. DK will face physical corners that he hasn’t faced since playing the Patriots and he might chose to put a little extra pepper in his play against them blocking in the run game, and in his catch after the run opportunities. Lockett is a good receiver to match up against Peterson with his route running, and I expect a good game from him. David Moore might be the ex-factor who plays with the biggest chip on his shoulder. Look for a few explosive catch and run opportunities going to Moore as the game wears on.

Chris Carson has a big night as a runner and pass catcher. This might be the game where Carson shows the nation that he is one of the most talented backs in the league while in a contract year. The Cardinal defense can be run on, and their linebackers can be challenged in the pass game. Seattle’s ability to stay balanced between the run and pass is likely to play a factor in winning. Don’t expect Seattle to retreat to a run game, but rather pass to set up the run and possibly take advantage of the Cardinal’s blitzes with draws and screens. Carson could have a big, big night in this one.

Seattle’s defenders stay patient and disciple enough against Kyler Murray. Seattle should know by now how to play against Murray. The Cardinal’s star quarterback resembles their own star passer in many, many ways, and is even a more dangerous runner. Seattle has to stay disciple with it’s pass rush, and that probably means having their defensive ends play a containment game while a linebacker or safety spies on Murray. Murray can be inconsistent as a passer, and if Seattle can keep him in the pocket, that’s likely going to benefit its defense.

This is a good game to get a healthy Jordyn Brooks back at linebacker. He’s a fast player who’s strength is defending the run. Don’t be surprised if Seattle uses him as a spy on Murray (he did this very thing against him in college), and don’t be surprised if the interior rushers such as Jarran Reed, and Jonathan Bullard show up in the stats more than their edge rushers if Seattle’s defense does its job well enough.

Seahawks loose this one against the Cardinals if

Russell Wilson gets rattled by blitzes, turns the ball over, and they don’t get the run game going enough. This is what happened in a late season loss to the Cardinals last year in Seattle. The Cardinal defense is going to look to replicate this, and it is up to Seattle to have a healthy does of counters. Russell has to find and hit the wide open receiver when the defense blitzes him. Brian Schottenhiemer has to call a great game mixing in the run with the pass to keep the defenders more honest. The Cardinals cannot be in his playbook like they were late last year.

Seattle’s defense doesn’t contain Murray and they don’t do enough to slow the run game. The match up against the Seattle defense with the Arizona offense might be the real battle in this one. Because of Murray’s ability to run, Arizona has one of the top running attacks in the league, especially when you mix in Kenyan Drake. Arizona had a day in Seattle last year because the banged up Seattle defense couldn’t stop either on the ground. Seattle must make sure this doesn’t happen again.

This would have been a great game to get Jamal Adams back and get Snacks Harrison active at defensive tackle, but neither is going to happen. Therefore, Jarran Reed must have a solid game as defensive tackle. Jordyn Brooks must blend well with KJ Wright, and Bobby Wagner. Ryan Neal must continue to show his flashy potential at safety in place of Adams. Benson Mayowa and the other edge rushers must play a smart game of disciple with their rushes. The Seattle corners must not give up many deep passes. There are a lot of musts that need to happen on the defensive side of the ball.

My Prediction

I’m itching to predict that Arizona hands Seattle it’s first loss of the season Sunday night. I think they match up well against Seattle, they are coming off a flashy win on Monday Night Football against a struggling Cowboy team, and they have to be feeling the momentum. However, I am going to cut against my grains of logic and I am going to say that Russell Wilson and company find enough ways to win this one, improving to 6-0, with a final score of 31-27.

Seattle plays a pretty consistent brand of bend don’t break defense. While it frustrates fans, I actually think there is a method to this madness. They will continually be willing to surrender yards so long as they do not surrender too many points. I think the way Arizona likes to play on offense lends to what Seattle does fairly well with this defense, and that is to play strong enough against the run, and keep pass play in front of them. Eventually, the quarterback makes a mistake.

The big inconsistency to Murray’s game right now is his overall accuracy. Seattle just needs to figure out how to force Murray into making accurate throws. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr might get a little more creative with his personnel and play calling in this one with a week off of football.

On the flip side, I think Russell Wilson is going do come into this game very determined to show he’s the league leader for MVP and to show Murray who’s still boss within the NFC West quarterback circles. I also kinda think that with the Antonio Brown noise, the Seattle receivers might play with extra chips on their shoulders. Mixing in another effective Chris Carson outing, and this can be enough for Seattle to shine on Sunday night yet again.

While Arizona feels like the hot team right now, Seattle has had the benefit of the bye week to reset as a team on both sides of the ball. They are also the more veteran team, especially at quarterback. This is why I am ultimately making this fairly homer-ish pick.

I hope I am right.

Go Hawks.

Oh, how refreshing it is to have had a week away from this 2020 Seattle Seahawk football team.

Not that I haven’t enjoyed this version of the club, and all their merriment. They have squeezed out a 5-0 start to their season (first time in franchise history), and it has been a thrilling ride. Even more, Seahawk fans have been witnessing historic passing numbers from swashbuckling quarterback Russell Wilson.

It’s just that three of those five games where one score wins that came down to critical stops at the end of each game from a defense that has yet to have truly found itself, and that can put a lot on a middle aged ticker. Seriously.

An uncomfortable truth exists that these 5-0 Seahawks could be, at worst, 2-3, and that discomfort might not sit so well with some fans moving forward. Fortunately those fans have this blog, where I don’t focus too much on the analytics because I am too cheap to subscribe to Pro Football Focus, and like Russell Wilson and his head coach Pete Carroll, I draw from positives as a vital means of moving forward.

In short, football is a game of inches, and if we get too caught up on tape and analytics, then we loose the magic of the game as fans. Personally, I don’t want to loose that magic. So, while I can acknowledge that if Viking running back Alexander Mattison had simply cut to his right on fourth and short at the end of the game a couple Sundays ago, Minnesota would have dealt Seattle their first loss, the simple truth is that in the moment, he didn’t, and Seattle stopped him short, and that’s football.

