LET’S GOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a frickin’ ballgame. I feel like I lost another few years off my life expectancy by being a Seattle Seahawks fan once again, but days like this make it worth it! Seattle’s
offense went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Rams offense, which was the best in the NFL, and came out on top in a 31-27 nailbiter.
We’ll single out specific players below, but this team, man. What a special, special group. The defense, usually the strength of the team, got shredded once again by Matthew Stafford. It was Sam Darnold and the offense who stepped up in a big way to lead the Seahawks to Super Bowl 60. We have two weeks until that matchup, so let’s savor this one!
Seahawks Droppings
- Sam Darnold was the f—kin’ man tonight. In the biggest game of his career with all of the naysayers watching, Darnold went 25/36 for 346 yards and 3 TDs. His command of the offense was beautiful, and he routinely got the offense into the correct plays. Sam got it started early with a long pass down the sideline to Rashid Shaheed, finally linking up on the explosive down-field play we’ve been waiting for. He also had a long pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, proving that his oblique is just fine. Darnold never really put the ball in harm’s way while dissecting the Rams defense. This was the best game he’s played in a long time, maybe his best of the season.
- Seattle’s defense was uncharacteristically poor in this game, giving up way too many explosive passes and some large chunks in the run game. But you know what? They stepped the eff up when it mattered, stopping the Rams two straight times within their own 5-yard line to turn the ball over on downs. After giving up 2 TDs in the third quarter, the defense pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter. You can bet the defense is going to be pissed off by this performance and be looking for blood in two weeks.
- Kenneth Walker III’s statistics might not blow you away, but he’s a dangerous weapon. Walker had 23 total touches for 111 yards and 1 TD, routinely making the first guy miss and getting extra yardage. Zach Charbonnet’s injury leaves a hole, but Walker can more than fill it. Let him be a horse for the offense.
- Playoff Cooper Kupp is awesome times two. I wrote about him last week as well after his performance against the San Francisco 49ers, and Kupp showed up again today. Again, the statistics of 4 catches for 36 yards and a TD don’t show everything he meant to the team tonight. Kupp had a huge first down at a crucial time and drew a holding penalty on the final offensive drive that helped bleed more clock. Kupp’s leadership and experience is vital to this Super Bowl run. It doesn’t hurt that he just took out his former team!
- Michael Dickson can punt the shit out of the ball. How many times did he pin the Rams deep. Three? The defense gave up long drives after that, but the fact that Dickson is such a consistent weapon for field position can be overlooked. Rams returner Xavier Smith muffed two punts, one of which was recovered by reserve receiver Dareke Young. Again, Dickson is a weapon.
- Jake Bobo you wonderful man! Two weeks in a row, Jake Bobo has a clutch catch, this time for a touchdown. He’s been an afterthought this season, yet has stayed engaged and is coming up big for the Seahawks when they need him most.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked like early season JSN with 10 catches for 153 yards and 1 TD. No one can cover him whether it’s man or zone. He’s got great hands, is good after the catch, and knows how to mix speed to get open. Sam and JSN have a great connection that seems to just get better with time. That one-handed catch…goodness gracious!!
- Don’t forget about Nick Emmanwori. He might’ve been the best player again on defense today, racking up 5 tackles and 3 passes defensed. Emmanwori keeps getting better, and will be a key part to holding down the Patriots.
Did the Seahawks play a perfect game? Absolutely not. The defense got shredded, missed a lot of tackles, dropped an interception, and there was one particular boneheaded penalty. Yet, Seattle still won the game and is headed to Super Bowl 60! Learning lessons in a win is so much better than the alternative. Special teams and the offense picked up the defense in this one, but you can bet the defense will be looking to make up for this in two weeks. I’ve said this a few times already this year, but seasons like this don’t come around very often at all. We have two weeks to enjoy this and get ready for Super Bowl 60. One more to go!
