Takeaways: Seahawks Escape Saints’ Grasp

By Jackson Safon

The Seahawks grinded out a 23-15 win against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday and then watched the 49ers manhandle Cam Newton in the second half of that game to collect a 23-10 win against the Panthers. This means that it will be Seahawks vs. 49ers 3.0 this Sunday for the NFC Championship. There is little doubt in anyone’s minds that these are the two best teams in the NFC and on Sunday, at 3:30 Pacific Time, the Clink will be rocking as the divisional foes face off for a trip to the Super Bowl. Looking ahead to that game comes later in the week however as first a serious conversation needs to be had about the Seahawks game against the Saints.

Steven Hauschka came up clutch once again for the Seahawks.

OregonLive.com

1. Umm…trust in Russ?

Russell Wilson was 9/18 throwing for 103 yards through the air and only contributing 16 more on the ground. In Wilson’s professional career this was his worst game in terms of passing yards and fifth worst game in terms of completion percentage. The passing game was stagnant throughout the entire game and Wilson only had two completions in the second half. Two. That is not to say the struggles in the passing game were all his fault however, as the receivers failed to get consistent separation, the offensive line played sub-par, and the weather was a huge factor. That being said, it was arguably the worst we have ever seen Russell Wilson play and it is coming at the worst possible time. The early forecast for Sunday’s game is mid-40’s and a 40% chance of rain. It shouldn’t be as bad as this past weekend, but shouldn’t the weather at home be working in our favor instead of against it? I believe Wilson will be able to turn it around, but if he can’t, there is virtually no way that the ‘Hawks beat the Niners.

2. Marshaaaaaaaaawn Lynch!

Beastmode was in full effect on Saturday to the tune of 140 yards and two touchdowns for Lynch including the nail-in-the-coffin 31-yard touchdown run at the end of the game that registered on the Richter scale. Lynch was basically the entire offense on Saturday and he will have to have a similar performance on Sunday against the 49ers. Maybe it was the unveiling of the “Beast Burger” at Century Link (if you haven’t seen it, look it up hint: it is served with skittles), or perhaps it was the Top Pot Donuts he ate before the game. Whatever the reason, Lynch came to play in a big way, something he had been struggling to do at the end of the regular season. With the passing game struggling as mightily as it is, expect to see Lynch with another full workload this weekend.

Marshawn Lynch had yet another dominating performance against the Saints on Saturday.

WCBSports

3. Dougie Fresh

Doug freaking Baldwin came up with another huge play on Saturday as he has done all season for the ‘Hawks. Late in the game when we needed it most, Russell Wilson delivered a dime of a throw down the left side line and Baldwin showed incredible body control twisting to get both feet down and essentially ice the game. Baldwin has come up big for the Seahawks time after time and with Percy Harvin unable to stay healthy it can be argued Baldwin is the most complete receiver for the ‘Hawks right now. Wherever he ranks, it is clear he has the clutch gene and I expect to see a couple more big catches against the 49ers.

4. Tale of two halves for the defense

In the first half, Drew Brees was awful, missing throws by a lot and was clearly rattled by the weather as well Seattle’s defense. In the second half however the Seahawks’ defense couldn’t get any pressure on Brees and he picked apart the secondary like it was practice. He finished with 309 yards and no interceptions which is something Earl Thomas and the Legion of Boom cannot be happy about. Colin Kaepernick is no Drew Brees when it comes to throwing the ball, but if the defense plays as lackluster as it did in the second half against the Saints, watch out.

5. Saints go marching out, 49ers come rushing(?) in

It is time for the rubber game. Seahawks vs. 49ers 3.0. This time there is a lot more than a division title on the line however as the winner obviously gets a trip to New Jersey to play in the Super Bowl. There is no doubt it will be a hard-fought game and it will be much closer than the two previous blowouts at the Clink. A playoff preview will be coming later in the week, but expect a tight one in Seattle on Sunday.

