Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll hugs Rams Head Coach Sean McVey after Seattle's 19-16 win in Game 17.
What many fans thought was impossible back in September has happened. The Seattle Seahawks managed to sneak their way into the NFL postseason.
The same squad nobody saw winning more than 5 or 6 games shocked the world. And with a bit of help from the Detroit Lions, they crashed the NFC Playoff bracket.
Their victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the Bobby Wagner Bowl – Part Two wasn’t pretty, but style points don’t matter; wins do. The Hawks are in.
As I mentioned, it was an ugly game, and the outcome was very much in doubt all the way through overtime. Some players who normally come through in big moments failed this week. And some unsung heroes stepped up when their team needed them.
So without further adieu, let’s get into our Dud and Stud for Game 17.
At some point, D.K. Metcalf will draw a penalty that costs the Seattle Seahawks a game. Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey clearly has beachfront property in his head, and Metcalf was a non-entity in this game.
I also saw at least three routes where he ran half-hearted, looping cuts rather than planting and exploding out of breaks. Metcalf got the big contract he wanted in the spring. He is supposed to be a leader. Enough already.
In a game where Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield played like, well, Baker Mayfield, the Seattle Seahawks defense still couldn’t stop the run. Cam Akers and company racked up over 150 yards on the ground, often in big chunks.
If you don’t think winning the OT coin toss might have been the play of the game, you’re wrong. For Seattle to have any hope of making Saturday’s Wild Card Round game in San Francisco remotely close, they need to figure this problem out quickly.
Jason Myers incredible bounce-back season was almost forgotten in a sea of shame on his horribly missed kick at the end of regulation. Up to that point, he missed only two field goal attempts all season.
Yes, he made the chip shot to win the game in overtime, but the OT would have been unnecessary if he’d made his previous attempt. Not the most confidence-inspiring way to close out what’s been a special season.
Now onto the good stuff
Another big game to close out a great rookie season. While Kenneth Walker didn’t get into the end zone, K-9 still ran for 114 yards and kept the offense moving.
Walker will close out his rookie season with over 1000 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns. He’ll likely finish third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Walker might have taken the award if not for an early-December injury that took away his A-game for several weeks.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith Smith had a rough time for most of the game against the Rams. But he came through big time on the last two drives.
His scramble to set up Myers miss would have been “Beastquakian” in 12’s memories had the field goal gone through.
In overtime, he brought them down the field and led them to the win. His leading receiver was probably Jalen Ramsey, but as Smith has all season, he came through at crunch time.
Many fans were caught up in the Detroit-Green Bay game being flexed and how it would hurt Seattle. With a Seahawks victory, the Lions would have nothing to play for, and maybe they wouldn’t give their all.
Then at cold Lambeau Field, they went out and dragged Aaron Rodgers out of the playoffs by his man bun. Now we as a nation won’t have to endure a week of stories about Roger’s composure and leadership or how San Francisco passed on him in the draft.
He can’t tell us how he manifested his victory against the negativity around him. That’s because the Seattle Seahawks are in, and “The Medicine Man” is going home.
Who were your Seattle Seahawks Duds and Studs this week?