Well, it sure didn’t look pretty in the first half. With the Seattle Seahawks doing their best Mike Holmgren 10am kickoff impression, the Seahawks were lucky to be tied 6-6 at halftime. According to multiple reports, Mike Macdonald supposedly told his team that newly acquired wide receiver Rasheed Shaheed was gonna make some magic. About 90 minutes later, the Seahawks once again looked like the best team in the NFL, blitzing the Falcons for 31 second half points as they cruised to a 37-9 victory.
It wasn’t just that Seattle took care of business, but it the way in which all three phases dominated that second half, just as the Seahawks are preparing for an epic final four game stretch, with NFC West and NFC #1 seed hopes alive and well. Let’s break it down.
First Down – “Special” special teams
Every year, you see a great team in the playoffs come up short, just because their team struggles or doesn’t understand the value of special teams. Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers and Matt Lafleur’s Packers are two separate teams that probably should each have a Lombardi trophy, but critical special team errors prevented them from achieving the ultimate goal. After a disastrous 2024 season, coach Jay Harbaugh has helped build one of the best special team units in the NFL.
On Sunday, rookie Nick Emmanwori had a massive field goal block to keep the game tied in the first half (more on him later). Rasheed Shaheed made Mike Macdonald a prophet with his 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, a play that really sparked the whole team for the second half. And don’t forget about Jason Myers, who has been absolute nails since his game-ending miss at Los Angeles, and he’ll likely end up being a pro bowl contending kicker.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Seattle figure things out and become an elite special teams franchise. Harbaugh and Macdonald are obvious disciples of Jim and John Harbaugh, both well known for their respect for that part of the game, and constantly having strong units in that area. This Seahawks team is different though, as they seem to have just a massive advantage over almost every other opponent, and that could be pivotal for a Super Bowl run.
Second Down – The defense is finding its stars
This is the best Seahawks defense in a decade, since Seattle was last truly contending for championships with a historic defense. While they may not have a superstar or super team like the LOB defense, they are extremely good and have the depth to come at you in waves, overwhelming you and physically punishing you over 60 minutes. That doesn’t mean they don’t have some potential superstars in development. On Sunday, we saw what this defense can look like with a healthy and locked in Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori.
Both defensive backs used their speed, length, and physicality to wreak havoc on the Falcons. Witherspoon, whom I have challenged in my articles this season, had one of the better games of his career. Devon finished with 7 total tackles, two passes deflected, one QB hit and an interception. Emmanwori was all over the place, with the blocked field goal, six tackles which included a sack, and an interception as well.
Spoon continues to be a physical weapon in the secondary who can succeed inside and out. With Emmanwori, we may be seeing the beginning of something special. With his size and speed, Emmanwori is a dominating presence that is a walking big play waiting to happen. It may be a little too late for him to take home the defensive rookie of the year award, but this is a future superstar who may mess around and win defensive player of the year one day.
Third Down – That’s why you go get Rashid Shaheed
At the trade deadline, it felt that, while the trade package felt aggressive, Shaheed was a perfect fit for this offense and would help them get to the next level. While Seattle has been very successful (4-1 record) since the trade, we had really only seen Rashid in a gadget role. While I began to worry if this was going to be an appetizer version of Percy Harvin in Seattle, Sunday was a better indicator of what Seattle is getting with Shaheed.
An underrated play before halftime, the Seahawks were still struggling before a 15+ yard completion from Darnold to Shaheed got the Seahawks in field goal range to tie the game before the half. Then Coach Macdonald called his shot, and Rasheed completely flipped the game and the energy we saw from Seattle in a 31 point second half.
I know the Percy Harvin comparison is a bittersweet memory for most Seahawks fans, but it was hard not to feel the similarity as Shaheed looked like the fastest player in the NFL on that 100 yard kick return for a touchdown, which is currently the longest play of the season. Beyond the special teams plays, Shaheed hauled in four receptions for 67 yards, including a 33 yard play that led to the Cooper Kupp touchdown.
He doesn’t need to be the focal point of the offense, but becoming the #2 guy while also being a special teams ace is huge for a playoff run.
Fourth Down – It’s go time
The home stretch is here. The Seahawks are having a special season, sitting at 10-3, but they have a chance to do something “super” as they head into their final homestand and final four game stretch.
The Seahawks might be a part of the story of the year, but as an adversary, as they could very realistically be taking on the old legend Philip Rivers as the Indianapolis Colts are looking for a Disney movie level miracle. Despite how silly and fun that might be, if the Seahawks don’t play with their food, they should take care of business.
After Indianapolis, we have part 1 of the game of the year, as the Seahawks will host the Rams in what is likely the most important Thursday Night Football game of the Amazon era. All expectations are that the winner of the game will be in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the NFC. Those Rivalries jerseys will either become legendary, or infamous immediately.
It will be nice to have the ten days rest after what should be such an emotional game against the Rams, cause the Seaahwks will be facing the same trap game moment in Charlotte that tripped the Rams up. It is very likely that a loss would mean a wildcard weekend rematch two weeks later against the Panthers, who are now at the doorstep of their first division title since their Super Bowl run a decade ago.
If Seattle can take care of business and win their next three games, not only will they have overcome their Rams problem, but they could clinch the top seed and division title, at the 49ers. This would be the game of the year Part II. The Seahawks and 49ers could very likely be fighting for a division title and the right to the top seed. This game would be a lock for the final game of week 18, and would provide the Seahawks with a potentially franchise altering moment.
Seattle can exorcise their demons, slaying both the Rams and 49ers in three weeks to win a division title and all that comes with the top seed. They would also be accomplishing this on the 49ers home turf, which also happens to be the home of this year’s Super Bowl. It is a tall task, but if Seattle can pull this off, you’re talking about one of the greatest moments in Seahawks history.
A decade of being the little brother to both LA and San Fransisco would be over. A franchise record 14 regular season wins would be accomplished. A Super Bowl run that felt like a year early just a few weeks ago, immediately became the expectation. An AFC that has the Broncos and Patriots as the perceived top dogs, leaves a strong feeling that the Seahawks could easily be favored in any Super Bowl matchup that doesn’t feature Josh Allen, and even then I think he would be the only reason that Seattle would be the underdog.
This is all very real and very much on the table. To go 4-0 (in reality, 7-0) to finish the regular season is difficult, but I feel like the Seahawks are better than anyone else they will face for the rest of the season. Sometimes great teams or dynasties are born because a team wins a title a year or two before anyone else thought it would happen. This potentially feels like something we may be seeing.
Dream big Seahawks fans, it’s go time.