Football is the ultimate “sh*t happens” team sport, and if you want to get caught up on those “ifs,” I can fully play that game. For example, if David Moore had hauled in that deep pass from Russell Wilson earlier in the second half, Seattle would have expanded it’s lead to a point where it would have been much more difficult for the Kirk Cousins to dig out of the point deficit. Further more, if on the next play, Russell had put a little less mustard on his next deep pass to DK Metcalf, Metcalf would have walked into the end zone for an easy score. If either of these plays happened, Seattle could have beaten the Vikings much more comfortably.

Ifs do not matter in football. You don’t win with ifs and you don’t loose with ifs. They don’t show up in the stats, and they don’t show up in the standings. How a team wins doesn’t really matter at the end of the final whistle. It just matters that the team has won, and Seattle should be celebrated for being 5-0.

How they got here, however, is quite a big distinction from the Pete Carroll Seattle Seahawks we have known in the past. Long gone is any intimidating defense. Also gone is a punishing offensive run game that could grind clock and wear defenses down by the second half of games. This is understandably hard for some fans to take. Admittedly, I am one of those (especially in terms of the defense), but I also have to admit that in their place are some pretty exciting things.

Thus far, Russell Wilson has been having a monster MVP worthy campaign as a passer, and he is now being supported by exciting offensive weapons, and an offensive line that has actually evolved into a good pass blocking unit. Seahawk fans weened on football from the Mike Holmgren era have been longing to see this happen under Pete Carroll for years. Finally, they have gotten their wish of letting Russ cook, and he’s been cooking.

Big bravos need to go out to Pete Carroll for adjusting his philosophy a bit because, frankly, this is probably what Seattle needed to do if they are going to compete for a championship this season. Seattle simply does not have enough talent to dominate on defense right now, and leaning into the talents of their best player is probably the right path to winning, even if that path might cut a bit against the grain of what the head coach might prefer his club to ideally be.

Here are some of my observations, and thoughts about the club as they move forward.

This isn’t your father’s Seattle Seahawks and that is okay (I’ve made peace with it)

Probably like many of you, I love football, and my passions are deep. I truly believe that it is the ultimate team sport, as it largely dependent on units playing collectively well. Two of my favorite things about football are great defensive line play, and a punishing run game. When Seattle went to back to back Super Bowls in 2013-2014, those where things that Seattle had in its favor, along with a plucky play making quarterback, and a uniquely talented secondary. It was incredibly easy for me to fall deeply in love with those teams, and it is hard to shake that love.

The 2020 Seattle Seahawks are far removed from those clubs. Presently, they don’t have anything close to a solid defensive line, and they haven’t shown the ability (or perhaps willingness) to control their games with a power running attack. They are leaned into their star quarterback to control tempo, stretch defenses, and perhaps pass to set up the run. For the most part, it’s working well enough.

Is it sustainable, though?

I don’t know, but I understand why the question is being asked as much as it is. I think the truth is that it is difficult to sustain winning and going far into the playoffs when the quarterback as to always stay the hot hand, and the defense has to depend on coming up with key big play stops when it hemorrhages yards like it has been doing. That is not an ideal formula, but if you have an all-universe talent at quarterback, and a seemingly opportunistic defense, you stand a reasonable chance to do what is conventionally difficult to achieve. This is the nicest way for me to put it.

So, I say, let’s just ride this thing out. Let’s embrace them for who and what they are.

This team will not remotely resemble anything close to Beastmode and the Legion of Boom. This is Russell Wilson and his Band of Merrie Men, and God bless them for it.

They are not power and dominance, they are speed and skill. Russell is our version of Robin Hood. He’s accompanied by DK Metcalf as Little John, Tyler Lockett as Will Scarlett, and Chris Carson as Alan-a-Dale, and Bobby Wagner being Friar Tuck, KJ Wright as Will Stutely, and lastly, Jamal Adams as Maid Marian (Sorry Jamal, I didn’t know how to cast you in this one. Still trying to get a feel for your talents).

Gone is power and intimidation. In is flashy swashbuckling fun stuff. They might feel overwhelmed by any opponent at times, but you just know that somewhere, someway, somehow, at some point, they will do just enough to win back the day.

My hunch is that they are simply waiting it out for their Richard the Lionheart pass rusher to come in around the trade deadline, but that’s another matter to discuss at another time.

This team needs their Richard the Lionheart pass rusher soon

I will be honest, this team needs to make a move to bring in another proven pass rusher. Benson Mayowa and friends are just doing enough to hold the fort down, but it’s not likely sustainable. Injuries happen and are likely to happen. Seattle needs, more than anything else, another legit edge rusher.

The edition of Damon Snacks Harrison is likely going to help Jarran Reed inside (at the very least help keep him fresher) and I think they have other bodies who can rush from the interior as well. What they need most is another edge rusher, and I believe they know that.

Who that player is a bit hard to pin down. My hunch is that it might be a player on another roster. For one thing, if they wanted to add a free agent like Clay Matthews, they could have done so at any point over the last few weeks. I think they are likely preferring to add a player from another roster who has gone through camp, has been playing, and will be ready to go once his gets here.

The one player that I keep going back to is Washington’s Ryan Kerrigan. He’s 32 years old, in his last year of his contract, Washington isn’t likely going anywhere close to the playoffs this year, and they might as well go with their younger drafted players. It would be a nice gesture to Kerrigan that they trade him to a contender this season, and give him a chance to taste a championship. If Seattle can land him for a mid round pick, it would be a really solid move. He could be a focal rusher again, and younger players like Alton Robinson would benefit greatly learning from him.

I don’t know if he is the specific target but I think this is likely the type of player Seattle wants. This is the type of move I am fully expecting Seattle to try to make. Fingers are crossed that they do.

Is Seattle’s defense as bad as we think?

