Tag Archives: Russell Wilson

Playoffs: At Atlanta, Playoffs: Detroit, State of the team

Seahawks need to keep running it in Atlanta

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logo-playoffsEveryone’s going gaga over the resurgent rushing performance of Thomas Rawls and the offensive line in Seattle’s 26-6 win over Detroit. But the proof will be in Atlanta.

As expected, the Seahawks are headed there for a rematch with Dan Quinn’s Falcons and a chance to redeem their 2012 playoff loss. To do it, they will have to run the ball as well as they did against the Lions — when the linemen seemingly channeled former All-Pro Steve Hutchinson after he raised the 12 flag.

Yeah, the Hawks beat Atlanta 26-24 in Week 6 without a running game (Christine Michael led an attack that garnered just 76 yards). But they wouldn’t have won without Earl Thomas, who had a stellar game despite the defense’s breakdowns in the third quarter.

Thomas won’t be around to help combat Matt Ryan’s prolific offense this time, which is where the running game comes in: Seattle needs to play keepaway.

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CHAWK LINES, Playoffs: Detroit
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CHAWK LINES -- Lions at Seahawks

Five things the Seahawks need to change vs. Detroit and beyond, per Dave Boling.

A detailed look at the matchup, which seems to favor the Seahawks unless Detroit wins big on special teams.

A look at the key figures for the Lions.

Russell Wilson says he is feeling fast and might get rid of the knee brace.

Tony McDaniel won’t play due to a concussion suffered vs. the 49ers.

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Playoffs: Detroit, State of the team

Hawks aren’t toxic or tenacious enough

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logo-playoffsWhen the Detroit Lions come to Seattle on Saturday for the first playoff game between the franchises, they will have the fortune of going against Pete Carroll’s worst team during the Russell Wilson era.

While Carroll’s club is one of three to make the playoffs in each of the past five years, along with Green Bay and New England, this is clearly the weakest Seattle playoff team since the 2010 crew that stunned New Orleans at home in the wild-card round and then lost in Chicago.

The Hawks can’t run the ball, can’t score in the red zone, can’t kick the ball consistently and really can’t sustain the level of play needed to go far in the playoffs. And Russell Wilson is just not as dialed in as he needs to be to go the distance.

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Franchise history, NFL history, State of the team, Week 16: Arizona

Hawks show no signs of being Super this year

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logo-arizonaIn Week 16 of the 2013 season, the Seahawks lost at home to Arizona — putting the pressure on to clinch the No. 1 seed in Week 17. They did that and then went on to win the Super Bowl.

This season was set up to be a carbon copy of 2013, but just about the only thing that has followed 2013 form has been the Week 16 home loss to Arizona.

Unlike 2013, this Seattle team has no shot at the No. 1 seed. And it needs help to claim a bye. In fact, this crew will be lucky to win the one home playoff game it is guaranteed.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 16: Arizona
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CHAWK LINES -- Cardinals at Seahawks

Jon Ryan is off the injury report, meaning he figures to play vs. Arizona.

Michael Bennett and Seattle’s pass rush could have a good day vs. Arizona.

The Seahawks are aiming for the fourth perfect home season in their history.

What has happened to the Cardinals this season?

Bennett was fined for his “three pumps” dance.

Pete Carroll was surprised Richard Sherman showed no contrition publicly about his outburst last week.

What’s up with Sherman? Plus other Week 16 questions.

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State of the team, Week 15: Los Angeles

Hawks have to keep running the ball

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logo-green-bayPete Carroll knows his team has to keep trying to run the ball if it is going to keep winning. That was true vs. the Rams and certainly will apply in the playoffs.

The question: Will the offensive line get it back together or will Seattle have to win the way it did against Los Angeles?

The Seahawks had rolled up 655 rushing yards, at a 6.1 average, over four games heading into last Thursday, leading to some confidence that they might be able to buck their trend of poor performances against the Rams.

But they instead conjured one of their worst rushing games of the season, averaging a season-low 2.4 yards per carry. It was their sixth game under 3.0 this season — the most in Carroll’s seven seasons. It also was the worst rushing performance by that metric since Russell Wilson became QB.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 15: Los Angeles
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CHAWK LINES -- Rams at Seahawks

The Seahawks are NFC West champs, but are they good enough to be any more than that?

It was a night of redemption for Russell Wilson.

Michael Bennett felt fine after wrenching his neck on a hellish hit.

Jon Ryan was taken to the hospital after suffering a concussion during a crazy run off a fake punt.

Bennett and the defensive line had a feeding frenzy against rookie QB Jared Goff.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 15: Los Angeles
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CHAWK LINES -- Rams at Seahawks

The Seahawks are confident they will not repeat the disaster in Green Bay. Said Doug Baldwin: “It’s easier for us to get past, because we know that’s not normal.”

John Fassel and the Rams are trying to regroup after Jeff Fisher was fired.

Pete Carroll repeats the obvious: No, he is not interested in coaching the Rams.

Richard Sherman calls Thursday games a “poopfest” — and his graphic point is valid.

The Hawks are mostly healthy (not counting Earl Thomas, of course).

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Week 14: At Green Bay

This one was all on Wilson

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logo-green-bayRussell Wilson picked a bad time to play like a rookie — or a second-year QB going against Arizona.

Wilson played one of the worst games of his career, right down there with his clunker vs. the Cardinals in December 2013, and the Hawks fell out of the No. 2 seed in the NFC with their 38-10 loss in Green Bay. It was the worst loss in the Wilson era — Seattle hadn’t been blown out like that since a 41-7 defeat to the New York Giants in 2010.

In many ways, his five-interception game was a carbon copy of the 2014 NFC title game, in which Wilson threw four picks and his receivers failed to catch the ball and created turnovers. The difference this time: Seattle’s defense did not bail out Wilson and his receivers and Wilson did not shake it off and rally his team to a fantastic comeback.

The only good thing about this one: The Super Bowl was not on the line this time. But the Hawks lost their grip on the No. 2 seed, taken over by Detroit for now.

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Franchise history, Week 14: At Green Bay

Hawks, Pack meet again

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logo-green-bayThe Seahawks are headed back to Green Bay this weekend to renew one of the best non-division rivalries in the NFL — the fifth time in five years they will have faced each other.

While the Hawks (8-3-1) fight to hold on to the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the Pack (6-6) is trying to get back in the hunt. It’s just the latest dramatic meeting between the two franchises, which have been deeply intertwined since 1999.

Newer Seahawks fans might think the Packers-Seahawks series consists of three games: the Hawks’ infamous Fail Mary victory on a Monday night in 2012, Seattle’s 20-point win in the opening game of 2014 and Seattle’s miracle comeback in a 28-22 overtime win in the NFC title game.

But this series was full of great matchups back when Mike Holmgren and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck were leading the Hawks against their old team — led by Brett Favre — and this will be the 13th meeting since 1999.

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