Seattle Week 4: A Tale Of Two Halves
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Seattle Week 4: A Tale Of Two Halves

After a disappointing first half, Seattle saves their season by going nuclear in the second.

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Seattle Week 4: A Tale Of Two Halves
Deadline

Colts – 18

Seahawks – 46

I’m not going to sit here and pretend to you all that I wasn’t completely miserable during the first half of Sunday Night Football. All week I had been hearing people come up to talk to me joking around “oh you think they can beat the Colts?” or “hey better watch out for Indianapolis!” I simply gave a weak, half-laugh and went on my business. But come halftime, I was dumbfounded. My roommates and I, who watch the Seahawks diligently every Sunday, were just speechless. The unthinkable was happening: the Indianapolis Colts, one of the worst teams in all of football, were not only winning at halftime… they genuinely looked like the better team.

The issue that has been plaguing Seattle all season long, the offensive line that more resembles turnstiles than NFL athletes, were getting beat yet again. Running lanes vanishing as quickly as the ball was snapped, linemen and linebackers in Russell’s face, and more drives stalling out. The Seahawks had barely mustered three offensive points against a Colts defense that gave up 28 points to the Cleveland Browns the week prior. THE BROWNS. Colt’s OLB Jabaal Sheard was making life difficult for Wilson, similar to how Mike Daniels wrecked the day week one. Such pressure resulted in a safety, and Indy’s first points of the day.

Those two safety points were the only first quarter points they’ve allowed all season. The only touchdown that the Hawks were able to come by was from a pick-6 (Seattle’s first since November of 2013) that the former Patriot, Justin Coleman, snagged away from his old teammate Jacoby Brissett. Such a play, however, did not deter Brissett from challenging the vaunted Legion of Boom.

Brissett was comfortable in the pocket and continued drives with his arm and legs. Before Sunday, the Colts were the number one three-and-out team in the NFL. They had 12 first downs in the first half. Indy’s first touchdown of the night came from a goal-line run by the former Seahawk, Robert Turbin. Interestingly, that was Turbin’s first rushing touchdown at CenturyLink Field despite playing there for three seasons. Just before the second quarter expired, Brissett delivered a 19-yard touchdown strike to Donte Moncrief to steal the lead from Seattle, and go up 15-10. NBC’s Cris Collinsworth commented that an audible hush had fallen over the loudest crowd in the NFL. Wilson ran the two-minute drill to get the offense within field goal range, but it was all for naught as Blair Walsh missed the kick wide-right.

That was it, I thought. My mind was already racing as to what to write if the unthinkable were to occur. I figured if we lost to the Colts at home the season would absolutely be over. Falling to 1-3 with a visit to the Rams on the horizon would be unacceptable. Seattle’s offense looked lost, lacking an identity and outright terrible. But then, the second half happened.

Seattle came out of the gates strong and played exactly how we all expected a team of this caliber to play against the dreadful Colts. Russell put the offense on his back, yet again, and exploded out for a 23-yard touchdown run to reclaim the lead from Indianapolis. Seattle opted for the two-point conversion, and Wilson found Baldwin for the score. It was only Wilson’s second ever successful two-point conversion by passing. Indy’s final hope for an upset came off a tipped interception from the hands of Jimmy Graham, as they kicked a field goal to tie the game at 18. That was it from the Colts, as they only mustered 21 total yards of offense the entire third quarter.

Seattle quickly returned to scoring position and capitalized with a 28-yard touchdown run by rookie running back JD McKissick. His first ever NFL carry.

At that point, the avalanche continued. Jacoby Brissett fumbled, which was scooped by Bobby Wagner for another Seahawks touchdown. Wilson capped the night two touchdown throws to tight end Luke Willson and JD McKissick, who showed off his versatility. The 46 points Seattle scored was the most they’ve scored in primetime since the week of 2002 versus the Vikings. 36 second half points are also the most the Seahawks have scored in a single half. Wilson finished 21-26 for 295 yards. The leading rusher of the night was actually Eddie Lacy with 52 yards who showed flashes of his former bruising self from his rookie campaign in Green Bay. Seattle returned to .500 with a 2-2, but they also won their 20th primetime win in the Pete Carroll era.