A lot is being made about Seattle’s defense this year. Beat writers have noted that they are giving up yardage at an historic rate, and it has also been noted that no team has ever won a championship with a defense that has surrenders such yards.

This is not my attempt to put pretty red lipstick on a pig, but I think there are a few things to keep in perspective.

First thing is that while this defense has surrendered up huge yardage, it is actually middle of the pack league wide in points allowed (15th overall). This is what matters most to Pete Carroll, and when you couple that with the amount of turnovers the defense has generated, the head coach is likely pleased with that, as well. Defensively, he mostly wants to take away the ball, and he wants offenses to settle for field goals instead of gaining touchdowns. From this perspective, this is pretty much what his defense has been doing.

Secondly, this defense unit hasn’t been playing together as it has been fully constructed to be. Injuries happen, but we haven’t had the starting secondary playing together much with Jamal Adams out a couple games, and Quinton Dunbar also missing time. Further more, Seattle lost starting SAM linebacker Bruce Irvin early, and then has played largely without rookie first round pick linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Irvin and Brooks both provide a lot of speed and instincts in the front seven and Seattle has had to play without those attributes.

Also, a much as Seattle’s defense has felt incomplete as a unit, young players have stepped up and that is a good thing. Ryan Neal has been a surprising revelation at safety in place of Jamal Adams, and Pete Carroll has stated that he has earned a role with the starters moving forward. It will be interesting to see what that role is.

Also emerging is nickel corner Ugo Amadi, and rookie firth round defensive end Alton Robinson. Both players look like they belong in this league and look like potential starters. Amadi is showing the tackling and play-making instincts that he had at Oregon, and Robinson looks potentially like another Seattle mid round steal from the draft.

While I will circle back to the belief that Seattle needs to add another pass rusher to this side of the ball, I also feel like I have seen enough from players who have been playing to think this can and should be an improved unit by the end of the season. We still haven’t seen Snacks Harrison team up with Jarran Reed at defensive tackle. We haven’t seen Adams on the field with Ryan Neal in a dime defense, and we haven’t gotten enough of Jordyn Brooks playing with KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner.

One proven pass rusher could be enough to make this defense more complete unit. So go get one.

Moving forward through the NFC West

The Seattle Seahawks appear to be playing in the best division in football and they have yet to play against their division opponents. They all look formidable, and they will get the Cardinals this weekend, and the 49ers next. The true test to their season is about to begin.

If Seattle is truly to become a championship level team this year, and if Russell Wilson is truly an MVP candidate, winning against the Cardinals and the 49ers over the next two weeks would be huge to accomplishing both. The Seattle Seahawks have a lot at stake in these early NFC West matches, and I like that.

I like Russell playing with a bit more of an edge and determination in these games. I like Seattle rested coming out of their bye week, and focused on the opportunity to pull further ahead of the pack.

I also think that these opponents are all going to provide tough match ups. The Cardinals look like they have the second most talented quarterback in the division, and a player that will only get better. The 49ers proved recently against the Rams that, despite their rash of injuries, they are still a well coached team that you cannot take lightly, and the Rams look like they might be the most balanced club in the division. If Seattle wins this division, they will have earned it.

When the season started, I projected Seattle likely ending up with an 11-5 record, possibly winning the division, and if all goes well, a 12-4 record. I think this can still be the case. I think once these clubs start playing each other, they are going to beat each other up a bit. I don’t see any NFC West team clearly dominant over the others. In fact, I can see three of the four clubs all making the playoffs. This division is that talented. 11-5 might win it with tie breakers.

This is why I will once again circle back to Seattle needing to add one more pass rusher. This division is far from won, and anything Seattle can to fortify itself better, it should most definitely do.

So, just go get one, John Schneider. Go get one more rusher. Give Russell his Lionheart.

Go Hawks.

Here is a medical fact that I have always found very interesting. Statistically speaking, people of faith stand a better chance fighting through major illness, surgery, and recovery than people who are not believers. This is why surgeons will often ask a patient, or a patient’s family if they are a person of faith.

I know this from a personal perspective because two decades ago, my father, a man who was in his mid seventies at the time, had to have open heart surgery to repair three arteries. He was a big lad, and so barrel chested that x-rays had not detected two other arteries that needed repair. What this means is that once the surgeon got in there, the medical team suddenly had to take emergency measures to repair these additional arteries that they had not anticipated, and what was thought to be a fairly routine procedure quickly became a harrowing one.

I will never forget seeing the blank expression of this surgeon as he met us in the waiting room afterwards. We had a feeling something was up because the event went much longer than what was estimated.

He looked at us, and he said that he had good news and bad. He told us what had happened and he explained to us that the next 48 hours would be critical in his recovery and it could go one way or the other. He then asked my mother if our dad was a man of faith. When she answered yes, I witnessed an expression of some relief on this man of science’s face. He simply said “good” and then referenced the medical stat of those who believe over those who don’t.

My father survived this surgery, and it provided him a few more years to be with his family. We were fortunate. All of this brings me to the Seattle Seahawks, and this game against the Minnesota Vikings.

No team in professional sports wins the power of belief game better than the Seattle Seahawks do. Read that sentence again, if you need to do that. Take has much time as you need to process it.

There is no team in professional sports that wins by the power of believing more than the Seattle Seahawks. Not the New England Patriots, not the Golden State Warriors, and God bless them for just winning their fourth title, but probably not even the Seattle Storm.

The decade long success of the Seattle Seahawks is built on this culture. It’s a culture built with the foundation of positivity. The architect of this culture is head coach Pete Carroll, and his superintendent is quarterback Russell Wilson. If you are still skeptical about this foundation, if you still doubt its sustainability, you are just simply living in denial now. They have way too much history on their side.

This is the fundamental, undeniable formula for their success. It is led by two men who refuse to believe that they will not pull out a victory at the end of tightly contested matches, no matter how improbable the feat might actually be, and it’s an infectious belief that spreads through the sidelines onto the field. When the going gets tough, they lock in, and they believe, and they win these sort of nail biters more times than not.

