A season doesn’t finish at 0-2, however there’s just one technique to get to 0-3, and that’s by passing by, properly, a Week 2 loss. The Seattle Seahawks spent half-hour Sunday morning in Pittsburgh wanting like they had been gonna select Door 0-2, and within the course of verify each adverse narrative floating within the aether.
They selected in a different way. When the clock hit zeroes, the Seahawks had outrun, out-passed, out-defended, out-executed and outsmarted a good staff on the highway. Dangerous groups don’t are inclined to dominate NFL opposition. Necessary disclaimer: there’s a whole lot of season left, and even the 2009 Jim Mora Seahawks shut out the Rams and Jaguars earlier than Halloween. Fantastic, I’ll rephrase: a mentally weak, poorly coached staff doesn’t win in each part; as an alternative they luck into victories.
This win wasn’t luck. It was season-undefining, in that it compelled all pessimistic onlookers (raises hand) to recalibrate what’s and isn’t potential. Now after all, we should always’ve recognized higher, as a result of Week 1, you guys. The Detroit Lions, everybody’s stylish pique to win the NFC, stumbled their technique to 13 factors within the opener, then dropped a Week 2 fiftyburger on the Bears. The Jets traveled from Week 1 ecstasy to Week 2 actuality; a well-known path for them, however nonetheless. You get the purpose. Loads of wonky video games happen this primary weekend, yearly. Why would the Seahawks be exempt?
Naturally, the Seahawks started with an exceptionally irregular regular factor: they scored an opening-drive landing. For the primary time because the Gerald Ford administration. (December 2023 really, however that’s the identical factor in soccer years.) Seattle, and particularly Sam-Jaxon Darnold-Smith-Njigba, transformed two third and longs to maintain the drive. All of that set the stage for rookie Tory Horton, he of zero profession receptions getting into the sport.
First catch, first rating. However not the primary time a fifth-rounder has made an fast influence right here.
The Steelers answered with a ten-play discipline aim jaunt, which you’ll take, as a result of now it’s time to get again to enterprise and throw the ball downfield to Cooper Kupp on first down and wait no no no he’s by no means open and why is Jalen Ramsey in entrance of him and shit that’s picked off. Let’s be sincere, too, that move deserved to be taken away.
If I’d informed you at that time that Kupp would earn his recreation examine, given his physique of labor so far in a Seahawks uniform, neither of us would’ve believed it. This sentence will probably be copy-pasted.
Dropped proper again into obligation at their very own 44, Seattle’s protection held properly sufficient to power a discipline aim try, which left them within the driver’s seat. Shortly on the subsequent drive, Kupp and Elijah Arroyo hauled in first-down catches, serving to to arrange a fourth and one on the fringe of the pink zone.
It’s roughly the identical spot the place Mike Macdonald confronted a fourth down choice in Week and opted to kick. It’s roughly in the identical place the identical fork within the highway will current itself once more mere minutes later. Maybe in self-reaction to his personal choice at house per week earlier, he’ll go for it each instances. Good for him, and good for us. With wildly divergent outcomes. Not nice for him, or us.
Time 1 rewards followers and gamers with a intelligent play name that isn’t too cute: the direct snap to A.J. Barner, who clears the road to realize reasonably simply with an help from Zach Charbonnet. Drive stalls, so Jason Myers comes out for a chip shot to increase the lead, besides as an alternative it’s a doinkerdoodle off the left upright and we’re caught in impartial at 7-6.
Following punts by every staff, the largest non-play of the sport exhibits up courtesy of Derion Kendrick, Devon Witherspoon’s understudy du jour. With an ill-advised Aaron Rodgers floater throughout the center immediately in his sights, he lets the certain pick-six bounce by his mitts and off his helmet. That’s when nearly everybody begins lacking Spoon like your first girlfriend after she breaks up with you. A well-recognized feeling of “possibly it’s not our yr fairly but” comes a’knocking. I hate that feeling. It could escalate.
As a result of hey look, Time 2 is upon us, the second fourth and one deep in Pittsburgh territory, so after all Macdonald retains the offense on the sphere, and the play-action bootleg is snuffed out by the Steelers. You ever play Tremendous Tecmo Bowl and the opponent calls your play and earlier than you possibly can even select a receiver, Derrick Thomas has tackled you eight yards deep? Yeah, that’s what it was. Darnold’s rollout was doomed, so he panicks and tries to make one thing occur. Interception quantity two, returned all the best way to the Seahawks 21.
If I’d informed you at that time that Darnold would earn his recreation examine, given his physique of labor so far in a Seahawks uniform, neither of us would’ve believed it. As promised, this sentence has been copy-pasted.
One discouraging flip of occasions was nonetheless owed Seattle followers: a predictable revenge teeder from DK Metcalf, who I’m informed performed a portion of his profession right here? Is that correct? Anyway, so as to add insult to insult, Metcalf made precisely the kind of play each Seahawks QB and OC tried to arrange for him for years, with not more than a smattering of success: the goal-line bounce ball. He converts, it’s 14-7 hosts and the bleakness of 0-2 has raised its grey head — solely to get guillotined by a second half that possibly units a brand new course for the season.
