Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (Photo by Keith Allison, via Flickr).
What if they gave the damn ball to Beastmode? Lately, that’s been a topic of discussion as the window is closing on the Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson era. Well, let’s take a look at how it could’ve been had Marshawn Lynch got the ball.
It’s February 1, 2015, and it’s the hated Patriots vs. our depending World Champion Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix. Seattle was trying to become the first back-to-back champs since the Pats accomplished the feat 11 years prior.
It was a tight game right through the first half. The team’s entered the elongated halftime in a 14-14 tie. The Seattle Seahawks scored 10 points in the third quarter on a Steven Hauschka field goal and a Doug Baldwin TD reception.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter, the final round of heavyweight battle. Tom Brady is leading a comeback like everyone all knew he would. New England scores 14 in the fourth to take the lead 28-24 with 2:02 left.
This is when Seattle made its run for all the marbles and B2B championship rings. Let’s take a minute to savor a brilliant drive.
Russ connected with Lynch deep down the left sideline for 31 yards. After a few incompletions, he hit Lockette for 11 yards and another first down. Time is ticking down, forcing Seattle to go no-huddle; Russ hits Jermaine Kearse down the right sideline for a MIRACULOUS juggling catch at the 5-yard line to set up a first and goal. Timeout #2 taken.
Lynch takes a handoff for four yards down to the one. It’s second down, and Wilson barks out the cadence clock ticking away. The clock runs down to just 26 seconds when he calls for the snap. Wilson turns and hands the ball to BEASTMODE, who follows his big boys on the left side to pay dirt. TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS !!!
The extra point is good, and the Hawks take a 31-28 lead with 0:19 left. Now it’s up to the Legion of Boom to hold the great TB12 for two plays. It’s easy enough as Michael Bennett gets a sack on first down and Richard Sherman gets a Pass deflection to end the game. The Seattle Seahawks are BACK2BACK Champions of the NFL!
Marshawn Lynch is now not only a playoff legend with the Beastquake run against the then-defending champion New Orleans Saints but has also cemented his legacy as a Super Bowl MVP. Had things played out this way, he would’ve ended with 25 carries for 103 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with under a minute to go.
It sounds like the expected ending when Wilson took his final snap of the game, right? Well, that’s a fantasy because 12s know it didn’t happen that way. But what if it did happen that way? How would this new outcome change the Seattle Seahawks in the ensuing years?
The two-time champs draft defensive end Frank Clark, wide receiver Tyler Lockett and a couple of offensive linemen with their first four picks. Mark Glowinski is decent, but Terry Poole sadly never does much for the team.
The Seahawks suffer some significant losses in free agency. Starting corner Byron Maxwell, guard James Carpenter, and Super Bowl XLVII MVP linebacker Malcolm Smith go their separate ways. Additionally, tight end Zach Miller gets cut for added cap space.
Now picture this, instead of trading All-Pro center Max Unger to New Orleans for Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks go a different way. They bring in free agent TE Julius Thomas, who has put up 24 TDs in the previous two seasons and is just 27-years-old. They also sign All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, a Pacific Northwest native.
The 2015 season begins, and Seattle’s momentum continues rattling off five straight wins. Marshawn doesn’t get hurt early and finishes the season with 1,420 yards and 15 rushing TDs. The Seattle Seahawks earned the NFC’s top seed with a 14-2 record.
After a rather easy run through the playoffs, they are back in the big game for the third year in a row. This time they face an old foe once defeated and looking for revenge in Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 50.
We pick up the action following Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars bringing down the house at the Pepsi Halftime Show. The second half begins with the Seahawks receiving the ball; they trail 13-10 in what’s been a fairly even game. Seattle drives down slowly and methodically, feeding the Broncos a steady diet of Marshawn Lynch. Seattle marches downfield, racking up first down after first as Seatle’s offensive line manhandles the Broncos front four, wearing them down.