It’s magic. The Seattle Seahawks win countless nail biting games with this magic, and this game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football was no different than many, many others.

By most metrics, the Minnesota Vikings should have walked out of Century Link Field with a win. In fact, had they settled for a field goal instead of going for it on fourth down during the final minutes of the game, that field goal would have given them an eight point lead ,and it would have forced Seattle to not only have to score a touchdown, but to also go for a two point conversion just to get this game into overtime, and hopefully win the coin toss because their defense was pretty much gassed completely. Had Minnesota kicked the field goal, their win probability would have been nearly a hundred percent. Instead they went for it, and somehow, magically, Seattle’s struggling run defense stuffed it out, and gave Russell Wilson a chance to score.

No team wins the power of belief game better than the Seattle Seahawks do. They did it again in this game, and they made history by going 5-0 for the first time even in it’s franchise history.

Here are my thoughts.

The Good

Russell Wilson wasn’t his sharpest. I was worried that this offense was going to lean into him too much in this one. I sniffed that trap. Wet weather hasn’t been his best friend over the years at Century Link, and seeing how statistically poor the Viking defense had been against the run this year, I thought this would be a game Seattle should lean into Chris Carson more. When Russell started chasing deep balls against two of the best safeties in the league, I was prepared to have to write about a Seattle loss where Russ cooked up a grilled poop sandwich. Instead, Seattle made decent enough second half adjustments, Russ took more of what the defense was giving him, and he ended up having yet another great MVP level sort of second, capped by a dramatic fourth down game winning touchdown pass. Bravo, Chef Russ.

DK Metcalf is my player of the game. He was clutch as a receiver can be in the second half, hauling in big chunk plays and two touchdown grabs, including the game winner. I have said this before, but I will say it again; DK Metcalf is a superstar in the making. The ceiling of his potential in this league is off the charts high. He is just still scratching the surface of that potential. Soak in that for a bit.

Seattle got a great game from defensive tackle Jarran Reed. He might have been the best player on the defense on Sunday Night, and that is taking nothing away from KJ Wright, and Bobby Wagner, and a few others. Reed was disruptive against the run and pass. He didn’t get any sacks, but he created opportunity for others, and made plays on his own. I’m going to be excited to watch how having Damon Snacks Harrison lining up next to him will look like after the bye week. Snacks should make Reed better. A lot better.

Benson Mayowa also had another good game rushing the passer, getting that critical fourth down stop, and also the game clinching strip sack in the final seconds. Some fans have been down on the Mayowa signing, but I have been pleased with it. While he’s not a game wrecker, he looks like a Seattle rush end. I think he’s going to get better as the season wears on.

KJ Wright had another terrific game, Bobby Wagner was active, and Cody Barton probably had his best game as a professional linebacker. While he’s not an intimidating tackler like the other two, Barton plays coverage well, and he played the run much better in this match. The team probably wants to get rookie linebacker Jordyn Brooks back into the lineup as soon as they can, but this was a much better outing for Barton.

Ryan Neil had another nice game filling in at safety. It will be interesting to see how the team uses him once Jamal Adams gets back. Neil has shown a consistent knack to be around the ball. His play tends to stand out on the screen, maybe even more than others in the backfield.

Chris Carson had a great game running and catching. I will say this now; I think Seattle should strongly consider extending his contract. I know that in the modern NFL you’re not supposed to drop big cheddar on running backs, but this guy is special, and I think he just fits what Carroll wants out of a back too well to see him walk at the end of season. Just my view.

The 49ers got their butts whooped by the Dolphins. Go Fins.

The Bad

Seattle had an opportunity to lean in to Carson and the run game more and they squandered it away far too often by chasing big pass plays against a defense that isn’t good at stopping the run, but has great safety play to take away the deep pass. Had Seattle lost this match, I would spent a lot of time griping about that in this piece. However, Seattle managed to find enough ways to magically win, so I won’t, but I still will.. just a little.

Seattle could have ran more against this Minnesota defense, and they probably could have ran with ease. This would have chewed more clock, kept their defense fresher, and made third downs more manageable for Russell Wilson. I feel like they got swept up too much in the Let Russ Cook thingy, and it nearly bit them in the ass. If they aren’t careful, it could do it in a game later in the season when much more is at stake. I hope that they go into the bye week thinking about that.

I’m all for letting Russ cook, but not for the sake of it. I’m about this team winning significantly more. Simply, I think that they would have likely won this game more handily had they just stayed more balanced with the run. This is the one big bad thing that I took away from this game.

The Ugly

The offensive line had a rougher game pass blocking. It’s one thing to have a rough outing against Dallas that has Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen, and Demarcus Lawrence, but it’s another thing to give up four sacks against a Minnesota defensive line that has Yannick Ngakoue and a bag of roasted almonds. Seeing roasted almonds sacking Russell Wilson was not fun, but Russ hanging onto the ball long enough so that roasted almonds could sack him also wasn’t fun. I will let you decide who should be blamed more. It just sucks knowing the roasted almonds can sack your star quarterback on any given Sunday.

Moving Forward

The Seattle Seahawks head into their bye week going 5-0 for the first time in their franchise history. Say what you want about the state of their defense, lack of consistent pass rush, at times leaky coverage, etc. Complain all you need to about how they are not blowing out other teams. 5-0 is an impressive accomplishment.

The bye week comes at an ideal time. Players who have fought hard can rest, and players that this team badly needs to get back onto the field can get healthy enough to play. Having Jamal Adams on the field is going to help this defense immensely. Having Snacks Harrison in the middle of the defensive line with Jarran Reed is going to be huge in a NFC West division where all their rivals love to run the ball. Having Jordyn Brooks on the field will help against the run, as well.

