If we could catch the ball, it would have been a closer game.
Matt Hasselbeck threw as accurately as he had against the Saints, putting ball after ball exactly where it needed to be.
But our receivers kept dropping the pigskin.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates called the right plays. He knew we needed to throw to set up the run.
Our scheme was sound.
Our pass protection generally held up and gave Matt enough time to throw.
Our receivers generally got open.
But they could not catch the ball.
Our defensive backs had the same problem. Early in the game, Chicago led, 7-0. On first and goal, Jay Cutler zipped the ball to nickel back Jordan Babineaux.
Standing at Seattle's goal line, with no Bears between him and the opposite end zone, the player once known as Big Play Babs had a chance to make a 100-yard pick six, to reverse the momentum decisively and get his team back in the game.
Instead, he dropped the ball.
Late in the game, the Seahawks seemed to be mounting a comeback, having closed within 11 points. Rookie free safety Earl Thomas made a good read on a Jay Cutler pass, dashing across the field to cut in front of the intended receiver and attempt a leaping interception.
Unfortunately, Thomas mistimed his leap. He missed the ball. The pass sailed into the hands of Bears tight end Kellen Davis. Since the free safety had gambled and lost, there were no defenders to prevent Davis from scoring.
Even our "hands unit" failed. Olindo Mare's first onside kick rebounded off the knee of a Chicago player and bounced back toward Seattle's side. Three Seahawks had a chance to recover, and all three choked.
It was that kind of game.
Our defense did not play well.
We couldn't cover their receivers, and when we tried to pressure their quarterback, Cutler ran for first downs and scores, or burned us with screen passes.
Strong safety Lawyer Milloy set the tone early by letting tight end Greg Olsen run past him and catch a 58-yard touchdown bomb.
It is hard to imagine a more blatant violation of one's position responsibilities.
Milloy has been a vocal inspirational leader for the team this year, but he needs to lead by example on the field as well. Aging veterans who have lost a step are supposed to make up for it with smart play.
Several times this year, our coaches and athletes have identified Matt Hasselbeck as the team's best offensive player. Certainly, he rose to the occasion yesterday, throwing almost every pass precisely on-target. He did everything he could to help the Seahawks win.
If the rest of the team ever learns to match his level of focus and execution, we will go deeper into the playoffs.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Seattle's toughest test yet
After years of futility, Seattle finally mounted an effective ground game against St. Louis and New Orleans.
Today, we will see whether our new rushing attack is for real.
Chicago boasts the league's second-best run defense, holding opponents to a mere 90 yards per game during the regular season.
If we can run against the Monsters of the Midway, we can run against anyone.
Sadly, the best bet is that the Bears will shut down our ground game, if we are predictable about it.
Chicago is probably good enough to stop the run when they know we are running.
Thus, Bates and Hasselbeck must keep them off-balance with creative playcalling and timely audibles.
We need to throw to set up the run.
Chicago's passing defense is less impressive, ranking 20th in yards surrendered. (That's still better than Seattle's, which ranked 27th.)
However, Chicago allowed only 14 passing touchdowns, a level of aerial stinginess exceeded only by New Orleans.
Of course, you saw what the Seahawks did to the Saints secondary last week.
If I were coaching Seattle, I'd dust off the old Holmgren-era up-tempo approach, attacking their defense with a brisk series of scripted plays that give the defenders no time to adjust, substitute or catch their breath. Make them burn a timeout to buy time to think.
Seattle needs another stellar performance from Russell Okung, who shut down Julius Peppers--the league's most dominant pass rusher--in our first meeting with Chicago. The rookie must win the rematch, and the rest of the offensive line must do its part to protect the quarterback, and to punch holes in the defense when we run the ball.
The Seahawks need more brilliance from Matt Hasselbeck and the receiving corps.
We need a lycanthropic Marshawn Lynch to go into Beast Mode again.
Our special teams appear evenly matched. Both teams have clutch kickers, dangerous return men, decent punters, and competent coverage units.
