The Seahawks struggle with play calling and execution when ahead. They have particular trouble when backed up inside their own 5-yard line. Their quarterback has a tendency to ricochet a pass off his teammates helmets. It is unclear how Seattle will get snaps for all their talented receivers and linebackers and cornerbacks when all are healthy. Kneel downs count as negative rushing yards, which kept the Seahawks from notching 200+ yards rushing. They call these “First World problems.” As in, first place in the NFC West, first place in the NFC, and first place among all Seahawks teams after nine games with a +103 point differential. Believe it or not, some Seahawks fans are finding ways to grouse about a 22-point thrashing of a division rival at home. While some may gnash teeth over a sloppy third quarter, the Seahawks are simply flashing their pearly whites in broad smiles after a second straight demolition of an opponent.
Seattle opened this game with a 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 43-yard strike from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. A team that went 22 games without an opening drive touchdown now has four on the season, and one in back-to-back games. The defense decided to get in on the fun with an opening drive touchdown of their own when Tyrice Knight forced a fumble on a strip sack and DeMarcus Lawrence scooped it up for a score. The last time the Seahawks defense scored an opponent opening drive was when Rayshawn Jenkins returned a fumble 102 yards for a touchdown against the Giants last season. That game did not go quite as well as this one.
When George Holani capped off an 81-yard drive on the next possession, it was 21-0 with over a minute left in the first quarter. Arizona, like Washington the week before, did not know what hit them. The win probability chart reads like a heartbeat monitor with a medical crew who put down the shock paddles quickly.
Seattle has dominated the series with the Cardinals for decades. They have won nine straight. Many will write this off as another win over a feckless opponent, but consider the Cardinals previous five losses this season were by a combined 13 points, and those included recent games against on the road against the Colts and home against the Packers where Arizona held late leads. Their defense also was coming off a resounding win in Dallas where they held a powerful offense to just 17 points. Seattle nearly doubled the margin of victory the combined total from the prior five Arizona losses.
One of the most encouraging aspects of this win was Seattle finally showed some ability to run the football even when the opponent knew it was coming. The Seahawks had three running backs finish with over 30 yards and each averaged over 4.4 yards per carry. Ironically, the last time that happened was when the Seahawks beat Arizona 58-0 in 2012. Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, and Leon Washington all put up big numbers in that one.
There are some notable similarities with that memorable run in 2012. Seattle beat the Bills 50-17 after that Cardinals blowout, and then played their chief division rival, the 49ers. The 42-13 dismantling of San Francisco remains one of the signature moments in the Seahawks 50-year history. It also marked the moment where Seattle went from youthful upstart to Super Bowl contender.
This might sound blasphemous, but this Seahawks team is more complete than that one. Seattle would win a playoff game, but lose their only viable pass rusher in Chris Clemons. The defense could not hold up the next week against the Falcons.
This version of the Seahawks is bludgeoning teams with backups at safety, linebacker, cornerback, defensive tackle, and wide receiver. They have pass rushers inside and out. They have cornerbacks for days. The receiver room is now among the deepest in football.
Where that 2012 team exploded, in part, due to the novelty of the read-option with Russell Wilson at quarterback and Lynch at tailback, this crew is not really innovating as much as they are just whooping butts from coast-to-coast.
Mike Macdonald has owned Kyler Murray in his time here, but Murray did threaten with his legs. Jacoby Brissett has outplayed Murray to the point of likely ending Murray’s tenure in Arizona, but he is a statue in the pocket. Seattle runs twists and stunts at a high rate to rush the passer. Doing that tends to open running lanes, so they tone it down versus mobile quarterbacks. The slow-footed Brissett gave Macdonald the opportunity to unleash the dogs. The mauling that ensued would have made Michael Vick cringe.
Tyrice Knight flew through a gap on a blitz and caused a fumble Lawrence recovered for a touchdown. It was so nice, why not try it twice? The same pair combined for the same result later in the half. A Seahawks defense that had not been credited with a fumble recovery all season, had two in one game.
Oddly, the NFL does not count the strip sack against the Texans that Drake Thomas recovered and then fumbled himself as a fumble recovery. You would think it would be a turnover and then another turnover, but the record books will only show a Seahawks turnover on that play.
Speaking of Thomas, he was electric in this game with a hit so hard in the backfield, it brought back flashes of Jadeveon Clowney’s famous hit while in college. Thomas has been a revelation since taking over the starting spot.
He has technically only started four full games, but is tied for the lead among all inside linebackers in tackles for loss and is second in passes defensed. He has a tackle for loss in six straight games.
