The legend of Mike Macdonald’s highway warrior Seattle Seahawks continues to develop. Coming off a heartbreaking loss at residence towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Seahawks went into Jacksonville and responded once more after a house loss with a giant bounce again victory over one of many early darlings of the NFL season.
With the win, the Seahawks transfer to 4-2, with a 3-0 document on the highway, and are actually 10-1 below Macdonald when on the highway. The house/highway splits are irritating, however this degree of highway dominance is astonishing, and actually ought to permit Seahawks followers to dream huge and have hope, if Seattle goes on the highway within the playoffs.
It was a giant win and a giant week for the NFC West and the NFC as a complete, let’s break it down.
1st Down – New mayors of “Sacksonville”
Earlier than Sunday’s sport, Trevor Lawrence had upped his degree of play below Liam Coen, whereas solely being sacked six instances. In opposition to the Seahawks, Lawrence was sacked seven instances, and if not for his spectacular playmaking, it may’ve been lots worse.
On Sunday, the line of defense gained the sport, placing up a historic effort to swallow up the Jags. Down Derick Corridor nonetheless, however gaining again DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle obtained the seven sacks and a franchise document 17 QB hits. They remarkably pressured Lawrence on half of his drop backs. It was a really spectacular efficiency that carried a protection that was down 4 starters on that aspect of the ball.
Hats off to Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde for responding to the ass kicking that the Bucs delivered to their protection per week in the past. Their mangled up secondary gave up some performs, but it surely held up sufficient whereas the entrance seven took over.
2nd Down – The chips proceed wanting blue
I consider that NFL success is about expertise accumulation and growth of your youth. The draft, the commerce market, and selecting the proper gamers to put money into on the subject of free company, are normally what decides who’re the Philadelphia Eagles of the world and who’re the Miami Dolphins.
The Seattle Seahawks proceed a powerful and constructive development for the reason that Russell Wilson commerce, of accumulating expertise. GM’s will let you know that they’re making an attempt to get their fingers on as many pink chips as attainable. Crimson means plus starters that will see the occasional professional bowl. In the event you accumulate sufficient of these guys, chances are you’ll luck your self into a number of blue chip gamers, who’re the true All-Professional abilities that make the distinction between making the playoffs and really competing for a championship.
The Seahawks have a powerful roster stuffed with pink chips, however by means of six video games, I believe they’re beginning to see some chips flip blue.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has elevated his sport to a degree none of us thought was even remotely attainable. He’s on tempo to have a historic season, and has absolutely arrived within the camp of prime seven large receivers within the league. Sam Darnold has statistically been the perfect quarterback within the league to this point on the season. He has blown away just about everybody’s expectations for this season, and if he retains it up, you may make a powerful case that Seattle as soon as once more has a blue chip quarterback.
It is rather early nonetheless, however what Byron Murphy is doing, particularly on the defensive sort out place, may make him the uncommon and invaluable defensive sort out blue chip. On Sunday, Murphy was an unstoppable power, forcing seven pressures and getting two sacks. On the season, Murphy has 4.5 sacks whereas main among the finest rush defenses within the league.
Pairing him with an already blue chip degree star in Leonard Williams, and this staff now looks like it could be near having sufficient stars to make a Tremendous Bowl run.
third Down – State of the NFC West
It was a giant week for the division. The Arizona Cardinals had some battle, but it surely’s exhausting to see them getting again into the race with accidents to each Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. The Los Angeles Rams didn’t look spectacular, however nonetheless had been fortunate to play Baltimore with out Lamar Jackson, as they’re now 4-2.
The San Francisco 49ers, who could also be the perfect coached staff within the league, fought tooth and nail on the highway towards Tampa Bay, however fell 30-19. Extra importantly, they appeared to have misplaced all world linebacker Fred Warner to a horrific dislocated ankle. The 49ers will not be going to collapse, however it’s exhausting to examine them with the ability to sustain with the Rams and Seahawks, contemplating all that they’ve misplaced of their receiving room and on their defensive entrance.
Work nonetheless must be accomplished, however don’t be shocked if the Seahawks sport on the Rams on November sixteenth looks like half one of many NFC West championship.
4th Down – Subsequent two video games are vital for the deadline
If the Seahawks really need to be a part of the NFC West title race, and need to announce themselves as a Tremendous Bowl menace in a wild and mid NFL season, then the subsequent two video games earlier than the commerce deadline shall be essential to creating a reliable run.
Seattle will get an additional day of relaxation earlier than internet hosting the Houston Texans on Monday Night time Soccer. The Texans are a terrific protection and have gained a playoff sport in every of the previous two years. This can be a nice take a look at for the offense, and feels just like the second the place the Seahawks want to interrupt by means of this ugly residence sport stretch. A win right here and I believe you’ll see the monkey off their backs.
After that, they are going to get a bye week earlier than heading to DC to tackle the Commanders on Sunday Night time Soccer. A probably elite offense, a staff that was a sport away from the Tremendous Bowl final yr and looks like Tremendous Bowl or bust this yr. That may be a true highway take a look at and a litmus take a look at for the way shut the Seahawks really are to creating a run.
Two playoff groups, two primetime video games, two possibilities to see whether it is price being aggressive on the commerce deadline. Even when the Seahawks lose a type of video games, in the event that they present they’re the true deal, then I believe the 2 days that comply with earlier than the deadline, could possibly be large for John Schneider and the Seahawks.
I believe it’s very attainable Schneider swings for the fences.