The Good

Russell Wilson. I feel as if I will be putting him in this category quite a bit this season, and I promise it’s not because I’m fanboying out here. He is the lone consistent bright spot on this offense, and they are only able to have success because of him. Despite the terror that is playing behind Seattle’s offensive line, he somehow continues to thrive because of his talent. It’s truly hard to imagine another quarterback finding similar levels of success in this situation. For as great as Tom Brady and Drew Brees are, they would not be having the seasons they’re having right now in Seattle.

The Bad

Injuries suck. There’s simply no other way to put it. It does not matter who the player is, or whatever team he’s on, you never want to see something serious. Unfortunately, Seattle suffered four serious casualties on Sunday. Jeremy Lane exited with a hip injury and is supposed to be out “a while” according to Carroll. Rookie Phenom Chris Carson broke his ankle and will miss the rest of the season. Starting left tackle Rees Odhiambo was rushed to the hospital due to difficulty breathing after the game, and the doctors found that he has a bruised heart. He is out now, but I can’t imagine having a bruised heart will help you play football effectively.

And Cliff Avril, perhaps the worst injury of the bunch. Avril left the game with a spinal injury, apparently one that’s severe enough to severely raise their concern level. That isn’t just an injury worth fretting over how it will affect Seattle’s defensive line, that’s worth worrying about him as a man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Cliff!

The Ugly

I wanted Jimmy Graham to work in Seattle. I really really really really reaaaaaally did. But it’s clear this experiment has busted. For whatever reason, Graham and Wilson have never been able to develop consistent, long-term chemistry. Nor has Darrell Bevell ever been able to properly utilize Graham’s skill sets (HE CAN’T BLOCK! STOP TRYING TO MAKE HIM BLOCK!). Sunday’s game was perhaps the final nail in the coffin, as Graham directly led to Wilson’s first, second, and only interceptions on the season.

The first pass was a tad underthrown, but it was a result of targeting him. The second was 1,000% his fault as Wilson threw a dime to him and it simply bounced off his hands into the waiting arms of a Colt’s safety. I love Graham, but it’s just not working. I am still a firm advocate of trading him for a left tackle, but the problem Seattle might face is the fact that Graham is on the last year of his contract, and it might be hard to find a suitor who will only have him for likely 75% of the season.

Looking Ahead

The Seahawks and their much-maligned offense (outside of Wilson) travel south to take on the 3-1 Los Angeles Rams. This is not Jeff Fisher’s perpetually disappointing Rams unit that always seemed to trudge their way to low scoring victories over Seattle, this team is night and day different. Los Angeles actually LEADS the NFL in scoring offense at 35 points a game. That is a sentence I did not think I would write this season, especially not this early. Upgrades at left tackle, center, and wide receiver has paid dividends for quarterback Jared Goff as he looks like someone who was worth a number one overall pick. Wunderkind head coach Sean McVay looks like an early contender for coach of the year as the Rams might actually be the best team in the NFL. Not only are the Rams winning games, they are winning games in exciting fashion as they have 23 plays of 20+ yards so far this year.

There really is no way of putting it other than this: Seattle is sprinting headfirst into a buzz saw.

The Rams look infinitely better in just about every measurable way. Seattle’s struggling pass rush is going to find more difficulties getting to Goff or stopping Todd Gurley without Cliff Avril, and the secondary will have their hands full with a sneaky good receiving corps. If Mike Daniels and Jabaal Sheard had good days against this offensive line, then Aaron Donald might as well start paying rent for the amount of time he will be living in the Seahawks’ backfield.

I genuinely fear for Russell’s safety next Sunday.

If the Seahawks want to prove that they should still be considered a top team in the league, then a win over a surging Rams squad would send a strong statement to the country. if not, Seattle risks falling back below .500 with a third straight road loss.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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