On offense, Chicago would be wise to continue the approach that has worked so well for them for most of the season: establish the run and limit Cutler's throwing.
If Seattle's defense can bring the kind of intensity they showed against St. Louis and New Orleans, they should be good enough to contain the Bears' average offense.
But we need to do it with only 11 men, in a hostile environment.
We have to smother the run and put the game on the shoulders of their quarterback.
Our pass rush must find a way to replicate and supersede the 6-sack beating we put on Cutler last time. We need to force him to make unwise throws and feast on the resultant turnovers.
This is the toughest test of character yet for this team.
No one expects us to win.
Let's defy the odds and shock the world again.
Go, Seahawks!
Today, we will see whether our new rushing attack is for real.
Chicago boasts the league's second-best run defense, holding opponents to a mere 90 yards per game during the regular season.
If we can run against the Monsters of the Midway, we can run against anyone.
Sadly, the best bet is that the Bears will shut down our ground game, if we are predictable about it.
Chicago is probably good enough to stop the run when they know we are running.
Thus, Bates and Hasselbeck must keep them off-balance with creative playcalling and timely audibles.
We need to throw to set up the run.
Chicago's passing defense is less impressive, ranking 20th in yards surrendered. (That's still better than Seattle's, which ranked 27th.)
However, Chicago allowed only 14 passing touchdowns, a level of aerial stinginess exceeded only by New Orleans.
Of course, you saw what the Seahawks did to the Saints secondary last week.
If I were coaching Seattle, I'd dust off the old Holmgren-era up-tempo approach, attacking their defense with a brisk series of scripted plays that give the defenders no time to adjust, substitute or catch their breath. Make them burn a timeout to buy time to think.
Seattle needs another stellar performance from Russell Okung, who shut down Julius Peppers--the league's most dominant pass rusher--in our first meeting with Chicago. The rookie must win the rematch, and the rest of the offensive line must do its part to protect the quarterback, and to punch holes in the defense when we run the ball.
The Seahawks need more brilliance from Matt Hasselbeck and the receiving corps.
We need a lycanthropic Marshawn Lynch to go into Beast Mode again.
Our special teams appear evenly matched. Both teams have clutch kickers, dangerous return men, decent punters, and competent coverage units.
On offense, Chicago would be wise to continue the approach that has worked so well for them for most of the season: establish the run and limit Cutler's throwing.
If Seattle's defense can bring the kind of intensity they showed against St. Louis and New Orleans, they should be good enough to contain the Bears' average offense.
But we need to do it with only 11 men, in a hostile environment.
We have to smother the run and put the game on the shoulders of their quarterback.
Our pass rush must find a way to replicate and supersede the 6-sack beating we put on Cutler last time. We need to force him to make unwise throws and feast on the resultant turnovers.
This is the toughest test of character yet for this team.
No one expects us to win.
Let's defy the odds and shock the world again.
Go, Seahawks!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
It's on!!!
The Pack took care of business tonight, rendering the Falcons into tinned raptor.
This means the Seahawks will host the conference championship game, if we can beat the Bears.
Defeating Chicago won't be easy, but Seattle may have an edge in offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. Obviously, he has been responsible for developing our offensive game plan.
However, Bates may also be able to help the defense. From 2006 through 2008, he coached the Denver offense, during Jay Cutler's first three seasons in the league. For the last two years, he served as the Broncos' quarterbacks coach.
When you coach an athlete that long, you get to know their strengths and weaknesses. If anyone knows how to exploit the quarterback's vulnerabilities, it would be Bates. Although he hasn't worked with Cutler for two years, a little film study should be enough to confirm whether what he knew of the player remains true now.
In a losing effort for the Ravens, ex-Seahawk Cory Redding had a nice sack of Roethlisberger and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Poor Housh.
He's the goat of Baltimore's narrow loss to the Steelers, with a drive-killing drop on the Ravens' last possession. The iconic picture of TJ's 2010 season continues to be the receiver sitting on the bench, face buried in his hands.
Fortunately for him, $6 million of Paul Allen's money should go a long way toward soothing the pain of playoff elimination.
