This was not the night time Seattle sports activities followers needed, it’s not the night time Seattle sports activities followers deserved, nevertheless it wasn’t a misplaced trigger for Seattle sports activities.
Whereas the Seattle Mariners got here agonizingly shut solely to fail to succeed in their first World Sequence, the Seattle Seahawks overcame their many self-inflicted wounds to defeat the Houston Texans 27-19 and shut out the primary portion of their season in a three-way tie for high spot in a frightening NFC West. When the worst staff is the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals, who’ve misplaced all of their video games within the closing minutes and have some extent differential of -1, you’re in with some powerful competitors.
Significantly although, why was this sport so needlessly tough?
It’s time for Winners and Losers for the ultimate time till November!
One other week, one other big sport (8 catches for 123 yards and a landing) even towards one of many high defenses within the league, and his traditionally torrid begin to the season just isn’t letting up. Seven video games performed, 5 video games with over 100 yards receiving, plus his fourth landing on the yr. JSN is elite, and it’s terrifying for the remainder of the league that this will not be his closing type. The Texans have a fantastic protection and an elite nook in Derek Stingley Jr and he laid waste to them, too.
Nwosu ought to’ve had the opening factors of the night time. 5 sacks leads the Seahawks and he has an actual shot at double digits. Contemplating all the query marks relating to his well being and whether or not he’d even be on the staff this yr after taking a pay lower, it is a phenomenal bounce-back season for Chenna.
That deal with for loss on the display move was a factor of magnificence, and he continues to be impactful as a move rusher and run defender. The second-year ascension is actual and he has been excellent. It additionally helps to study from veteran stalwarts like Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed, each of whom have been nice.
Whether or not he’s working stride for stride in protection with extensive receivers or making diving move breakups, Emmanwori is exhibiting off his athletic traits and his protection instincts. One other spectacular exhibiting by the thrilling rookie security, who almost had his first interception again within the third quarter.
Three interceptions on the season for the star center linebacker. Josh Jobe had the strain on C.J. Stroud and Jones took benefit with the choose. Jones additionally ought to’ve had a strip sack resulting in a fumble return for a landing by Drake Thomas, however Thomas fluffed his strains late and the entire play in the end didn’t depend.
Tyrice Knight ain’t getting that weakside linebacker beginning job again any time quickly. Thomas might have his points in move protection and defending in area, however he’s a menace going downhill, and it paid off with three PBUs and two tackles for loss. He’d have had a landing with higher ball safety on the fumble return, too.
A sack and a tremendous PBU in the long run zone on third and aim on the 1 by the backup security. Julian Love will need to have undoubtedly been proud watching his efforts. Seattle’s depth has been examined in a giant means and for essentially the most half it has stepped as much as the problem.
Jobe has struggled the previous two video games and Woolen has had an up-and-down season such that he’s been topic to commerce hypothesis. They have been each implausible in move protection and Jobe on the very least might’ve had two interceptions.
Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III
It won’t have regarded nice, however Charbonnet and Walker did certainly mix for 115 yards on 29 carries and Zach had a few touchdowns. Walker is a winner as a result of at present is his birthday and who doesn’t like to have a birthday win? However critically, these two want much better blocking than they’ve been getting.
Seattle’s ball safety
Sufficient is sufficient. 4 turnovers at residence, all of which got here whereas up by double digits, is absurd. I’ve written about this earlier than however Mike Macdonald completely must hammer residence this level throughout and after the bye week and in perpetuity. We’re taking a look at 13 instances in 24 video games the Seahawks have turned it over a minimum of twice, which is gross. Repair this. Now.
Why on earth have been they throwing a lot when it was extra vital to empty the clock? This led to an interception and a near-safety on consecutive drives. Why is Seattle making Cooper Kupp a QB2 proper on the cusp of the purple zone? What’s the situation with Kenneth Walker III that he’s instantly subbed out of each third down even when it’s not an apparent passing down? This was one of many extra ridiculously referred to as video games I’ve seen by any Seahawks OC, which is saying one thing.
Cooper Kupp, the quarterback
By no means once more. Klint Kubiak failed him by even calling that play however my god, what number of extra instances are the Seahawks going to dial up a non-QB throwing the ball and instantly get picked off? It’s virtually a decade of this nonsense occurring.
Mike Macdonald’s conservative choices
Macdonald’s protection deserves reward and he deserves big credit score for the way his undermanned protection has performed. That stated…
These 4th down choices are maddening. Fortunately, the Seahawks protection was so dominant that it didn’t actually matter, however I don’t like punting on 4th and 1 from Houston’s 44 within the 4th quarter when even a subject aim successfully ends the sport. They run some junk faux punt “hope they bounce offside” formation and Houston doesn’t chunk. I get you’re involved in regards to the offensive line however any likelihood you get to place the sport away by scoring, it is best to take that likelihood. Macdonald just isn’t at all times conservative together with his 4th down choices, however he’s naked minimal inconsistent together with his decisions. Punt on 4th and 1 on the 44 however throw it throughout the yard up 15 in a while within the sport?
Two penalties and a collection of lopsided, shedding reps for Bradford. I’ve been lenient with this season regardless of his lower than favorable metrics, however that was not a very good exhibiting by any means. There’s no indication he’s getting benched so it’s type of pointless to speak about it, nevertheless it’s clear the place the weaker factors are on this offensive line.
First time I’ve put him on the listing however he had a few nervy moments. No catches on three targets and a bobbled punt return, which truly gained respectable yardage however nonetheless was his first time exhibiting iffy ball safety. Horton has no catches over the past two weeks.
That is post-publish as a result of I’m so sleepy I forgot to even do that, however that is the primary time Darnold has popped up within the losers column. He nonetheless dropped some lovely dimes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, however the two turnovers have been brutal. His fumble was terrible and it gifted the Texans a landing, and his interception was very a lot a case of an excessive amount of dip in his chip. He wasn’t sharp and it confirmed together with his 17/31 exhibiting for 213 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. There have been shaky choices, inaccurate throws that he in any other case has averted making, and the turnovers have been ugly.