This is a player who is studying film every time I walk in the locker room during the week. He has been excellent as a blitzer, with three sacks, solid in run defense, and making plays in coverage. Knight lost his job to Thomas, and has been terrific in the two games since Ernest Jones was injured. Macdonald has given him a game ball in back-to-back weeks.
A position that was looking shaky on depth all offseason is showing off some quality beyond the starting unit.
Tariq Woolen had what felt like his best game of the season. He has been sticky in coverage all year. The problem had been making plays on balls in the air. He has looked far more comfortable in that area the past few weeks, and has come close to picking off a pass the last two games. He was credited with two breakups, but it felt like more. With the trade deadline behind him, Woolen can focus on playing his best ball and grabbing a bag in free agency.
Nick Emmanwori is becoming one of the most unique defenders in the NFL. He is flashing some mind-boggling coverage skills for a man his size. He can lock up a receiver along the sideline or 40 yards downfield, and then blitz the next play, blow up a screen after that, and then fit the run.
He is doing things no player has ever done. His 9 tackles led the team. That, by itself, is unremarkable. Combine it with 4 passes defensed and a half-sack, and you get a stat line that no rookie has ever accomplished in the NFL. Only two other players have done it at any stage of their careers. He is just 21-years-old.
Lawrence has found the Fountain of Youth as he shared the sack with Emmanwori and had the two fumble returns for touchdowns, a feat just one other player has managed in the Super Bowl era.
Special things happen during special seasons.
Even the much-maligned Anthony Bradford had a solid game against the team he infamously had a 0.0 pass blocking PFF grade against in Week 4. His blocks keyed explosive runs by Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet had his best game of the season. He forced a season-high five missed tackles and had a gutsy touchdown run where he dived through a tackler into the end zone.
The offensive line did a nice job, allowing just one pressure while paving the way to a season-high in rush yards. They had to do it without their starting center, Jalen Sundell, for roughly half the game. Sundell exited with a knee injury that does not appear to be season-ending, according to Macdonald.
Olu Oluwatimi came in and performed well, aside from a bad snap exchange with Darnold that resulted in a costly turnover. He seemed to hold up well in pass protection and was a positive in the run game. Oluwatimi was a perfectly fine starting center last season and entered this year as the presumed starter. A back injury in camp opened the door for Sundell, who grabbed the job with a terrific preseason.
Seattle should be fine if Sundell misses some time, and it is not out of the question Oluwatimi could turn the tables and use the opportunity to regain the starting position.
Consider, for a second, how wild it is that the Seahawks offensive line not only leads the NFL in fewest sacks allowed, but has depth players who can step in for starters. The transformation of that unit has been staggering.
Not everything was perfect in this game. Seattle turned the ball over three times, allowing the Cardinals to score on touchdown drives of 4 and 19 yards. It was surprising to see some fans raising alarm bells about Darnold. The outcome of those plays were not good, but the process was not overly concerning.
Darnold had a missed exchange with a new center. It happens. He got rid of the ball quickly on a pass attempt that hit the helmet of A.J. Barner and popped in the air for a pick. The strip sack is one he deserves some criticism for, but the group of people who were critical of him before the season and then half-heartedly have relented during his MVP-caliber year, were right back to “told you so” takes yesterday.
What an odd way to live. Being wrong about a player and seeing your team become a powerhouse seems a lot better than being right about a player while the team suffers.
It is worth noting another similarity to the 2012 run was that Richard Sherman was torched by Stevie Johnson against the Bills for over 100 yards during the 50-17 bashing. That did not turn out to be a signal that Sherman was a bad corner. Getting too wrapped up in what happens in the second half of a 38-7 game is unwise.
Seattle now turns its attention to the reigning division champs. A Rams team that won the NFC West on a fifth tiebreaker last year, hosts the Seahawks in a battle of two teams that have the same record over the last 26 games. This is the rare game where two terrific teams clash when both are playing good football and have no clear weaknesses. It is made even better by the coaching matchup that features the best offensive mind in the game going up against the best defensive mind. The undercard isn’t bad either, as the two leading candidates for Assistant Coach of the Year with face off when Klint Kubiak and Chris Shula battle.
Either team could win this game. There is much at stake, and also very little. Both teams have already proven they are among the best in the NFL and will be a problem for anyone in the playoffs no matter where the game is played. This is round one in what could very well be a three-round fight that may decide who gets to raise a Lombardi Trophy on the 49ers home field. Seattle fears no team. They bring their hard hats and demolition gear in SoFi Stadium next week. Damage will be done.