Having this bye week also provides an opportunity for Pete Carroll and the organization to self scout and adjust, and just possibly bring in a new face or two from the outside to help. Atlanta just fired Dan Quinn, and it’s a logical thought that Carroll might try to coax Quinn to come back on board to help his defense, even if it is just a consultant gig for the rest of the year. Quinn might love the opportunity to reset in the PNW with the club that he won a Super Bowl title with as a coordinator. This is something to monitor over the next few days.

Also, I think there still is a fairly decent chance that they could pull off a trade for a player on another club who is seeing their season now officially going down the drain. Maybe Seattle convinces Washington to now deal pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan? I could see a move like this potentially happening within the next week. This would be the ideal time for general manager John Schneider to act. We shall see.

But for now, believe in these Seattle Seahawks, or don’t believe in them. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the foundation of belief that they continue to thrive with, and where it might take them.

I gotta feeling about this club. It’s a special one, and it’s one that I haven’t felt this strongly about since 2013. So, there we have it.

Go Hawks.

Russell Wilson is having an MVP caliber year. Through four games little has been done to truly slow him down. His 360 yards for 2 touchdowns and an interception against the Dolphins last week was his least impressive game, and I think most starting quarterbacks in the league would gladly take that outing. The true height he reached this early season was against a strong New England Patriot defense on Sunday Night Football where he threw 5 touchdowns against what was likely the best secondary that he will face all year.

The Minnesota Vikings know that they will have their hands full dealing with him as a passer. Their pass defense hasn’t been good this season, and they should expect Seattle to try taking advantage. Mike Zimmer’s defense has done a good job against Russell in the past, and they will need to dig back into those game plans in this one. Simply, expect them to use their star safeties to help stop Russell from cooking. It will be a tall task.

On the flip side, the Vikings offense features their own cook, and that is star running back Dalvin Cook. Their game plan will likely be centered around their do-everything running back. Yes, they have enough talent at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end to beat you other ways, but really, this offense is all about Cook running and catching. They will see a Seattle defense that is without it’s star safety Jamal Adams, and they will see that linebacker Cody Barton did not have a good game against the Dolphins, and I think they are going to try to get the ball into the hands of Cook to allow him to make his plays early and often.

While Seattle has been fairly stout against the run, this thinned out defense will also have to contend with some talented Viking receivers and tight ends. Seattle defenders must tackle well in this one, and they must do a good job keeping passing plays in front of them. Making Kirk Cousins dink and dunk down the field is likely what they will want to do. Just don’t give up the big runs, and limit the big pass plays. This will be their main task.

Keys To A Seahawk Victory

Russell cooks by taking what the Viking defenders give him. The whole league knows how much Russell Wilson love the deep ball. A key to defending his deep ball is getting great safety play on the back end, and an athletic linebacker spying on him. The Viking defense has played against him well in the recent past because they have players that fit this formula. If he gets caught up chasing too many deep passes, this could be another rougher outing against this defense, but considering that the weakness of the 2020 Viking defense is at corner and depth at linebacker, this might be a game that he uses a short and quicker passing attack to his advantage. He did this well against the Patriots a few Sunday nights ago. He could have plenty of opportunity to continue this approach against this Viking squad that might be more concerned about the potential of his deep ball.

Chris Carson and others get going in the run game. Rain is likely to be a thing in this game, and historically, Russell Wilson hasn’t always been at his best in wet games. If it gets wet, this will be the first game of the season Russ and his pass catchers will deal with these conditions. Considering that the Viking defense has additionally not been great at stopping the run, this could be the game to really get Carson cooking with the rock. Russell will still likely attack this defense with deep passing, but the benefit out of it might be more to soften them up for the run game. Expect Carson and other backs to also factor in with check down passes and screens. If Carson has a big night, Seattle probably wins fairly handily.

The Seahawk defenders tackle well enough in space. This is not a great match to be without Jamal Adams, Jordyn Brooks, and Bruce Irvin. A big benefit to Seattle would be if Brooks is healthy enough to play and factor in. Minnesota loves to run it’s offense with a traditional two receiver and two back look with a pass catching tight end. Looking at Seattle’s defense, this is how I would attack it, especially with how poorly Cody Barton played at linebacker against the Dolphins. If Barton is on the field, he must tackle better against Dalvin Cook. Don’t be surprised if newly acquired defensive tackle Snacks Harrison plays in this one to help keep these Seattle linebackers clean to make plays. Don’t be surprised if Seattle gets Brooks on the field if they think he is healthy enough to get some snaps. His strength is against the run. If Seattle can slow Cooks, this would be huge.

Seattle gets big nights out of Jarran Reed, Benson Mayowa, and Alton Robinson. I have a sneaking feeling that they are going to activate Damon Snacks Harrison. His presence on the field will not only help Seattle linebackers, it would likely help keep Jarran Reed fresher to rush the passer from the interior. The Minnesota offensive line can give up pressure from inside and they are weak at right tackle. Benson Mayowa had a solid game rushing the passer against the Dolphins, so if Seattle can get Minnesota in third and long, he and Alton Robinson could enjoy big nights. Kirk Cousins is not a great quarterback when he feels the pressure. If this scenario plays out, it wouldn’t surprise me if each of these players come out of this game with sacks.

Seattle’s defense continues to create turnovers. If the game is wet, and Seattle continues to play bend don’t break and invites Cousins to take the underneath passes, which he is prone to take, this could create opportunities to create turn overs. This would be an opportunity for KJ Wright and Bobby Wagner to jar the ball loose while barrelling down on pass catchers and ball carriers. This would give Seattle safeties and corners the opportunity to anticipate where the ball is going to make plays on the ball. Like Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback to play bend don’t break with. If the check down is there, he will likely take it. This is a game of cat and mouse that Seattle defenders can win, if they are on top of their game.