Tomorrow morning, we shall see whether Seattle's playoff tenure outlasts Baltimore's by more than a day.
It's been a bad weekend for bird teams. Now that the Ravens and the Falcons have fallen, only the Seahawks remain to represent for avian kind.
I'm sure the world wants to see a Chicago-Green Bay NFC championship game, a new installment of the league's oldest rivalry, for all the marbles.
But who cares? Seattle needs to ignore that nonsense, seize the day and bring the championship game back to Seahawks Stadium.
Bring on da Bears.
Seattle's stake in today's games
Both of today's playoff games are of interest to Seahawks diehards.
Three of last year's Seattle starters will play today for Baltimore when the Ravens vie for a win in Pittsburgh.
You may not see much of TJ Houshmandzadeh, who has been reduced to reserve duty for his current team, playing behind Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin. During the regular season, Housh caught 30 passes for three scores and nearly 400 yards. He caught just one ball last week in the wild card game in Kansas City. However, the highlight of his season came in Week Four when he caught the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh.
I hope Housh manages some similar magic today.
However, when the Steelers have the ball, two ex-Seahawks will be starting for Baltimore: defensive tackle Cory Redding and cornerback Josh Wilson.
After a single unimpressive season in Seattle, Redding has had a solid year in Baltimore. He has started more games for the Ravens this season (12) than he did for the Seahawks in 2009 (3). Interior defensive linemen labor in anonymity, stoutly plugging the middle gaps, and while they make few tackles themselves, they create opportunities for other defenders. So far this season, Redding has logged forty tackles and three sacks. He also grabbed a memorable interception to seal a victory over New Orleans.
I hope Redding rips off Roethlisberger's face today.
I rue the trade of Josh Wilson more than any personnel change since Seattle let Steve Hutchinson escape in free agency.
Wilson began the season as Baltimore's third-string corner. Since then, he quickly clawed his way up the depth chart. He has started the last nine straight games. His overtime pick six gave Baltimore a Week 14 win in Houston, and another interception sealed his team's victory over Kansas City last week.
I hope Wilson grabs a clutch of interceptions from Big Ben.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh have one of the league's best rivalries. Their contests are always close and brutally hard-hitting.
NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci has guaranteed that today's Ravens-Steelers matchup will be "literally a bloodbath."
That statement tempts me to say that Mooch is literally a moron. But, of course, he's really only figuratively a moron.
Of course, the most important game for Seattle is this evening's game between Green Bay and Atlanta.
Like every Seahawks diehard, I'm rooting for the Packers to fudgify the Falcons, because that would allow Seattle to host the conference championship game if they can beat Chicago.
If the Falcons win, I fear that we might phone it in against Chicago, knowing that a road trip to Atlanta would be no fun.
Atlanta is tough at home, so the Pack have their work cut out for them.
Go, Green Bay!
Three of last year's Seattle starters will play today for Baltimore when the Ravens vie for a win in Pittsburgh.
You may not see much of TJ Houshmandzadeh, who has been reduced to reserve duty for his current team, playing behind Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin. During the regular season, Housh caught 30 passes for three scores and nearly 400 yards. He caught just one ball last week in the wild card game in Kansas City. However, the highlight of his season came in Week Four when he caught the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh.
I hope Housh manages some similar magic today.
However, when the Steelers have the ball, two ex-Seahawks will be starting for Baltimore: defensive tackle Cory Redding and cornerback Josh Wilson.
After a single unimpressive season in Seattle, Redding has had a solid year in Baltimore. He has started more games for the Ravens this season (12) than he did for the Seahawks in 2009 (3). Interior defensive linemen labor in anonymity, stoutly plugging the middle gaps, and while they make few tackles themselves, they create opportunities for other defenders. So far this season, Redding has logged forty tackles and three sacks. He also grabbed a memorable interception to seal a victory over New Orleans.
I hope Redding rips off Roethlisberger's face today.
I rue the trade of Josh Wilson more than any personnel change since Seattle let Steve Hutchinson escape in free agency.