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Divisional Round Playoff Preview: Saints at Seahawks

By Jackson Safon

After beating the Eagles 26-24, the Saints have earned a trip to Seattle for a playoff matchup against the Seahawks on Saturday with kickoff at 1:35 PM. As most know, this will be the second time the Saints will travel to Seattle this season as in week 13 the Saints came to the Clink and got drubbed, 34-7. This weekend’s game will no doubt be different however as everything ramps up in the playoffs. The Seahawks are no doubt the better team, but as the 7-9 ‘Hawks learned in 2011, anything can happen in the playoffs. For this very reason, the Seahawks should not and will not take the Saints lightly, who are capable of beating any team at any time behind their veteran leader Drew Brees. To take the analysis to a whole new level I will compare each position grouping to each other, as I did in the playoffs last season.

Quarterbacks:

Russell Wilson vs. Drew Brees

Drew Brees is a seasoned veteran at this point in his career and he has been elite ever since he came to New Orleans. Brees set the NFL passing yards record last season and is surrounded by a dynamic cast of playmakers which means he can create a big play at any time. Russell Wilson on the other hand is only in his second season and does most of his play-making on his own, without an elite receiving corps. I believe that the Seahawks receivers are significantly underrated, but they are still not elite, and much of the success of the Seahawks passing game comes from the play action and Russell Wilson making great throws into tight windows. Both quarterbacks have different styles but have been compared endlessly because of their similar heights. Drew Brees is one of the few truly “elite” quarterbacks in the NFL, but because Wilson is playing at home I will call this one a push. Seahawks: 1 Saints: 1

Drew Brees is the unquestionable leader of this Saints team.

Let's Move

Running Backs:

Marshawn Lynch/Robert Turbin vs. Pierre Thomas/Darren Sproles/Mark Ingram

Pierre Thomas missed Saturday’s Wild Card game because of a chest injury and should be considered questionable for the upcoming game against the Seahawks, but when he does play, he is a very solid and underrated all-around back. Marshawn Lynch is one of the most complete running backs in the NFL with a bruising style and highly underrated pass-catching ability. Robert Turbin and Mark Ingram are similar downhill runners with Ingram having slightly more explosiveness. Darren Sproles is an x-factor and one of my favorite players to watch, but the Saints don’t seem to utilize him as much as they could. If he played more snaps I would give this to the Saints but because of his limited playing time and Thomas’ injury, this grouping goes to Lynch and the ‘Hawks. Seahawks: 2 Saints: 1

Wide Receivers:

Percy Harvin/Golden Tate/Doug Baldwin vs. Marques Colston/Kenny Stills/Lance Moore

This is an interesting one because Percy Harvin’s health is a bit of a wild card. If Harvin plays and is 100% it would be hard to argue against the Seahawks receiving corps, but if Harvin has to be replaced with Jermaine Kearse, the debate becomes much closer. Marques Colston is aging, but he is still a big and physical receiver with great hands and an even better rapport with Drew Brees. Kenny Stills is a young speedster out of Oklahoma who can truly take the cap off a defense, and Lance Moore is a dependable slot receiver who has been a favorite target of Drew Brees for years. I have a gut feeling that Percy Harvin plays however and I also don’t think the dynamic Golden Tate and always dependable Doug Baldwin are chopped liver. Baldwin is not talked about nearly enough and I think he has a big game. Receiver nod goes to the ‘Hawks. Seahawks: 3 Saints: 1

Tight Ends:

Zach Miller/Luke Willson vs. Jimmy Graham/Ben Watson

Jimmy Graham. If that isn’t enough, check this video out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP6d3-RT2Zw. Seahawks: 3 Saints: 2

Jimmy Graham is the best tight end in the NFC.