How Seattle Can Loose This One

Seattle has a rough night containing Dalvin Cook and that opens up the play book for Cousins for a shootout. Minnesota’s offense has not had a statistically great start to this season, but they have played better in recent games with the emergence of rookie receiver Justin Jefferson factoring in. If for some reason, Seattle cannot slow down Cook, if they get gashed up the middle, if they miss tackles in space, if they keep Cousins in third and manageable, Minnesota has enough talent on offense to win a shootout against Russell Wilson, if Wilson doesn’t have a particularly sharp game, or perhaps even if he does.

If Russell Wilson has a stinker, and the Vikings find a way to slow down Chris Carson and Seattle’s other runners, this is the best way for the Vikings to win. The chance of this happening is probably pretty thin, but you know, .. any given Sunday.

Game Prediction

Seattle holds off the Vikings in a fun Sunday Night match-up, and they go 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, winning 41-33.

It’s likely going to be a wet night of football, and it goes against my instincts to predict a high scoring affair, but both defenses will be without key defenders, and both offenses feature a lot of fire power. Therefore, I think each team scores a number of points here.

Another key for an exciting match up is that both teams also have a lot to play for. Minnesota will scrap to get back into the NFC North race, and will likely play with a degree of desperation and intensity. Seattle will fight to further hang onto its NFC West supremacy, which is perhaps the toughest division in football, and they will want a buffer of wins to distance themselves from the Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals. Expect a dog fight in this one.

I think a big difference maker in this one is that Seattle’s defense is much better at stopping the run than Minnesota’s, and Minnesota’s offense has not been very good on third downs. Minnesota will likely do enough to move the ball between the twenties, but when Seattle starts defending the red zone, where they have statistically been good, this leads to Minnesota settling for field goals, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kirk Cousins turn the ball over against this bend don’t break Seattle defense a time or two once he gets down in there.

Then when you also factor in that the Minnesota defense has had a difficult time stopping both the pass and run, this likely spells another big night for the Seattle offense. Seattle can beat you with the run and they can beat you with the pass, and I think they are likely to do it with both in this one.

At least, this is how I see it anyway.

Go Hawks!

I have only ever owned and worn three Seattle Seahawk jerseys. One is that of Russell Wilson’s, which I have worn regularly since his rookie year. Another is Michael Bennett’s, my favorite Seahawk defender from the Legion of Boom era, and a player that I admired greatly for his unique ability to play defensive end and defensive tackle at a high level. And the last is Cortez Kennedy’s, Seattle’s hall of fame all-pro defensive tackle from the 1990’s, and the player who has been my personal favorite Seahawk of all time not named Russell Wilson.

Notice how, outside of Russell, I have felt compelled to seek out and acquire jerseys of Seattle defenders who played defensive line. Further more, notice that each player had spent quality time playing defensive tackle. Truth, be known, it’s a thing for me.

I love defensive tackles. I’ve always loved defensive tackles. I’m a middle aged dude who is a product of the 1970’s and 1980’s. As a Gen-Xer, my first football hero was not Steve Largent, Walter Payton, or Roger Staubach. It was Mean Joe Green. Before I climbed on board of the Seahawk bandwagon in 1983, I was a Steelers fan, and it was all about their star defensive tackle. In pee wee league, I played defensive tackle. In high school, I played end and tackle.

Oh, yes. I do love so those defensive tackles. William the Fridge Perry, Cortez, Haloti Ngata, Warren Sapp, Kevin Williams, Jim Burt, Joe Nash, Aaron Donald, Richard Seymour.. the list can go on and on.

Also, there’s nothing pretty about being a defensive tackle. It’s grueling work taking on guards and centers, and much of the time, it is about soaking up blockers so that other players around you look better, like the ends and linebackers. Further more, if you are doing your job well, it often doesn’t show up in the stats, and it leaves fans thinking that your position doesn’t matter as much (especially in a scheme that Seattle deploys in which you are not allowed to freely charge up field, instead you must lock up with the blockers to diagnose where the play is going before reacting).

Yet, the reality is that the entire success of the defense starts up front, and really it starts with that one player that lines up in the gap of the offensive line that resides between the guard and the center. Some call it the nose tackle, some call it the one technique. But let’s call it for what it is, the dude is a defensive tackle, and heading into the 2020 season of football, the Seattle Seahawks were willing to start their season scary thin there.

In fact, I can’t remember a season where Seattle went into their season more thin at the position. It was especially shocking considering that their head coach is a defensive minded one who had always shown the preference of having a deep rotation there.

Every week, after every game, I wrote about the need to bring in the best defensive tackle available on the market, Damon Snacks Harrison. It had been rumored for months that he was the free agent player Seattle was most interested in. Every week, for months, I had anticipated his signing with this club, and every week, for months, I found myself disappointed and dejected when no deal was done.. until yesterday.

It took the Seattle Seahawks all the way through the first week of October, all the way to the day before my birthday, but they finally got this deal done. Damon Snacks Harrison is now a Seattle Seahawk and this is a huge deal for the club in a multitude of ways.

What Snacks Brings to Seattle

Simply put, he brings all-pro talent as an early down defender that, at 6-3 and 350 pounds, has the size and strength to tie up multiple blockers, so that others can make plays, but even more impressively, he can make plays himself. 2019 was one of his worst statistical seasons, and he still managed 49 tackles, which would be pretty great production for Jarran Reed, who Seattle just signed to an expensive two year contract extension. Snacks will make Reed look better now, and he will allow others pop out more, as well.

He is the perfect big bodied defensive tackle for Seattle’s scheme. He will keep Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright clean from blockers so they are free run around and make plays against the run. He will allow Reed to stay fresher, no longer having to play over seventy percent of the snaps, and therefore, likely to have more juice to rush on third downs. Even against the pass, Snacks is now probably the one true player up front to tie up multiple blockers for players to rush the passer on early downs. He will make defensive ends Benson Mayowa, Alton Robinson, and LJ Collier better. Bank on it.