Wilson began the season as Baltimore's third-string corner. Since then, he quickly clawed his way up the depth chart. He has started the last nine straight games. His overtime pick six gave Baltimore a Week 14 win in Houston, and another interception sealed his team's victory over Kansas City last week.
I hope Wilson grabs a clutch of interceptions from Big Ben.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh have one of the league's best rivalries. Their contests are always close and brutally hard-hitting.
NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci has guaranteed that today's Ravens-Steelers matchup will be "literally a bloodbath."
That statement tempts me to say that Mooch is literally a moron. But, of course, he's really only figuratively a moron.
Of course, the most important game for Seattle is this evening's game between Green Bay and Atlanta.
Like every Seahawks diehard, I'm rooting for the Packers to fudgify the Falcons, because that would allow Seattle to host the conference championship game if they can beat Chicago.
If the Falcons win, I fear that we might phone it in against Chicago, knowing that a road trip to Atlanta would be no fun.
Atlanta is tough at home, so the Pack have their work cut out for them.
Go, Green Bay!
A taloned thumb in the eye
Back in October, when we beat the Bears on the road, we were coming off a bye.
This time, it is Chicago that has enjoyed an extra week to rest, heal, and prepare.
Back then, Seattle entered the contest as a .500 team, having lost its last game in St. Louis.
This time, we are 8-9, but riding a two-game winning streak over supposedly superior opponents.
The Bears came into that October game 4-1, having just crushed Carolina.
Now they are 11-5, having dropped their last regular season game in Green Bay.
One thing remains constant: No one gives us a chance to win.
Certainly, we face daunting odds.
Seattle is 2-6 in away games this year.
Chicago is 5-3 at home.
We haven't won a road playoff game since 1983. That's seven straight road losses, though we took three of those contests into overtime before failing.
Moreover, the Seahawks tend to play poorly in road games that kick off at 10 a.m. PST. According to Mike Sando of ESPN, Seattle is 7-24 (.226) in nondivision early road games since 2003.
Vegas lists us as 10-point underdogs.
So, the numbers say we're probably going to lose.
Nevertheless, here are some reasons to be hopeful:
1. The Bears offense isn't very good.
During the regular season, Chicago ranked 24th in scoring, 30th in total yards,
Over the same span, Seattle ranked 23rd in scoring and 28th in total yards,
So, their offense wasn't much better than ours for most of the season.
However, the Seahawks offense has come together over the last two weeks, while the Bears sputtered in their regular season finale, managing a mere 3 points against Green Bay.
2. We have the better quarterback
Jay Cutler and Matt Hasselbeck have both been to Pro Bowls.
The Chicago quarterback went more recently (in 2008), and in 2010, he compiled a statistically superior season to Seattle's starting passer.
However, Cutler will start his first playoff game tomorrow.
It will be Hasselbeck's 12th postseason start. He is 6-5 in the playoffs. (OK, so that's 6-0 at home, 0-4 on the road, and 0-1 in technically neutral sites, though Super Bowl XL seemed like a Pittsburgh home game.)
Moreover, if you compare their most recent games, the bald veteran vastly outshined his hirsute junior counterpart.
Hasselbeck played the game of his life against New Orleans, hurling four touchdowns. The interception charged to Matt was an on-target throw that his receiver bobbled into the defender's hands. Matt didn't throw a bad ball all day.
By contrast, Cutler laid an egg in Green Bay, throwing for two picks and no scores, while getting sacked six times.
3. We've done this before
Back in 2006, we nearly beat the Bears on the road in the divisional round. The contest went into overtime.
And, of course, we beat the Bears in Chicago earlier this year.
The Monsters of the Midway appear to be a better team now than they were in October. Back then, Chicago offensive coordinator Mike "Mad" Martz was still trying to bring the Greatest Show on Turf to Soldier Field. Since then, he has learned to tailor his offense to his personnel, so the Bears are running the ball more and giving Cutler fewer chances to throw interceptions.
