The Hawks Nest: Getting Away With Murder (and a win)
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by SSreporters
Holy balls, how in the bloody heck did the Seahawks win that one? Down 19-7, offense out of sync, they make yet another 2nd half rally, and stun the St. Louis Rams 24-19 in thrilling fashion. I can't think properly, so let's take it verrrry slowly. I only need one play to tell you about. Fourth and 1 yard, 30 seconds left, 1 yard wins the game, likely ends Seattle's playoff chances. Gus Frerotte messes up the snap, loses 3 yards, game over. Now, let's review the keys to the game.
Seahawks Offense
1. Hey, there's a running game? Get this, Maurice Morris (who will start this weekend), has run for 174 yards on 46 carries (many carries being garbage negative yards), with two touchdowns. This Seahawks offensive line is improving, and he should be a key factor against this same Rams team that let him run for a 100 yard game last season.
I guess 16 carries for 79 yards (one play was for 46) is okay.
2. Pass attack. Matt Hasselbeck threw 7 interceptions in 4 games last season. In 10 games, he has thrown 8. His receivers have been in-sync all season with him, and against a suspect Rams passing defense, he should have a big day. BTW, someone on Sportsline said Hasselbeck could have trouble against a Rams defense that had Trent Dilfer throw 2 interceptions. Huh?? Nevermind....Dilfer is legendary right?
Hasselbeck had a disastrous first half, but rebounded for a 21-38, 249 yard, 1 TD and 1 INT performance. Not a great game, but enough to win.
3. No more turnovers. Did you know Seattle has turned the ball over at least once in every game this season? It's brutal, and it's mostly fumbles that kill it.
Yikes, 2 turnovers resulting in 7 points. Not good for Seattle.
Offensive MVP: I guess it's Deion Branch. A 5 catch, 94 yard, 1 TD performance was the only great spot for an inconsistent Seahawks offense.
Seahawks Defense
1. Marc Bulger. The guy can't run even if snails were chasing him. He got sacked 6 times by the 49ers. He was also sacked 8 times in their first meeting, this is too easy to breakdown.
Ineffective only because he left the game with a concussion. Gus Frerotte came in, did pretty well.
2. No more Babineaux. It's unanimous that Seattle DB Jordan Babineaux (AKA, Cowboy killer), is the crappiest man to man coverage guy on the team by 50 miles. The usual suspects like Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant must stay healthy, or else were done.
No Babineaux in coverage, good job by the secondary today.
3. Stephen Jackson. He's a beast against Seattle, and that defense better take him out of the game frequently. If he's not a factor, the Rams are even worse than they already are.
Stephen Jackson had a 53 yard TD run, but if you take away that play, he has 22 carries for a whopping 37 yards. Once again, Seattle lets one big run occur, and show up the rest of the way.
Defensive MVP: The whole friggin defense saved their ass. A goal line stand probably saved their season.
Seahawks Special Teams
1. Nate Burleson. The guy has returned 2 touchdowns against the Rams since he has signed with the Seahawks. That will be a big factor for this dangerous returner.
Josh Wilson is my friggin hero! Burleson fumbled, and had a poor day returning. Wilson on the other hand, scored on a 89 yard kickoff return.
2. Josh Brown, tackling machine. I really only put this in because Devin Hester got taken down (not a huge tackle) by our kicker. Whomever is on the Rams return team, better watch out because if he gets hit by Brown, Josh may turn into the friggin Incredible Hulk.
Brown has lost his field goal touch, he's missed 2 out of 3, and he didn't tackle anyone.
Time for the losers, played well, but lost everything on one yard.
Rams Offense
1. Run the football. It's practically confirmed that passing the football with Bulger is hopeless. Continue to pound that football with Stephen Jackson, Brian Leonard, and Antonio Pittman. That Seahawks defense had some holes exposed last week in the running game.
They had over 100 total rushing yards, but 53 came on one play.
2. Quick slants. I don't know the Rams offense that well, but the quicker the QB gets the ball out, the more likely he will not end up on the turf.
Hey, no slants, none of that stuff, but 4 sacks combined on Bulger and Frerotte.
3. Touchdowns, not field goals, in the red zone. The key to beating the Seahawks is scoring in the red zone. Seattle has done a very good job in general with red zone defense. Touchdowns do the trick, not FG's.
1 touchdown in 3 red zone trips friggin blows. Especially when you fumble at the 1 to lose a game.
Offensive MVP: Isaac Bruce. No one really stepped up, but he caught a TD pass on 6 catches, and that was the first touchdown pass allowed by Seattle since October 14th.
Rams Defense
1. Stop Hasselbeck. I know that's a difficult task, but as long as Matt has an off game, then they are mediocre. That's the only key they really need in all honesty.
No St. Louis, I MEANT THE ENTIRE GAME!!!! Stopping someone like him for one half is great....but they didn't win.
Defensive MVP: Will Witherspoon. His stats include 2 sacks, and 1 pass defensed. He was key in the defensive attack.
Rams special teams was not a factor, other than 1 good return from Dante Hall, and the fumble by Burleson.
By the numbers
11 is the number of weeks in a row that the Seahawks have turned it over at least once.
3 is the number of sacks by Patrick Kerney, 6 in 2 games for the big man.
4 is the number of fumbles by St. Louis.
0 is the number of fumbles Seattle recovered from St. Louis fumbles.
7 is the number of wins the Seahawks have!
Alrighty, if you watched the game, you know we got lucky. But a win is a win, and now I can watch Seattle get their balls eaten by Philly.
Any opinions on this game?
