Seattle Seahawks: 4 takeaways from 27-26 win over Minnesota
Chris Phillips
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Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, Seattle Seahawks.
Defense
In last week’s takeaways, I said that the Seattle Seahawks defensive performance against Miami was a step in the right direction. However, this game wasn’t, it started as a big step back. The defense did not play well in the first half at all. Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook did whatever they wanted when they wanted to do it. The switch was flipped and it was much better in the second half.
They held the Vikings to a three-and-out on their first possession of the half. Then the Seahawks forced the two turnovers. Additionally, the D kept Minnesota from adding a dagger in the back score, with that fourth-and-one stop on their own six-yard line. Those series were the keys to victory.
In the first four weeks, the Seattle Seahawks run defense was outstanding. Against Minnesota, it looked like they were carrying red capes and yelling ole’ as Vikings running backs broke into the second and third lines of defense. Cook, the NFL’s leading rusher, dominated early with 65 rushing yards on 17 carries before leaving with a groin injury early in the third quarter. Buckup Alexander Mattison picked up where Cook left off, finishing the game with 20 carries for 112 yards (5.8 average).
Dalvin FIGHTING for that first down 💪 @dalvincook @Vikings pic.twitter.com/s2GyVwswck
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 12, 2020
Help is on the way with the recent signing of defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison. Hopefully, he can be the guy he was in New York, not the recent Detroit version.