Back then, our "Bandit" defense befuddled Chicago's offense. In the Bandit, we field six or seven defensive backs, and send one or two of them to blitz the quarterback on nearly every obvious passing down. The Bandit worked largely because of its novelty. Now offenses have learned how to fight it. (Audible into a run, because welterweight defensive backs struggle to tackle power runners.)
So, we'll need a new game plan this time. The old one won't work anymore.
But that's OK. For two straight weeks, we have outcoached our opponents. Caroll and his staff have designed clever game plans and dialed up the right schemes at the right times, and our players have executed those plans and schemes in inspired fashion.
In terms of personnel, the Seahawks were probably a better team in October, because at that point, we still had Red Bryant, Junior Siavii, and Deon Butler on the active roster.
However, in terms of chemistry and performance, we seem to be a better team now. After much suffering, we have emerged from a dark tunnel of midseason and late-season misery to emerge, over the last two games, as a team to take seriously. For the first time in years, our offensive line has manifested competence, allowing our running backs to find some daylight. Our no-name receiving corps is finally getting open. Our patchwork defense is getting fired up and making some stops.
Certainly, the Bears will be eager to avenge their regular season defeat at our hands, and they'll have home field advantage.
But a desire for revenge at home doesn't always translate into success on the field. Remember the 2004 season, when St. Louis swept us during the regular season, and then we got to host them in the wild card round? Surely, we thought, our 9-7 team and the 12th Man would not permit the 8-8 Lambs to beat us again. And yet they did.
This time, we are the sub-.500 upstarts, returning to the scene of the crime in the playoffs to repeat an act of grand larceny we pulled off in the regular season.
4. We have absolutely nothing to lose
Seattle has already exceeded everyone's expectations this season.
Two weeks ago, we achieved our coach's stated season goal of winning the division.
Last week, we ladled on some gravy by eliminating the defending Super Bowl champions.
So, let's go out there and get some more gravy.
Hit hard. Wrap up. Play loose. Play smart.
Let's jam a taloned thumb in the eyes of everyone who continues to underestimate us.
Go, Seahawks!
This time, it is Chicago that has enjoyed an extra week to rest, heal, and prepare.
Back then, Seattle entered the contest as a .500 team, having lost its last game in St. Louis.
This time, we are 8-9, but riding a two-game winning streak over supposedly superior opponents.
The Bears came into that October game 4-1, having just crushed Carolina.
Now they are 11-5, having dropped their last regular season game in Green Bay.
One thing remains constant: No one gives us a chance to win.
Certainly, we face daunting odds.
Seattle is 2-6 in away games this year.
Chicago is 5-3 at home.
We haven't won a road playoff game since 1983. That's seven straight road losses, though we took three of those contests into overtime before failing.
Moreover, the Seahawks tend to play poorly in road games that kick off at 10 a.m. PST. According to Mike Sando of ESPN, Seattle is 7-24 (.226) in nondivision early road games since 2003.
Vegas lists us as 10-point underdogs.
So, the numbers say we're probably going to lose.
Nevertheless, here are some reasons to be hopeful:
1. The Bears offense isn't very good.
During the regular season, Chicago ranked 24th in scoring, 30th in total yards,
Over the same span, Seattle ranked 23rd in scoring and 28th in total yards,
So, their offense wasn't much better than ours for most of the season.
However, the Seahawks offense has come together over the last two weeks, while the Bears sputtered in their regular season finale, managing a mere 3 points against Green Bay.
2. We have the better quarterback
Jay Cutler and Matt Hasselbeck have both been to Pro Bowls.
The Chicago quarterback went more recently (in 2008), and in 2010, he compiled a statistically superior season to Seattle's starting passer.
However, Cutler will start his first playoff game tomorrow.
It will be Hasselbeck's 12th postseason start. He is 6-5 in the playoffs. (OK, so that's 6-0 at home, 0-4 on the road, and 0-1 in technically neutral sites, though Super Bowl XL seemed like a Pittsburgh home game.)
Moreover, if you compare their most recent games, the bald veteran vastly outshined his hirsute junior counterpart.
