Closing Thoughts: Thrilling Win Over Rams a Sign of Growth for Seahawks
Are your ears still ringing?
Is your heart still pumping?
Last night’s made-for-primetime-television 30-29 win over the Los Angeles Rams was as exciting as it was excruciating. If you had to try and define it by movie genre it was equal parts drama and thriller, while at times it looked like a gruesome horror flick with the Seahawks as the unwitting victim trying to start the proverbial car with the faulty ignition.
There were lead changes, big plays, and a fair bit of controversy sprinkled in for flavor.
In the end, this turned out to be one of the most memorable games played by the Seahawks, and without question by this current group of players, in a number of years. And in moving to 4-1 on the season, coach Pete Carroll’s squad has positioned themselves nicely to challenge for the NFC West title and potential home field advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves let’s look at the big picture produced by last night’s scintillating performance, and tie up the latest edition of Rams vs. Seahawks in this week’s edition of Closing Thoughts:
CONTROVERSIAL CARROLL DECISIONS
Once again the Seahawks coach drew the ire of fans, particularly the analytics community, when he chose to have Jason Myers attempt a 48-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining in the first half. A field goal would have given Seattle an 11-point lead, taken a few more seconds off the clock, and forced Los Angeles to have to drive the length of the field to try and score before the half. But Myers missed and Goff led Los Angeles down the field for a touchdown that cut the Hawks lead to one right before the half.
Cries of “they should have gone for it on fourth down!” rang out from the Twittersphere, followed up by a cascade of I-told-you-so’s from the analytics nerds.
Stop it.
Electing to kick in that situation was a sound decision. Myers was signed for a reason. He’s good. Pro Bowl good. He simply missed a kick, by a hair mind you, after an imperfect snap. If he makes that kick it’s a three score game. And don’t just dismiss the roughing-the-passer call on Ziggy Ansah on 3rd and 10 during that drive just because it’s convenient for your argument. Without that, there is no Todd Gurley touchdown and it’s a completely different story.
The stat guys will tell you that the success rate going for it on 4th and 1 in that situation is north of 70 percent. I’d contend that it’s not that simple. What’s the cost of failing to get the first down there? You can’t measure that.
I’m all for being aggressive, but sometimes prudency is the right choice. Coaches have to incorporate momentum and feel and gut instincts into their decisions. Throughout the second quarter, the Seahawks defense was solid and their offense efficient and productive. There was no reason to assume the Rams would put together two quick-strike touchdown drives sandwiched around halftime, based on the flow of the game at that juncture.
Meanwhile, Carroll’s decision to challenge a long completion to Brandin Cooks in the fourth quarter for what he thought may be offensive pass interference looked at the time to be a monumental blunder. It was quickly equalized, however, by a similarly misguided decision from Sean McVay to challenge an incomplete pass to Robert Woods in the end zone, matching the Seahawks lost timeout.
JONES TO THE RESCUE
When right guard D.J. Fluker was forced to exit the game with a hamstring injury on the team’s third series, it appeared as if it just wasn’t going to be the Seahawks day. Key reserve Ethan Pocic was inactive with an injury of his own and the only active reserve offensive linemen available were two tackles (George Fant and Jamarco Jones) and undersized center Joey Hunt.
While Hunt has taken some snaps at guard in his career, Jones drew the assignment despite the fact he says he’s never played guard… at any level. But surprisingly, he had an immediate impact. After two drives of absolutely terrorizing just about everyone along Seattle’s line, All Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald wasn’t getting off quite so clean anymore. And on the brilliant touchdown throw from Russell Wilson to Tyler Lockett to give the Seahawks a 7-6 lead, who was it that had Donald completely bottled up? You guessed it - Jones.
His steady play throughout the rest of the game can’t be overstated, and it bodes well for his future. Once seen as a potential successor to embattled right tackle Germaine Ifedi, sliding Jones inside may help mask his athletic shortcomings and play more to the strength of his technique. He’s clearly an upgrade over Fluker as a pass blocker. The veteran will surely reclaim his starting spot once he’s ready to go again, but at least now, the Seahawks have another option should Fluker miss any more time.