WBRZ.com

Offensive Line:

The Saints offensive line is led by multiple time pro-bowler Jahri Evans at right guard, but the Seahawks line has multiple All-Pro’s in Max Unger and Russell Okung. Breno Giacomini is no slouch either on the opposite tackle of Okung. The Saints offensive line does a good job of protecting Drew Brees and they really outmuscled the Eagles defensive front in the run game on Saturday, but they don’t stack up to the Seahawks o-line. Seahawks: 4 Saints: 2

Defensive Line:

Cameron Jordan is having an outstanding season for the Saints as he is top five in the NFL in sacks, but he is the only true stud on the Saints d-line, whereas the ‘Hawks line doesn’t really have any holes. Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel, and Brandon Mebane on the inside create an insane amount of inside pressure while Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, and Cliff Avril are just as relentless on the outside. The ‘Hawks are very deep at all d-line positions and have run stoppers as well as pass-rushers. Seahawks: 5 Saints: 2

Cliff Avril could have huge game, just like he did in the teams' first match-up this year.

Bleacher Report

Linebackers:

The Seahawks linebacking corps is very strong with Bobby Wagner in the middle flanked by Bruce Irvin and Malcolm Smith. Irvin is a pass-rushing extraordinaire while Wagner and Smith are versatile and can succeed in all parts of the game. The ‘Hawks have lost K.J. Wright however to a foot injury and it doesn’t look like he will be back for this Saturday’s game. While Malcolm Smith has filled in admirably, he is not the same as Wright, who is often called the “screen sniffer”. This will be a big loss in this game especially as the Saints are particularly effective in the screen game with both Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles. The Saints linebackers are pretty dang strong as well led by veterans Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne on the inside, as well as pass-rusher Junior Galette on the outside. These guys have been playing well as a unit and because of the ‘Hawks loss of K.J. Wright, I would call this one a tie. Seahawks: 6 Saints: 3

Secondary:

The Saints secondary has been held intact most of the season by terrific rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro, but now that he is out with an injury they are just a bunch of guys back there. The Seahawks on the other hand have the best secondary in the league and have the stats to prove it, leading the league in passing yards allowed and interceptions. Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are both DPOY candidates and anchor a secondary that is unmatched in today’s NFL. Seahawks: 7 Saints: 3

Special Teams:

The Seahawks have the best special teams unit in the NFL and it isn’t close. Steven Hauschka is one of the best kickers, Jon Ryan is one of the best punters, and their kickoff and kick return coverage is spectacular. No contest. Seahawks: 8 Saints: 3

Obviously the Seahawks have better position groups and are simply a more talented team as a whole, but in the playoffs anything can happen. And while I know the Clink is in a league of its own, it took a miraculous Andrew Luck comeback to prevent the home teams from going 0-4 in the wild card round. Just a thought. Expect this game to be closer than the week 13 contest but the ‘Hawks will still come out with a victory. 27-16.

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Analysis of the Seahawks' 2013 Schedule

by Jackson Safon

The Seahawks have moved from an unrecognized team, only loved by its hometown fans, to a trendy super bowl pick. But now the schedules have been released and I think it’s time for an analysis to see how good of a chance the Seahawks have to win the division. However, because of their NFC West Championship last year, the division still belongs to the 49ers. One cool note about the schedule is the Hawks have the most prime time games out of anyone in the whole league with four. And that number could even increase because of the flex scheduling in the later weeks of the season. Here is an analysis of all of the Seahawks' 16 match-ups this year in the regular season:

Week 1:

At the Panthers. With the Panthers and Cam Newton really taking a step back last year, and the Hawks taking a massive leap forward, I don’t see anything that would prompt me to pick against the Seahawks in this won. Chalk up the win. 1-0.

Week 2:

Home against the 49ers. Sunday Night Football. The home opener is no cupcake as we get the reigning division champs. I think both teams will be improved last from last year and the 49ers offense has a chance to be scary good with the development of Kaepernick and the addition of Anquan Boldin. Both teams will be fired up for this one because of the rivalry as well as the national television spot and I expect it to be a really good game. As good as the 49ers are, and trust me I think they have a chance to be virtually unstoppable this season, I think the 'Hawks win this one. The home field advantage can’t be understated, and I think the Seahawks match up well against the Niners. Win. 2-0.