As a result of right here’s the factor. The Seahawks wouldn’t enable one other landing, they wouldn’t give the ball away once more, they might rediscover the enjoyment of handing it off to their most dynamic again, and other people apart from JSN would begin making performs. Halftime doesn’t have magical powers like, say, an Etsy witch you may rent to bless your baseball staff so that they by no means lose once more, though shedding is baked into their very identification.
And but, one thing shifted.
Darnold’s poor and panicked throws turned exact and premium. (His scrambling toss was the true deal.)
Walker’s slim gaps became gaping holes. (79 second-half yards.)
Defenders’ dropped interceptions turned caught. (Protection held them to a few factors)
The forgotten receivers turned focused. (Kupp caught seven of his subsequent eight targets for 90 yards)
And, most significantly maybe, particular groups swoons became souvenirs. None greater than when George Holani helped himself to an inexplicably unfielded finish zone kickoff. Um, Kaleb Johnson, that’s a dwell ball.
This got here on the heels of a number of different reversals, similar to, look, we have now a good finish! Twice!
After which Kendrick’s redemption ultimately zone retains the Steelers off the board. When wanted most, my God, the person was in his Aspect. All The Stars don’t have the DNA to make this heads-up play.
Three thousand extra phrases could possibly be spilled about this recreation however we’re higher off attending to the Prey and Predators, and hoping for carryover to Week 3 vs. the Saints. Wait, no! The dagger.
It’s 24-17 Seattle, inside of 4 minutes, and on the finish of an prolonged possession, all that’s wanted to make it a two-score affair is a brief discipline aim. Is smart to run the rock on third and 19. Simply hand it to Walker, trot Myers out, and —
All educational after that, though Coby Bryant would disagree as a result of possibly he hits an additional incentive now with that late choose. Rodgers received’t play 5 extra years, and that’s a cryin’ disgrace as a result of there’s nothing extra enjoyable on Sundays than seeing him full a move to a Seahawk.
Cross rushers. The youngest D-linemen feasted, particularly Boye Mafe, Derick Corridor and Byron Murphy.
You see Mafe and Corridor within the graphic, however Murphy turned in a Leonard Williamsy efficiency with 1.5 sacks and a TFL. Disrupting Rodgers as we speak was a bunch challenge and in contrast to in center college, everybody chipped in.
Kenneth Walker the Third. Everybody will cite his 105 yards dashing, which, nice. However he was higher than the century mark signifies. Witness, after halftime, on eight makes an attempt:
B) 7 out of 8 in success charge (wow)
D) The sport-clinching 19-yard scamper on third and aim
Few Seahawks wanted that kind of recreation greater than Walker, who stays the closest factor Seattle has to a house run hitter.
Gray Zabel. On the Walker TD particularly. Should you noticed it, you realize. However different instances too. He’ll get his personal part quickly sufficient, that’s assured.
Jaylen Warren. Dude broke like six tackles on that tough-to-watch 65-yard gash by the instantly butterfingered protection.
Course, all that did was arrange the afternoon’s largest “after which what occurred” second for Kendrick.
George Holani. A number of acceptable kick returns, and the landing listed above. Thought for a second we’d see a repeat of when Jeron Johnson fell on the ball in Indy in 2013. Keep in mind, when Jermaine Kearse blocked Pat McAfee’s punt by the top zone, and Johnson *almost* fell on it in time? Holani, a scholar of Seahawks historical past, made certain that wouldn’t occur once more.
Seahawks coordinators. Each coach on the Seattle sideline had their items prey-pared to the fullest, as illustrated by two whole penalties for a measly 10 yards. Self-discipline is engaging in individuals, however triply so when it’s a soccer staff recognized for gathering yellow laundry.
You had Riq Woolen’s stumbly holding penalty on the primary drive and Barner’s off-the-wall offsides. No different fouls.
NEITHER PREDATOR NOR PREY
DK Metcalf. Man, was he primed to be the apex predator. However the protection mixture of Woolen, Bryant and Jobe — primarily Jobe — stored him from affecting the sport. He was, if it may be stated of a participant who scored six, type of a non-factor. Three grabs for 20 yards on six targets, with a pair drops, isn’t what anybody anticipated, him included I’d guess.
Mike Tomlin, I suppose, for doing his finest impression of Tremendous Bowl Mike Shanahan and never speaking the principles to each member of his kickoff staff.
Opposing followers when Seattle exhibits up on their schedule. The Seahawks received their seventh straight highway recreation, and twentieth of their final 25 East Coast video games. Anybody know find out how to organize for a pair Lumen Area roof beams to do their finest Kingdome imitation?
Wasn’t certain the place this staff was headed after a recreation and a half. However now, it’d even be someplace nice. So if the Hawks are to go, allow us to go along with them.
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