It is not surprising that he is the one defensive lineman on the market that Seattle would have been the most interested in. He is the perfect Pete Carroll defensive tackle. He can play nose tackle, and three technique. Like Ahtyba Rubin, Brandon Mebane, Tony McDaniels, Alan Branch and many other before him in this scheme, he brings size, strength and veteran savvy at this critical position, and honestly, if he has anything left in the tank, he probably comes in and plays the position better than any of those guys, and they were all pretty good players for this club.

This is a huge deal for the club. Huge.

Seattle May Not Be Done Adding Talent

Detractors of this Snacks signing will clamor that Seattle has still not addressed their need for more edge rushing help. They have a point.

No, Snacks is not Jadeveon Clowney, or even Clay Matthews. While I would argue that his impact might be more valuable than a quality edge rusher, especially once this team starts playing games against each of their NFC West foes who all prefer to run the ball, I concede that Seattle still likely needs more help there.

Yes, sure thing. Yup, yup. Seattle can use another edge defender, and I still believe that a move for one could be coming, especially when you consider that Seattle will be granted a bye week next week after the Sunday night game against the Vikings. It could be Matthews. It could also be a player on another club that Seattle might be willing to trade for.

Watch for what happens when the Washington Football Team plays the Rams this Sunday. If they loose to the Rams (likely), they will be 1-4 for the season, and they might decide to tank for the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.

Their all pro edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan is on the wrong side of thirty and is set to become a free agent after the season. He is still a highly productive player, and probably still has a couple more seasons left in the tank, even though he is 32 years old. Seattle might feel compelled to give Washington their second round 2020 pick if they can reach a two year extension with him. They will have a two week window with the bye week to hammer out a deal.

Yes, that pretty much guts Seattle’s 2021 draft class, but with Covid impacting college football right now, they feel compelled not to invest so much in that class, especially considering how solid their 2020 class looks with Damien Lewis, Alton Robinson, Freddie Swain, and DeeJay Dallas already making positive impacts in games. If they get Kerrigan onto the roster with Snacks Harrison in 2020, and get him signed to a two year extension, I would probably make that deal.

In a year in which Russell Wilson is playing his ass off chasing the MVP, just get him the stars that he is asking for, I say. If a Super Bowl run is well within reach, why not?

I like a defensive line a heck of a lot more with Ryan Kerrigan, Snacks Harrison on it to go along with Jarran Reed, Poona Ford, Benson Mayowa, Alton Robinson, and LJ Collier. That much is certain. if they did this move in addition to bringing in Snacks, suddenly, Seattle goes from what was perceived as a major weakness, to a unit that could be group that puts this club over the top this year.

So, yeah. I think we could see another move coming, but right now, I really like this one. For my birthday, the Seattle Seahawks gimme Snacks. I dig it.

Go Hawks!

Whether at home, or on the road, good teams find ways to beat lesser teams. This is the way of team sports. However, sometimes good teams can get caught napping during the course of a match against a lesser opponent, and if they are not careful, they give them new life. If that lesser team has just enough talent, that come back and bite the better team right square in the butt.

Seattle flirted with being bit in the ass during this match, and there was really no need for it. Instead of going for it on fourth and three in the red zone during the first half, they could have kicked an easy field goal, especially considering that Jason Meyers had hit an impressive 55 yarder earlier in the half. Instead, they failed to convert that fourth down attempt, and they left points on the field.

Later in the second half, Russell Wilson threw a pick in the end zone. It wasn’t the pick that annoyed me, it was the fact that once they got to the ten yard line, they decided to throw three times in a row, instead of mixing in the run when it was clear that the Miami defense was having trouble stopping the run. Watching this, it felt like they were trying to force a touchdown pass to feed the Let Russ Cook crowd, and I wasn’t happy about that. Not at all.

Simply put, in a game in which the struggling Seahawk defense was able to turn things around enough to play a fairly decent against the Ryan Fitzpatrick led Dolphin offense, Seattle’s much ballyhooed offense left points on the field that would have likely led to more of a blowout. After winning back to back nail biters against the Patriots and Cowboys, personally, I would have preferred that blow out. I think that I earned it as a fan, and I don’t think I’m alone in that among the Twelves in feeling that way.

Good teams find ways to beat lesser teams. Great teams find ways to bury them. Seattle is a really good team right now. They still have a bit of work to do to become a great team in 2020.

Here are my notes about this game.

The Good

Russell Wilson didn’t have his best game in 2020 against these Dolphins. He was 24 for 34 passes attempts, throwing for 360 yards, with two touchdown passes, and an interception in the red zone. If this is his worst game so far in 2020, it only proves how excellent he has been through these first four games. Russell is staying on course for winning MVP honors this year, and that should not go unmentioned here. He made the plays that Ryan Fitzpatrick couldn’t.

Quietly, DK Metcalf had another strong game at receiver. This is becoming the norm in 2020. Yes, he had another drop, but his ability to get deep, catch and run, and bully defensive backs is simply next level stuff. He’s not the most polished receiver that Seattle has, but he clearly has the biggest upside. His enormous upside is starting to become more and more realized with each game this year. This is exciting stuff.

David Moore had yet another splashy game. Seattle is getting really good production out of him in his contract year, and this is boding well for an offense that is still playing without Josh Gordon. When you put also factor that Seattle is also getting good production from rookie sixth rounder Freddie Swain, this is really exciting stuff. Tyler Lockett was uncharacteristically quiet against the Dolphins, and it felt like it didn’t matter. It’s now not unreasonable to contemplate whether Seattle has one of the deepest receiving units in the league. They just might.

For all the talent in the pass game, running back Chris Carson wins the game ball for me, and it isn’t close. Coming off of a game in which Dallas Cowboy defensive tackle Trysten Hill tried to twist him like a pretzel with a dirty alligator tackle, Carson ran with power and grit against these Dolphins. I fully believe that Seattle could have ran at will against these Dolphins as much as they wanted to by mixing in rookie runner DeeJay Dallas with Carson. We can speculate whether they were passing more to let Russ cook, or they were passing more to rest Carson who was coming off a knee sprain, but it was clear that every time he touched the ball, Carson made the Dolphin run defense look pathetic. I came into this season thinking that Seattle should let him test free agency in 2021. This gritty performance against Miami has me considering that perhaps they should reach a deal with him as the season progresses. He just feels like a heartbeat player who offers so much in attitude and production. These are players to build off of.