Finally, Wilson punches in a 1-yard QB sneak to give the Seahawks a 17-13 lead. The teams exchange punts for most of the quarter before Peyton Manning drives Denver in for a score to take a 20-17 into the fourth quarter. Buckle your seatbelts 12s because business is about to pick up for the final 15 minutes.
Seattle can’t do anything with a 53-yard Tyler Lockett kickoff return, punting it back to Manning. The near 40-year-old gunslinger moves his team into Seahawks territory leading to a Brandon McManus 52-yard field goal and extending Denver’s lead to 23-17. Following a touchback, Seattle starts on their 25, down by six, against the NFL’s fourth-ranked scoring defense.
On a play-action, Wilson rolls right and hits Thomas for 13, ball on the 38. Lynch takes a handoff to the left side for 6 yards. On second and four. Russ hits Thomas over the middle for a modest gain of 12. With the ball now on the 44. Seattle calls a timeout with 3:14 left.
On the next play, another eight yards for Lynch off the right side. Russ then scrambles out of trouble (again), this time up the middle for nine yards and a first down. Tick tock. Marshawn takes a handoff on the next play and rumbles down the sideline, cuts back inside at the 8-yard line, and scores. 12’s are ALL jumping up and down as the Seattle Seahawks pull ahead 24-23, with 2:04 to go in the game.
Wily vet Peyton Manning is looming on the sidelines, ready to go. Can the LoB do it one more time? Can they stop the Sheriff?
With a little help from a questionable pass interference call on Sherman that cost Seattle 36-yards (12s are livid), Denver has a first down on the Hawks’ 44. Manning calmly gets his team into field goal range with just 13 seconds left. McMannus hits the game-winning field goal with time running out. Manning gets his second Super Bowl ring in his final game,
12s are sad to see the championship run end, but losing to an all-time great like Manning is no shame at all. The Seattle Seahawks still have won two of the last three and took a lead in this one down to the last second. (One that hurts to this day).
Lynch asked for a new deal or a trade. They oblige with a trade to his hometown Oakland Raiders for a 2016 second-rounder and future third. GM John Schneider stays busy and signs Mitchell Schwartz to replace Russell Okung at left tackle.
With the 31st pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Hawks select Lynch’s replacement, Derrick Henry. They used their two second-rounders on guard, Cody Whitehair, and DT Jarran Reed. Also armed with a trio of fifth-rounders, the brass decides to take a flyer on a high ceiling player with off field issues. They draft Tyreek Hill to return kicks as Lockett becomes a starting WR.
Once again, the Seattle Seahawks start the year hot, going 6-2 in the first half. After a mid-season bye week, New England is next. Brady and the Pats win handily 31-10, but that’s not the big story. After the game, Brady says, “Are YOU mad bro?” Prompting Sherman to reply, “We WILL see you again.”
This motivation fuels the LoB and the team to get hot and finish 13-3 on the year. With an easy run through the NFC playoffs, they find themselves in a record-tying fourth straight Super Bowl. This time against another old foe Ben Roethlisberger, and the Pittsburgh Stealers (spelled wrong on purpose). Thinking back to Super Bowl XL when the Hawks had to beat both Pittsburgh and the refs. This time around, they leave no doubt as to who won, crushing the Stealers 41-13.
This win cements the Seattle Seahawks as a true Dynasty with three wins in four seasons. It also guarantees Coach Pete goes down as an all-time great coach with one college title and three NFL titles so far (remember it’s only 2017). Wilson has three rings now, and the Legion of Boom goes down as the Greatest Defense in NFL history.
Now, this is only one of the many outcomes that COULD have happened. Maybe Carroll called runs for Lynch, and he got stuffed twice; game over. The fans all bash Pete for being too old school. They ask why he didn’t have Wilson roll out on an RPO to get the ball in the end zone. And as they do now, 12’s are mad because Carroll ran instead of passing. Who knows? It’s fun to dream as the Seahawks struggle through a lost season like the one we are enduring.
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