Hasselbeck played the game of his life against New Orleans, hurling four touchdowns. The interception charged to Matt was an on-target throw that his receiver bobbled into the defender's hands. Matt didn't throw a bad ball all day.
By contrast, Cutler laid an egg in Green Bay, throwing for two picks and no scores, while getting sacked six times.
3. We've done this before
Back in 2006, we nearly beat the Bears on the road in the divisional round. The contest went into overtime.
And, of course, we beat the Bears in Chicago earlier this year.
The Monsters of the Midway appear to be a better team now than they were in October. Back then, Chicago offensive coordinator Mike "Mad" Martz was still trying to bring the Greatest Show on Turf to Soldier Field. Since then, he has learned to tailor his offense to his personnel, so the Bears are running the ball more and giving Cutler fewer chances to throw interceptions.
Back then, our "Bandit" defense befuddled Chicago's offense. In the Bandit, we field six or seven defensive backs, and send one or two of them to blitz the quarterback on nearly every obvious passing down. The Bandit worked largely because of its novelty. Now offenses have learned how to fight it. (Audible into a run, because welterweight defensive backs struggle to tackle power runners.)
So, we'll need a new game plan this time. The old one won't work anymore.
But that's OK. For two straight weeks, we have outcoached our opponents. Caroll and his staff have designed clever game plans and dialed up the right schemes at the right times, and our players have executed those plans and schemes in inspired fashion.
In terms of personnel, the Seahawks were probably a better team in October, because at that point, we still had Red Bryant, Junior Siavii, and Deon Butler on the active roster.
However, in terms of chemistry and performance, we seem to be a better team now. After much suffering, we have emerged from a dark tunnel of midseason and late-season misery to emerge, over the last two games, as a team to take seriously. For the first time in years, our offensive line has manifested competence, allowing our running backs to find some daylight. Our no-name receiving corps is finally getting open. Our patchwork defense is getting fired up and making some stops.
Certainly, the Bears will be eager to avenge their regular season defeat at our hands, and they'll have home field advantage.
But a desire for revenge at home doesn't always translate into success on the field. Remember the 2004 season, when St. Louis swept us during the regular season, and then we got to host them in the wild card round? Surely, we thought, our 9-7 team and the 12th Man would not permit the 8-8 Lambs to beat us again. And yet they did.
This time, we are the sub-.500 upstarts, returning to the scene of the crime in the playoffs to repeat an act of grand larceny we pulled off in the regular season.
4. We have absolutely nothing to lose
Seattle has already exceeded everyone's expectations this season.
Two weeks ago, we achieved our coach's stated season goal of winning the division.
Last week, we ladled on some gravy by eliminating the defending Super Bowl champions.
So, let's go out there and get some more gravy.
Hit hard. Wrap up. Play loose. Play smart.
Let's jam a taloned thumb in the eyes of everyone who continues to underestimate us.
Go, Seahawks!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Go get him
The best cornerback in the NFL will become a free agent after the Super Bowl.
Many have not heard of him. Most people do not know how to pronounce his name.
But Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will soon be available.
The Seahawks should go out and get him.
A true shutdown corner, Asomugha does not post impressive statistics. He grabs few interceptions and makes few tackles, because quarterbacks are too petrified to throw to his side of the field.
They know that if they test him, Asomugha will make them pay.
As soon as free agency begins, Paul Allen should pay to add this Pro Bowl and All-Pro player to our roster.
Aside from being one of the league's best players, Asomugha is a team leader and a devoted promoter of higher education for urban children.
Opportunities to recruit a world-class athlete and person like Asomugha do not come along every day.
Sign him.
Many have not heard of him. Most people do not know how to pronounce his name.
But Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will soon be available.
The Seahawks should go out and get him.
A true shutdown corner, Asomugha does not post impressive statistics. He grabs few interceptions and makes few tackles, because quarterbacks are too petrified to throw to his side of the field.
They know that if they test him, Asomugha will make them pay.
As soon as free agency begins, Paul Allen should pay to add this Pro Bowl and All-Pro player to our roster.
