The legend of Mike Macdonald’s road warrior Seattle Seahawks continues to grow. Coming off a heartbreaking loss at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Seahawks went into Jacksonville and responded
again after a home loss with a big bounce back victory over one of the early darlings of the NFL season.
With the win, the Seahawks move to 4-2, with a 3-0 record on the road, and are now 10-1 under Macdonald when on the road. The home/road splits are frustrating, but this level of road dominance is astonishing, and really should allow Seahawks fans to dream big and have hope, if Seattle goes on the road in the playoffs.
It was a big win and a big week for the NFC West and the NFC as a whole, let’s break it down.
1st Down – New mayors of “Sacksonville”
Before Sunday’s game, Trevor Lawrence had upped his level of play under Liam Coen, while only being sacked six times. Against the Seahawks, Lawrence was sacked seven times, and if not for his impressive playmaking, it could’ve been a lot worse.
On Sunday, the defensive line won the game, putting up a historic effort to swallow up the Jags. Down Derick Hall still, but gaining back DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle got the seven sacks and a franchise record 17 QB hits. They remarkably pressured Lawrence on half of his drop backs. It was a truly impressive performance that carried a defense that was down four starters on that side of the ball.
Hats off to Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde for responding to the ass kicking that the Bucs delivered to their defense a week ago. Their mangled up secondary gave up some plays, but it held up enough while the front seven took over.
2nd Down – The chips continue looking blue
I believe that NFL success is about talent accumulation and development of your youth. The draft, the trade market, and choosing the correct players to invest in when it comes to free agency, are usually what decides who are the Philadelphia Eagles of the world and who are the Miami Dolphins.
The Seattle Seahawks continue a strong and positive trend since the Russell Wilson trade, of accumulating talent. GM’s will tell you that they are trying to get their hands on as many red chips as possible. Red means plus starters that may see the occasional pro bowl. If you accumulate enough of those guys, you may luck yourself into a few blue chip players, who are the true All-Pro talents that make the difference between making the playoffs and truly competing for a championship.
The Seahawks have a strong roster full of red chips, but through six games, I think they are starting to see some chips turn blue.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has elevated his game to a level none of us thought was even remotely possible. He’s on pace to have a historic season, and has fully arrived in the camp of top seven wide receivers in the league. Sam Darnold has statistically been the best quarterback in the league so far on the season. He has blown away pretty much everyone’s expectations for this season, and if he keeps it up, you can make a strong case that Seattle once again has a blue chip quarterback.
It is very early still, but what Byron Murphy is doing, especially at the defensive tackle position, could make him the rare and invaluable defensive tackle blue chip. On Sunday, Murphy was an unstoppable force, forcing seven pressures and getting two sacks. On the season, Murphy has 4.5 sacks while leading one of the best rush defenses in the league.
Pairing him with an already blue chip level star in Leonard Williams, and this team now feels like it may be close to having enough stars to make a Super Bowl run.
3rd Down – State of the NFC West
It was a big week for the division. The Arizona Cardinals had some fight, but it’s hard to see them getting back into the race with injuries to both Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. The Los Angeles Rams did not look impressive, but still were lucky to play Baltimore without Lamar Jackson, as they are now 4-2.
The San Francisco 49ers, who may be the best coached team in the league, fought tooth and nail on the road against Tampa Bay, but fell 30-19. More importantly, they appeared to have lost all world linebacker Fred Warner to a horrific dislocated ankle. The 49ers are not going to fall apart, but it is hard to envision them being able to keep up with the Rams and Seahawks, considering all that they have lost in their receiving room and on their defensive front.
Work still needs to be done, but don’t be surprised if the Seahawks game at the Rams on November 16th feels like part one of the NFC West championship.
4th Down – Next two games are critical for the deadline
If the Seahawks truly want to be part of the NFC West title race, and want to announce themselves as a Super Bowl threat in a wild and mid NFL season, then the next two games before the trade deadline will be crucial to making a legitimate run.
Seattle will get an extra day of rest before hosting the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. The Texans are a great defense and have won a playoff game in each of the past two years. This is a great test for the offense, and feels like the moment where the Seahawks need to break through this ugly home game stretch. A win here and I think you’ll see the monkey off their backs.
After that, they will get a bye week before heading to DC to take on the Commanders on Sunday Night Football. A potentially elite offense, a team that was a game away from the Super Bowl last year and feels like Super Bowl or bust this year. That is a true road test and a litmus test for how close the Seahawks truly are to making a run.
Two playoff teams, two primetime games, two chances to see if it is worth being aggressive at the trade deadline. Even if the Seahawks lose one of those games, if they show they are the real deal, then I think the two days that follow before the deadline, could be massive for John Schneider and the Seahawks.
I think it’s very possible Schneider swings for the fences.
