Arizona, RIP

I savored every second of last week's evisceration of the Cardinals. Last Sunday was also my birthday, so that 58-0 blowout has become my all-time favorite birthday present. It has been a fun week to wear Seahawks swag in southern Arizona.

On December 8th, I wrote that the Cardinals game represented "an excellent opportunity for our O-line to begin to reclaim its identity as a unit that can establish the run even against a tough, physical defensive front."

Our offensive linemen vastly exceeded expectations. Seattle's starting O-line reclaimed their identity with a vengeance, blasting open holes to spring Marshawn Lynch for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns. Early in the second half, the first unit rested while backup O-linemen broke the will of Arizona defenders, allowing Robert Turbin to run for 108 more, and letting Leon Washington add 38 yards and a touchdown.

The contagion of Beast Mode appeared to have infected all three tailbacks. Relentlessly they broke through the Arizona defenders' increasingly halfhearted efforts to tackle them. Even little Leon looked impossible to stop.


On December 8th, I wrote that "our defense hasn't really scared anyone lately. They have an identity to reclaim, too. This must be a statement game, a message to future visitors regarding what they can expect from the team and the 12th Man in December (and January?)."

Our defense successfully reclaimed their identity and sent an unmistakable message.  They are scaring people again now. No one wants to find themselves in a playoff game in Seahawks Stadium.

Three sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, zero points allowed, two touchdowns scored by the defense (pick six) and special teams (fumble return). A week after getting gouged by Brandon Marshall in Chicago, a Seattle secondary sans Brandon Browner limited Larry Fitzgerald, the game's greatest wideout, to one catch for a 2-yard gain.

We learned new things about our quarterbacks.

The fearless and endlessly versatile Russell Wilson did a nice job running interference for Lynch on one of those touchdown runs. He didn't throw a block, because he didn't need to do so, but I have no doubt that he would lower his shoulder if it were necessary. That kid is a gamer.

Matt Flynn played nicely in relief, throwing well and demonstrating reassuring mobility in the pocket. That elusiveness remains essential. Our O-line still seems unable to secure the pocket, but they can block well enough to protect a mobile quarterback.

Seattle surged past Chicago to take the lead for the #1 wild card slot and stay alive to challenge San Francisco for the division lead, if the Seahawks keep winning and if the 49ers falter in New England on Sunday night.

Seahawk domination also propelled the Ajo Cholo Lowriders (my league-leading fantasy football team) to a huge win. My opponent (our league's #2 team) racked up a respectable point total that would have beaten half the teams in our league last week. However, the 3 Seattle players on my team (Lynch, Hauschka and the Seahawk defense) by themselves nearly matched my opponent's team point total, and combined with the rest of my roster, the Lowriders won easily, 205-115.