Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks.
D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks.
Every week the Seattle Seahawks play, Pacific Northwest Sports will present our Dud and Stud of the game. It’s a way to pay tribute to those who played well and call out the players who didn’t.
The Seattle Seahawks first half performance can be summed up in one word, ugly. Although each team had four possessions, Minnesota dominated. They held the ball for 20:16, running 41 plays for 197 yards, while the Seahawks could only muster 61 net yards in 18 plays. At the half, Seattle trailed 13–0.
The game changed drastically in the second half. Minnesota’s first three possessions of the second half were a three-and-out, a fumble, and an interception. In six minutes the Seahawks turned a 13–0 deficit into a 21–13 lead. Just like every other game this season, the lead didn’t last. Minnesota rallied for two touchdowns of their on their next two drives to retake the advantage.
After a Russell Wilson pick, they were on the move again late in the fourth quarter with two minutes left in the contest. That’s when Seattle’s heroics started.
Facing a fourth-and-one at the Seattle six-yard-line, Minnesota decided to go for it instead of kicking a field goal to put them up by eight points. It was the wrong call. The Seahawks stopped running back Alexander Mattison cold, to force a turnover on downs. That allowed the Russell Wilson kitchen to open back up for the finale.
If I told you beforehand that Wilson could drive the team 94 yards in 1:42, you would believe it was doable. If I then told you he had to convert two fourth downs, you might be a little wary but would still believe me. What if I added in that the league’s most efficient passer would throw eight incomplete passes on the same drive. Then you would say no way.
That’s exactly what happened. The winning drive culminated with a fourth-and-six bullet to D.K. Metcalf int the end zone, for the winning score with 15 seconds left.
Here are the Zeroes and Heroes of the Seattle Seahawks gritty 27–26 victory.
Seattle Seahawks offensive line.
I thought the Seattle Seahawks offensive line play as a whole was pretty awful. Starting left guard Mike Iupati was a late scratch. Missing him wasn’t the line’s big problem. On the run side, the stat sheet says Seattle had 7.8 yards-per-carry. Lots of that was RW3 improvising after getting flushed from the pocket as well a Chris Carson‘s big gain where he broke through a wall of would-be tacklers.
All game long, Russell Wilson had defensive players in his face. Very rarely did he have a clean pocket to throw from. For the game, Wilson was sacked four times and hit nine, not including the other hits on him from running out of a collapsing pocket.
The Seattle Seahawks first half performance can be summed up in one word, ugly. Although each team had four possessions, Minnesota dominated. They held the ball for 20:16, running 41 plays for 197 yards, while the Seahawks could only muster 61 net yards in 18 plays. At the half, Seattle trailed 13-0.
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll loves to talk about ball control. That first 30 minutes was his worst nightmare.
In the end, Minnesota controlled the clock for 39:28, an almost two-to-one ratio. The Vikings were able to do it because they ran the ball effectively.
There is a reason why Dalvin Cook came into the game as the NFL’s leading rusher. Minnesota can jam the ball down anyone’s gullet at will. Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks front was over-matched. In the first half, NBC analyst Chris Collins praised Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed for his run defense. That was like celebrating him for a great dunk on an eight-foot rim.
Seattle came into the game with one of the better run defenses in football. They learned quickly what it’s like to face a team with a good offensive line and dedicated to the ground ground. I will say this, When the Seahawks needed a run stop on their most important play of the game, they made it. It should have never gotten that far, to begin with.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks.
Cody Barton – I chastised Cody Barton last week for being ineffective. This week he had 14 tackles, 9 solos.
Ryan Neal – Safety Ryan Neal was once again impressive filling in for Jamal Adams. He had 8 tackles, including 2 for loss and a pass defended.
Chris Carson – Seattle’s bell-cow back had six receptions and 79 total yards from scrimmage. His 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the Seahawks back in the game.
Originally, this spot was going to be for Carson. After all, Wilson was uncharacteristically out of sync with his receivers. Additionally, the interception he threw came at a crucial time and could only have been caught by someone in a different colored jersey.
After further review, it would be crazy not to have Wilson on this week’s stud list. Despite the mistake and missed opportunities, RW3 still led his team to the winning score when it counted the most. He also threw for three touchdowns, bringing his total for the year to 19 in five games.
12s won’t find K.J. Wright near the top of the defensive stat sheet as he usually is. As a matter of fact, Wright had just three tackles for the second time this season. That wasn’t where he made his biggest impact.
Wright spent plenty of time in pass coverage and away from the ball. But when his team was trailing and need the ball back, he delivered. First Wright recovered Kirk Cousins fumble on Minnesota’s second possession of the third quarter. Then less than a minute later, he made a ridiculous one-handed interception the would make Odell Beckham Jr. jealous. Both times the Seahawks scored.
The Seattle Seahawks are 5–0 and Metcalf has 90 or more yards in each of those games. It’s not a coincidence. Metcalf is becoming a star in front of the 12s’ eyes (on television).
Sunday, he had a season-high six receptions for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns including the game-winner. When RW3 needed Metcalf, the second-year receiver was there for him.
Let’s start with the third quarter slant he extended for in the end zone. Then there was his beautiful over the shoulder catch 35 yards down the left side with 1:14 left in the game. He had to adjust to the ball and shed the man covering him. It was fourth-and-ten. If Metcalf doesn’t make that play, the game is over.
I thought the second down play from the Minnesota six to Metcalf was a touchdown. He had control of the ball after crossing the goal line, then it was knocked out. The refs ruled otherwise. Instead of scoring two plays earlier, Metcalf made a difficult catch in the end zone, on fourth down with 15 seconds left.
Next week the Seattle Seahawks have a bye. The Dud and Stud will return in two weeks.