AND SPEAKING OF THAT TOUCHDOWN TO LOCKETT...
Without risking a nasty case of carpal tunnel syndrome, I simply can’t type enough words to adequately describe how great a play that was. You simply won’t ever find many other plays quite like it, and many have already described it as one of the best throw-catch combinations in league history. How did Russell get that ball to such a precise spot while throwing on the run (to his left!) with a defender in his face? How did Lockett know THAT was exactly where Wilson was going with the ball? And then there was the catch - and the toe drag! Who else in the NFL could make that throw? Mahomes? Rodgers? Maybe?!
It was absolutely a play for the ages, and one that turned the game around at a time when it looked like the Seahawks were facing a long, difficult, uphill battle.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE DEFENSE DID SOME THINGS
Watching the game live, it was easy to get caught up in the emotion of the Rams comeback and the Seahawks missed opportunities. And by opportunities, I mean tackles. The whiffs and poor attempts as several Seahawk defenders tried to limit the Rams bread-and-butter crossing routes was hard to watch. Tight end Gerald Everett was the primary benefactor, but Woods also had a number of seemingly benign catches turn into big plays because of an inability of the guys in action green to wrap up.
But in watching the game again this morning, I picked up a different vibe. I saw a young defense scrapping and fighting against an experienced, supremely talented and dynamic offense. When they needed to step up and make a play they did. There were key third down pass deflections by Jamar Taylor and K.J. Wright and a couple big run stops by Al Woods. The combined effort fumble recovery by Jadeveon Clowney and Bobby Wagner after a Todd Gurley run stopped a promising Rams drive. Safety Tedric Thompson turned in the play of the night, and of his career, with his tumbling reach-back and fingertip interception of Goff with less than three minutes left in the game. It was initially called an incomplete pass but reversed on review, setting off a massive roar from the crowd and possibly righting the ship for Thompson, who’s been under fire for his uneven performance since taking over for the legendary Earl Thomas a year ago.
There certainly are things this defense still needs to improve upon, but there’s also a lot to like. If you squint just a little bit, you can start to see the makings of a very good defensive squad.
PUTTING THE CLAY MATTHEWS PLAY IN PERSPECTIVE
The crown of Matthews's helmet impacted Wilson’s face mask, but did he lead with his helmet or his shoulder? Most seem to be in agreement that the roughing the passer call on Matthews with just under five minutes left in the game was a bad one. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman hated the call. Former Director of NFL Officiating Mike Pereria thought it was awful too, and I tend to agree.
But here’s the thing - it didn’t really matter.
It happened on first down, not third and fourth. It wasn’t the difference between stopping a drive or extending it. The Seahawks offense was in a groove, had consistently moved the ball, and hadn’t punted since their first drive of the half. Who’s to say Seattle wouldn’t have scored on that drive regardless of whether that call happened or not?
For a Rams team that found themselves in the Super Bowl last year as the beneficiary of one of the league’s all-time officiating blunders - not to mention the huge break they got when there was no call for an obvious false start on right tackle Rob Havenstein on a 30 yard passing gain to start their touchdown drive at the outset of the second half - trying to pin the result of this game on that one play is a classic case of sour grapes.
WILSON FOR MVP
My biggest takeaway from this game is that Russell Wilson should be the leader in any conversation for league MVP at this point of the season. His performance on that stage, against that team, with everything that was at stake Thursday night should send a message to every writer, MVP voter, and fan across the country. Through five games, Wilson leads the NFL in passer rating while completing 73.1 percent of his passes for 1,409 yards, 12 touchdowns, and he has yet to be intercepted. His team - a team that wasn’t picked to go to the playoffs by many national pundits - is 4-1 and in control of one of the best divisions in the NFL.
In past years there was a debate as to whether Wilson belonged in the conversation when talking about who the top five quarterbacks in the league were.
That conversation has shifted and he may now be the league’s best, period.
