November 19, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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With Thomas Rawls back, Pete Carroll said the Seahawks are “in a good situation” at running back.

Rawls is so pumped to return that family members are telling him to relax and “breathe.”

C.J. Prosise’s big hit after a big gain vs. the Patriots had everyone talking this week.

Here’s a preview of this week’s game, plus more to watch as the Seahawks and Eagles meet for the 15th time.

After the Seahawks lost a winnable game in New Orleans, the coaches decided it was time to let a heathier Russell Wilson make plays again.

The Eagles’ defense ranks as highly as Seattle’s in almost every category and will be a big challenge for Wilson and Seattle’s offense.

Meanwhile, Seattle’s defense has slumped a bit without Michael Bennett.

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Playoffs, State of the team, Week 11: Philadelphia

Race for top seed: Dallas has tougher road

November 18, 2016 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks’ watershed win in New England largely has been interpreted as a sign the Hawks are ready to make their usual run through the second half of the season and deep into the playoffs.

But, because the offense has cost the team 2.5 games, the Seahawks find themselves in chase mode in the NFC — not yet in full control of their destiny, not yet the No. 1 seed.

Dallas, led by rookie QB Dak Prescott, holds that position right now — 1.5 games up on the Hawks thanks to an eight-game winning streak. But there is plenty of time to catch the Cowboys — and the remaining slates for each team make it seem very possible, if not likely.

Continue reading Race for top seed: Dallas has tougher road →

Franchise history, State of the team

Chancellor leading the way, like 2013 and 2014

November 18, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Kam Chancellor and Tony McDaniel celebrate a stop vs. Carolina on Saturday (Seahawks.com) Like clockwork, it’s Kam Chancellor time.

It happens pretty much every season around this time: The heartbeat of the Seattle defense struggles with injuries in the first half and then catches a second wind and helps the Hawks sail to the Super Bowl.

This time it was a four-week absence due to a groin injury. And, on cue, Chancellor returned vs. New England and came up with a couple of late-game plays that earned him honors as NFC defensive player of the week.

As the Hawks head down the second-half stretch, angling for another Super Bowl run, Chancellor looks ready to lead the defense the way he did in the 2013 and 2014 title game seasons. And it also looks like he is re-affirming his long-term place with the team.

Continue reading Chancellor leading the way, like 2013 and 2014 →

CHAWK LINES, Week 10: At New England

November 16, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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The Seahawks made some interesting moves Tuesday, waiving Christine Michael and Sealver Siliga, promoting fan favorite Troymaine Pope and signing an interesting D-tackle, John Jenkins.

Michael simply never earned the trust of the coaches (and still had that entitled attitude that goes counter to Pete Carroll’s mantra).

Thomas Rawls is finally ready to roll again (which explains the timing of Michael’s release).

Earl Thomas apparently punctured Rob Gronkowski’s lung on that big hit, but both players have a lot of respect for each other.

Lots of people going gaga over Kam Chancellor’s return.

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State of the team, Week 10: At New England

Carroll wouldn’t let Prosise off the field

November 14, 2016 cc 2 Comments

Pete Carroll has been raving about C.J. Prosise since the Seahawks drafted him last spring. But, because the running back had been hobbled by a bevy of bumps and bruises pretty much since the day he was drafted, the rest of us had no clue why — until Sunday in New England.

He started over a slightly hobbled Christine Michael and did a little bit of everything to tally 153 total yards and help the Hawks pull off a meaningful upset. In fact, Carroll was so happy about his play during the game that he wouldn’t let the rookie pull himself off the field.

“He tapped out a couple times to catch his breath,” Carroll said. “There was a time when I told him, ‘Don’t do that. Get out there. Get your butt on the field.’ He kind of looked at me like, ‘Oh, OK, I guess I can’t tap out.’ So he went back in.”

You can’t blame Prosise. The guy had touched the ball just 17 times in four other games this season — basically his personal preseason — and he got 24 touches in 51 plays vs. the Patriots.

“He’s going to get in shape and all that,” Carroll said. “He can’t be in great game shape; he just can’t be. He hasn’t played enough.”

Continue reading Carroll wouldn’t let Prosise off the field →

State of the team, Week 10: At New England

Seahawks’ season takes the usual super turn with marquee win

November 14, 2016 cc Leave a comment

It was hard to know what to expect in New England. Vegas called the Hawks a touchdown underdog, and most analysts went with that in picking the Patriots in the Super Bowl XLIX rematch.

But the Seahawks bounced back off a short week against the bye-rested Pats and put together their best — though far from perfect — game of the season in a 31-24 upset that Doug Baldwin said evoked a “phenomenal emotional feeling in our locker room.”

That is the feeling that this team has made its typical Second Half Turn and is headed for something special again.

This was not a must-win for Seattle, from a standings standpoint. But it certainly was a big game for Seattle’s psyche — to get even for the XLIX debacle and to measure themselves against the AFC’s best team.

Continue reading Seahawks’ season takes the usual super turn with marquee win →

Franchise history, State of the team, Week 10: At New England

Can Seahawks overcome O-line once again?

November 13, 2016 cc Leave a comment

At the midway point of the season, as the Seahawks prepare for a mammoth matchup in New England on “Sunday Night Football,” we know a number of things about Pete Carroll’s 2016 club:

Russell Wilson is an iron man. Jimmy Graham is a miracle man. The defense can’t be dominant without Michael Bennett. NFL refs love creating controversy during Seattle games. And …

The offensive line is every bit the problem we all thought it would be — and seems to be getting worse. Is there any hope it will improve? And if it doesn’t, will it prevent the Hawks from winning the Super Bowl?

Continue reading Can Seahawks overcome O-line once again? →

CHAWK LINES, Week 10: At New England

November 13, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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The Seahawks are big underdogs in New England, where they will see how they stack up against their Super Bowl XLIX opponent.

Here’s a preview of Seahawks-Patriots.

Seahawks.com offers an in-depth look at why the Seahawks and Patriots are two of the NFL’s elite teams every year.

The Seahawks will see Malcolm Butler again, among other matchups.

Some more keys to the game.

C.J. Prosise could start for a hobbled Christine Michael.

Kam Chancellor will return after missing four games.

Michael Bennett will not play, which is good news to Tom Brady, who considers Bennett to be the best defender in the NFL.

Jeremy Lane is ready for a healthy rematch vs. the Patriots.

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Contracts, State of the team

Bennett earning that raise while injured

November 9, 2016 cc Leave a comment

bennett-surgery Michael Bennett has made a bunch of money the past couple of weeks — without playing a down.

If there were any doubt Bennett deserved a raise on his bargain-basement deal, the past three games have wiped it out.

Long upset over his undervalued contract, Bennett nonetheless had showed up and played great for the last two seasons-plus. But now a knee injury has forced him into an involuntary holdout that has shown everyone just how underpaid he is.

Continue reading Bennett earning that raise while injured →

CHAWK LINES, Week 9: Buffalo

November 9, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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