1. What is your Seattle Seahawks’ moment or player(s) of the season so far?
Ryan A. Chase (RC) I’m going to nominate two: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Think of this: the Seahawks are tied for second-fewest interceptions, are 24th in the NFL in sacks with just six, and are tied for 20th in the league in forced fumbles. Yet the Seahawks have the top defense in the league, allowing four fewer points per game than any other team. Those stats should not exist together. Yet the Seahawks are holding the line without sacking the quarterback or forcing turnovers. That starts with strong safety play, helping out against the run (Seattle has the top run defense in the league), and locking down the pass (7th in pass defense).
Casey Mabbott (CM) In this young season, I would put Marshawn Lynch’s game winning overtime touchdown in the Super Bowl rematch against Denver as the best play yet. The Broncos’ last second drive to score a touchdown and a two point conversion to the tie the game after everyone except Seattle had written them off was, simply remarkable. The Seahawks were equally remarkable in proving that they were not fazed in the least by marching down the field and closing out the game, with Beast Mode leading the way of course.
2. Who or what have been the biggest disappointments?
(RC) Percy Harvin. Outside of his 52-yard scamper against San Diego, the player that was supposed to be a true number one wideout for Russell Wilson has been mostly absent. He has yet to break 100 yards receiving in any game this year, breaking 50 yards just once during the season opener. There is not a single Seattle receiver in the top 90 for yards (Doug Baldwin is 93rd with 155). Considering the cost of acquiring him, Seattle is not getting a lot of bang for their buck.
(CM) Seattle’s passing offense, or more specifically Percy Harvin. Many might point the finger at Russell Wilson individually, as he has yet to lead an elite passing attack, but his play has not been the problem. Wilson is working with relatively the same receiving talent as Brady did in his first 5 years and is getting essentially the same results, so his stats not being stellar is not a real issue or even “the” issue. The talking heads always want to split hairs, but Wilson is doing everything he should do, and nothing he shouldn’t, practicing patience where other QB’s (looking at you, Kaepernick) might rack up more yards but they also might start forcing things and costing their team wins. Save for Harvin’s week 1 performance against Green Bay’s Swiss cheese secondary, his season has been lack-luster so far and he isn’t living up to being the “game-changer” his sell price billed him to be. Harvin did have three touchdowns called back against Washington due to penalties away from the ball, which he can’t control, but I have to wonder where those plays are when the fouls and infractions are not occurring. Seattle keeps churning out the wins, however, so if Harvin is struggling it isn’t equating to the team struggling so far. If Seattle’s week 3 and 5 performances on the road are going to be the norm, Harvin simply has to step up his play.
3. Which games do you see as the Seahawks’ biggest home and road challenges?
(RC) Biggest road challenge is easily the trip to San Francisco on Thanksgiving. The crowd is going to be extremely hostile in their new park. Next week against Dallas is their worst remaining home game. Philadelphia seems like a tough road trip, but an overwhelmingly strong defense always puts Chip Kelly against the wall.
With that in mind, the Seattle schedule the rest of the way is remarkably easy. The Giants will need to show that their 3-2 record is for real, Kansas City’s carriage is a pumpkin again, Oakland is one of the two worst teams in the league this year, and Carolina rotates between average and awful.
(CM) Their Thanksgiving night game at San Francisco could be their most troublesome on the road. Sloppy weather, your heated-rival’s home field, and a short week to boot do not add up to promising odds, even for the Seahawks. And oh yeah, the 49ers will have Aldon Smith and NaVarro Bowman back in the lineup. Did I mention this will also be the first time the teams will meet since the 2013 NFC Championship game that ended with a now-infamous Richard Sherman pass deflection? Expect a ton of emotion from both sides in this one, win lose or draw.
Biggest home challenge will be week 15 as Seattle hosts the 49ers. Depending on where each team stands at the time, this game could help to decide the division title, playoff seeding, and homefield advantage. Seattle only has one home loss in the last two seasons with Wilson at QB, so the 49ers will have their work cut out for them, but if they need the win to get a playoff spot or chip away at Seattle’s potential seeding, look out. There isn’t a game on the schedule that would make me nervous, but the two against San Francisco definitely loom as the biggest hurdles.
4. How far does Seattle go this year?
(RC) Considering who they have to face, 14-2 is a real possibility, and anything less than 11-5 would be a certified disaster. The defense is stifling, and offense has the ability to kill time and crawl down the field without committing turnovers, and the spells a recipe for success.
(CM) They look as tough or tougher than any team out there. They took Denver’s best shot on the chin at home, made mince-meat of Green Bay also at home, and turned ugly road outings against San Diego and Washington in to a 1-1 record. If they can clean up their road play and finish the season with home field advantage in the playoffs, they’re my Super Bowl pick. However, if the defense continues to play a little differently on the road coupled with the sometimes sputtering offense, I’d knock their chances down to 50%. The home crowd is other-worldly compared to what other fan bases are doing, but the defense needs to be elite whether they’re at their house or the guest in another if they want to get back to the big dance.
5. Who or what is the biggest surprise for the Seahawks this year?
(RC) That Marshawn Lynch is still powering through, with only minor bumps and bruises. Considering how much of the offense is based around “Beast Mode”, and how many carries Lynch has gotten over the past couple seasons, his durability is remarkable. Ask Chiefs fans about how nice it would be to have their workhorse on the field every week. No one ever wants to see a player get hurt, and I hope Lynch can maintain this level of play. If the Seahawks wrap up their playoff spot early, I would not be surprised to see Lynch get a week or two off to rest up.
(CM) This award also goes to Percy Harvin, but it’s the equivalent of the “Lowsman Trophy”. He’s never eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving or 7 touchdowns in a single season, his best efforts coming in 2011 when he finished with 967 yards and 6 scores. But he was not brought in to be a second-rate receiver, he was brought in at the cost of 1st, 3rd, and 7th round picks … and that price tag carries with it high expectations, fairly deserved or not. Seattle did go 13-3 mostly without Harvin last season, and the offense hasn’t needed him to have a big day so far, so perhaps he isn’t the key to their success like we were all sold on. As dangerous as the Seahawks would be with Harvin torching defenses, if Wilson and Lynch continue to take care of the ball and control the tempo, and the league-best defense keeps doing what they do best, Seattle will find ways to win.
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