I was flirting with giving my game ball to linebacker KJ Wright. While I was annoyed that he dropped at least two interceptions, he made splash play after splash play against the run and pass. For me, he was the best defender in the game.

Bravo to Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Junior for adjusting the defense to allow for an effective “bend don’t break” defense that forced Miami into field goals, and turnovers, instead of allowing explosive plays for easy scores. I’m the first to admit that Bend Don’t Break isn’t the most inspiring style of defense to play, but I believe that this is probably the best way for Seattle to go about it this year. For another year in a row, they are likely not going to be a quality pass rushing team. It is what it is, so far. By blitzing more and playing with more aggression, it is going to hamper coverage. Therefore, I think it is best to play coverage. I think KJ Wright had a great game because Carroll had the linebackers drop back more, and he was able to better play coverage and diagnose what was in front of him. Even though Seattle didn’t get a lot of sacks, they hurried Fitzpatrick into passes that were more easily to defend and pick off. I hope Seattle stays with this philosophy when star safety Jamal Adams get back.

For back to back games, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and safety Ryan Neal both grabbed interceptions. Both players played well, but Ryan Neal is making a case for himself to stay on the 53 man roster for the rest of the season. He looks and is playing like a Seattle Seahawk safety, and that is a good thing. He is perhaps an important reminder to Twelves that Seattle is still a develop from within club. It takes time to develop the techniques that Carroll demands from his defensive backs. Neal feels the next development player now starting to emerge. This is a good thing.

Right corner Tre Flowers had a horrific outing against the Cowboys last week, and bounced back better against the Dolphins. He did nothing flashy, but he didn’t play like a total liability in coverage. I’ll take it.

While Seattle didn’t generate multiple sacks, it was fun to see run stuffing defensive tackles Brian Mone and Anthony Rush combine for the lone sack against Fitzpatrick. Both guys weigh about 350 pounds. Good God, that’s 700 pounds that piled on Fitz. I don’t know if I’m more impressed with the mammoth run stuffers or the bearded gum chewing middle aged passer to took that punishment. That play would have likely killed me in half.

The Bad

Look, I get the whole Let Russ Cook thingy. He’s the best player on the Seahawk roster, and the offense should go more through him. It just makes too much sense. However, going back to that red zone series in the second half when he forced that interception on third down in the end zone, Seattle had opportunities to continue running the ball down there, and yet they chose to throw three times in a row. Had Russell thrown a touchdown instead of that pick, I likely wouldn’t be writing about this, and I am the first to admit this. However, part of my semi reluctance to fully embrace letting Russ cook, it that it could lead to chasing stats instead of calling a smarter game. The Dolphin defense was on its heels against the run in the third quarter. Seattle’s offensive line was being the bully. They could have called one run play down there in that specific series. That is all I am going to say about that. It would have been smart, in my opinion.

While I love that the defense adjusted to play a much better game against the Dolphins, I don’t love that they are continuing to not generate much sacks, and I especially don’t love that KJ Wright dropped a couple fairly easy enough interceptions. Bend Don’t Break works partly because it can lend for turnovers. Like the offense left some points on the field, the defense left some turnovers out there. I want to see that change. Grab those picks for goodness sake. Grab them.

The Ugly

Ryan Fitzpatrick in an extremely likable player. He’s gutsy, and highly intelligent with that Harvard education. He’s a natural leader, and best of all, he’s a character with goofy beard and gum chewing, included. I’m a Ryan Fitzpatrick fan, but good lord, he physically looks someone who should be mowing football fields, not quarterbacking on them at the highest level. I couldn’t help but chuckle every time the cameras zoomed close on him breaking huddle. I feel bad putting this in my Ugly category, but now at 1-3, if I’m a Dolphin fan, I think I’m calling for Tua. Fitzmagic had a nice run, there’s a lot that he can hang his hat on, but let’s see what the young guy with major upside can do. Go Fins.

Moving Forward

For the last few weeks, I have been a broken record about bringing in defensive tackle Snacks Harrison and pass rusher Clay Matthews. I will continue beating this drum.

While Brian Mone and Anthony Rush are showing better than expected depth behind Jarran Reed and Poona Ford, a healthy motivated Snacks would likely bring enough early down it-factor stuff to rest Jarran Reed more for obvious passing downs as Seattle main interior pass rusher. This cannot be underestimated. Reed is the best interior rusher and he is playing too many snaps on all three downs.

Likewise, Seattle needs more than Benson Mayowa as the main edge rusher with Alton Robinson, and Damontre Moore rotating in. Robinson had another key run stop behind the line of scrimmage and is flashing his upside, but he is not all there yet. Clay Matthews could come in this week, and he would likely be Seattle’s best edge rusher. That’s significant. That’s worth $5 million for me. Why Seattle hasn’t done this yet is curious to me, to put it nicely. Maybe there are trades that they are monitoring, and are playing a game of patience.

Needless to say, my patience is getting continually being tested. With Ryan Neal’s splashy play, is there a need to carry Lano Hill at safety? With Lockett, DK, David Moore, and Freddie Swain all flashing at receiver, do they need to carry Penny Hart on the roster right now?

If Seattle continues to play adequate bend don’t break defense, it could be enough for them to maybe win the division and advance a bit more in the playoffs. If the cards fall right, maybe it even takes them to the big show, but as we all know, injuries happen, and Seattle simply needs better depth on it’s defensive line. They are depending too much on Benson Mayowa and Jarran Reed to stay healthy. Adding two quality vets on the defensive line would huge for this team. Huge.

So, I am going to say this again. Go get Snacks. Go get Matthews. Do it this week, John Schneider.

Go Hawks.