Tag Archives: Russell Wilson

Rematch season: Playoff destiny is no longer in Seahawks’ hands

December 28, 2015 cc 1 Comment

NFC playoffs Thanks to the offense’s pitiful performance vs. the Rams, the Seahawks’ playoff destiny is no longer in their hands. But the season of rematches is about to begin.

If the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, the Seahawks will head to Minnesota for the NFC wild-card round — regardless of what the Hawks do against Arizona earlier that day.

If Green Bay wins, Seattle’s result against Arizona will matter: A win would mean the Hawks go to Washington; a loss would mean they go to Green Bay.

Other than the possible Washington matchup, every game the Seahawks might play the rest of the way — starting this week in Arizona — will be a rematch from earlier in the season. And the Seahawks owe payback to all but Minnesota — they lost to Green Bay, Arizona and Carolina.

Continue reading Rematch season: Playoff destiny is no longer in Seahawks’ hands →

Injury report, State of the team

Michael & Brown might have to carry running game to Super Bowl

December 24, 2015 cc Leave a comment

“In this system, we’ve never not had a good back. Whoever it is can go for a thousand. I’m not worried about that so much. … Hopefully (Marshawn Lynch is) with us. If he’s not, then we move on. That’s fine.” — Tom Cable in June 2014.

Tom Cable was right: The Seahawks don’t need Marshawn Lynch. And it turns out they don’t really need Thomas Rawls either — as spectacular as he had been in relief of Lynch.

The Seahawks are a system running team — and, once the five linemen are in sync in their zone scheme, it is tough to stop the system. The Hawks proved that again Sunday, when they rolled up 182 rushing yards with two new backs — born-again Seahawk Christine Michael and Bryce Brown.

And, based on Pete Carroll’s comments Wednesday, Michael and Brown will be the ones to carry the Seahawks’ ground game into the playoffs, if not through to the Super Bowl.

Continue reading Michael & Brown might have to carry running game to Super Bowl →

State of the team, Week 15: Cleveland

Secret to Wilson’s Zone? Gotta be the shoes

December 22, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Zone.

It’s that elusive feeling that athletes or any competitive people strive for — that je ne sais quoi that makes them invincible for a stretch, allows them to be almost superhuman, enables them to make it look so easy.

Russell Wilson is in the Zone.

Continue reading Secret to Wilson’s Zone? Gotta be the shoes →

CHAWK LINES, Week 15: Cleveland

December 21, 2015 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Browns

Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin added two more TD connections, continuing their historic streak.

Pete Carroll said the Seahawks’ 182 rushing yards vs. Cleveland with new running backs were a “really good statement.”

Marshawn Lynch is in a “race against time” to see if he can play again this season, Carroll told 710 ESPN.

Appropriately, Ahtyba Rubin made the playoffs for the first time by beating his former team.

As fully expected, the Cardinals won the NFC West and the Seahawks will be a wild card.

Michael Bennett came out during pregame introductions wearing a Darth Vader mask.

CHAWK LINES, Week 15: Cleveland

December 17, 2015 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Browns

Bob Condotta analyzes the re-signing of Christine Michael.

Although Michael is back, Bryce Brown figures to get most of the carries Sunday vs. Cleveland.

Tyler Lockett, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Steven Hauschka are among the top two at their positions in Pro Bowl voting.

It looks like Chancellor will not play Sunday.

Here’s a look at the stats of the Browns (3-10) and Seahawks (8-5).

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State of the team, Week 14: At Baltimore

Wilson’s streaking & Rawls is out, but Hawks are still a running team

December 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Rawls and Wilson vs. Ravens It’s becoming harder and harder for the Seahawks to remain a running team.

With Thomas Rawls suffering a season-ending broken ankle in Baltimore and Marshawn Lynch unlikely to return until the playoffs — if then — this offense is all Russell Wilson’s now. But the Seahawks, who came into the game as the NFL’s leading rushing team, clearly are determined to keep running it.

Wilson continued to chew up depleted NFL defenses, throwing five more touchdown passes in a 35-6 win in Baltimore, giving him 16 TD passes and no interceptions in the last four games against San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Baltimore. He is the third player to do that in a season, joining Tom Brady (2007) and Peyton Manning (2013).

Wilson also has the 28th four-game streak with three TD passes since 1960; there have been seven streaks of at least five games with three TDs (per Pro Football Reference).

On top of that, Wilson is the first player to have at least three passing TDs and no interceptions while completing 70 percent in four straight games, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Seahawks might seem to have a bit of an identity crisis, but don’t be fooled by Wilson’s gaudy numbers: This is still a running team, and they will have to figure out how to keep it such.

Continue reading Wilson’s streaking & Rawls is out, but Hawks are still a running team →

CHAWK LINES, Week 14: At Baltimore

December 13, 2015 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Ravens

Jimmy Clausen will start for the Ravens — putting him in rare company in NFL history.

Jordan Hill and Demarcus Dobbs will sit out again today.

Former Seahawks WR Chris Matthews has been promoted to Baltimore’s active roster from practice squad for today’s game.

Despite a seemingly lopsided matchup vs. the Ravens, the Seahawks have plenty of motivation.

Russell Wilson’s dominance in the pocket has been crucial to the Seahawks’ offensive resurgence.

Pete Carroll, Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable explain the unorthodox way they run the offense.

Cable’s faith in the revamped offensive line has been rewarded during this offensive surge.

The Seahawks are still a run-first offense and will lean on Thomas Rawls.

Defensive back DeShawn Shead is the latest to claw his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup.

Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham are back in the Seahawks’ facility for recoveries.

CHAWK LINES, Week 14: At Baltimore

December 10, 2015 cc Leave a comment

CHAWK LINES -- Seahawks at Ravens

Darrell Bevell said he is not pursuing the BYU job even though the school is interested in him. He said he is intent on helping the Seahawks reach a third straight Super Bowl.

Anthony McCoy is back with the Seahawks, replacing short-timer Chase Coffman.

Marshawn Lynch was back at VMAC on Wednesday, but Pete Carroll said Monday that Lynch is a “few weeks” away from being able to play. Sure sounds like Lynch could end up on IR.

Doug Baldwin is having his best statistical season and could end up as Seattle’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2007.

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State of the team, Week 13: At Minnesota

Only question now: Can Hawks beat Cardinals & Panthers?

December 6, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Wilson dives for TD vs Vikings Three weeks ago, after Seattle lost a shootout against Arizona, the big question was not whether the Seahawks would win the NFC West but whether they would even rally to make the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, the Seahawks put together their best offensive game of the season, blowing out San Francisco 29-13, and the question was whether they could do it again against better opponents, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Well, they answered both questions emphatically, putting up 77 points in two wins while seizing control of their playoff destiny, and there are no more questions about the offense or the playoffs.

The only question now is: Can the Seahawks do this against Arizona and Carolina — the teams they will need to beat to get to the Super Bowl?

“I think this has been a few weeks that we’ve been feeling like we’re feeling,” Pete Carroll said. “Our confidence, sticking with our style, just the basic principles of what we expect and standards that we’re setting, everybody is really in line right now. This is that feeling that you’re looking for. We have a chance.”

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CHAWK LINES, Week 13: At Minnesota

December 3, 2015 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Vikings