Aside from being one of the league's best players, Asomugha is a team leader and a devoted promoter of higher education for urban children.
Opportunities to recruit a world-class athlete and person like Asomugha do not come along every day.
Sign him.
Hasselbeck's Fantastic Four
There was something special about every one of the four passing touchdowns Hasselbeck threw yesterday.
Both of John Carlson's touchdowns came on run fakes where the tight end pretended to block so the defense wouldn't cover him.
His second scoring reception was particularly outrageous. At the snap, Carlson did his impression of the worst cut block ever, diving prone on the turf in front of Saints defensive back Roman Harper. Ignoring the tight end's ineffectual effort, the Pro Bowl safety kept his eyes fixed on Hasselbeck as he faked a handoff and then dropped back to pass, looking to the right. The defender did not see Carlson get up and sneak into the end zone. Only when our quarterback turned left and threw did Harper turn to see Carlson--five yards away--backpedaling into the the promised land, cradling the pigskin.
Because Harper's blown assignments contributed to every Seahawks touchdown, Rich Eisen of the NFL Network has dubbed Harper Seattle's 13th Man.
The touchdowns by Mike Williams and Brandon Stokley were special because the Saints never expected them to go long.
They underestimated Williams, because he is a big-bodied possession receiver, slow by NFL wideout standards.
They also dismissed Stokley as a scoring threat, because he is a little slot receiver and no speedster.
Since Williams and Stokley generally run relatively short routes--slants, crosses, and comebacks--New Orleans was stunned when each of them went deep and hauled down touchdown passes.
Stokley's score was particularly sweet.
He, Williams, and Obomanu lined up in a trips formation bunched close to the left side of the O-Line.
Six Saints defenders--five defensive backs and a linebacker--started the play in position to cover the trio of Seattle receivers.
At the snap, Williams and Obomanu moved left, drawing most of the defenders after them.
One cornerback (Tracy Porter) bumped #15 at the line, but Stokley escaped.
When Porter tried to pursue, he bumped into Mike Williams, who was running a very short decoy comeback route.
Meanwhile, Stokley slipped past two more Saints as if he were invisible. Only when he had a five-yard head start did they give chase. And by then it was too late.
Both of John Carlson's touchdowns came on run fakes where the tight end pretended to block so the defense wouldn't cover him.
His second scoring reception was particularly outrageous. At the snap, Carlson did his impression of the worst cut block ever, diving prone on the turf in front of Saints defensive back Roman Harper. Ignoring the tight end's ineffectual effort, the Pro Bowl safety kept his eyes fixed on Hasselbeck as he faked a handoff and then dropped back to pass, looking to the right. The defender did not see Carlson get up and sneak into the end zone. Only when our quarterback turned left and threw did Harper turn to see Carlson--five yards away--backpedaling into the the promised land, cradling the pigskin.
Because Harper's blown assignments contributed to every Seahawks touchdown, Rich Eisen of the NFL Network has dubbed Harper Seattle's 13th Man.
The touchdowns by Mike Williams and Brandon Stokley were special because the Saints never expected them to go long.
They underestimated Williams, because he is a big-bodied possession receiver, slow by NFL wideout standards.
They also dismissed Stokley as a scoring threat, because he is a little slot receiver and no speedster.
Since Williams and Stokley generally run relatively short routes--slants, crosses, and comebacks--New Orleans was stunned when each of them went deep and hauled down touchdown passes.
Stokley's score was particularly sweet.
He, Williams, and Obomanu lined up in a trips formation bunched close to the left side of the O-Line.
Six Saints defenders--five defensive backs and a linebacker--started the play in position to cover the trio of Seattle receivers.
At the snap, Williams and Obomanu moved left, drawing most of the defenders after them.
One cornerback (Tracy Porter) bumped #15 at the line, but Stokley escaped.
When Porter tried to pursue, he bumped into Mike Williams, who was running a very short decoy comeback route.
Meanwhile, Stokley slipped past two more Saints as if he were invisible. Only when he had a five-yard head start did they give chase. And by then it was too late.
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