It will be a match-up of dual threat QB's early in the season when the 49ers come to town to face the Seahawks.

AP Photo

Week 3:

Home against the Jaguars. Gus Bradley returns. Former 'Hawks defensive coordinator and now Jaguars head coach will get his homecoming sooner rather than later. Too bad it has to be spoiled. Plain and simple the Jaguars aren't very good (although I expect them to be improved from last year), and we are very good. Easy win. 3-0.

Week 4:

At the Texans. This is a tough one. The Texans are not only very good but they are nearly unstoppable in Reliant Stadium. They play pretty good defense, and have J.J. Watt dominating the line of scrimmage. Although Russell Wilson has proved everyone wrong with the whole height thing, I am interested to see if he gets affected at all by Watt’s unbelievable ability to swat passes at the line of scrimmage. Another tough one for the 'Hawks is the fact that the Texans are a much better running team than they are a passing team, and rush defense is the weaker half of the 'Hawks defense. Expect this one to be very close, but I think the Texans will pull it out at home. 3-1.

Week 5:

At the Colts. Although the Colts were a playoff team last year, their scoring margin was that of a .500 team, and that showed when they got handled by the Ravens in the playoffs. One more year under Andrew Luck’s belt and I expect the Colts to be a very solid team, but not enough to contend with the 'Hawks. The Colts offensive line was the worst in the league last season and the new and improved Seahawks pass rush will feast on it all game. Expect a lot of sacks and possibly a few interceptions as well. 'Hawks win. 4-1.

Week 6:

Home against the Titans. Bad team. In the CLink. 'Hawks win. 5-1.

Week 7:

At the Cardinals. Thursday Night Football. Although I do expect the Cardinals to be much improved from last year, I just don’t see how they can hang with the 'Hawks. They play good defense and if Bruce Arians gets a quarterback the Cards could surprise some people, but I still don’t think they are good enough for the Hawks. Not nearly. 6-1.

Week 8:

At the Rams. Monday Night Football. After a short week with a game on Thursday they get even more rest not playing until two Mondays later. This long week will be really helpful because the Rams have a chance to be really good. They play very tough at home and I think they have a chance to make some noise in the division, but an extra long week for the Hawks bodes poorly for St. Louis. Expect a win. 7-1.

The Rams and head coach Jeff Fisher will boast a much improved team this year.

Kevin Casey/Getty Images North America

Week 9:

Home against the Buccaneers. The Bucs were last in the league against the pass last year and I expect Russell Wilson to have a feast in this game. However, their offense was decent with Doug Martin running the ball and Freeman chucking it down field  This one has a chance to be a shootout, but no matter the type of game, the Seahawks are still much more talented. 'Hawks win. 8-1.

Week 10:

At the Falcons. The rematch. The Seahawks lost a heart-breaker to the Falcons in the playoffs last season at the Georgia Dome which would have sent the 'Hawks to the conference championship game. Tough loss. Chance to avenge it here. I am a serious believer in Matt Ryan at home in the regular season, but I think this is one game he just can’t win. I can’t even imagine how fired up the 'Hawks will be and I think they take this one on the road in a nail biter. 9-1.

Week 11:

Home against the Vikings. Adrian Peterson is superhuman so the Vikings always have a chance. But I always like the Seahawks at home. Without a quarterback and a linebacking crew, I don’t see the Vikings keeping this one close. 10-1.

Week 12:

BYE. This gives me a chance to put in some notes. It scares me a little bit to be typing 10-1 through our first 11 games. That’s a really good start. Perhaps too good to be true. However, I think it’s going to happen. Also, this next set of games after the bye week is so unbelievably critical it’s hard to understate. Three VERY good teams in a row. Read on.

Week 13:

Home against the Saints. Monday Night Football. Dun dun dun dun... Dun dun.. dun dun.. Dun dun dun dun dun... dun dun.. dun dun... That doesn't really have the same affect without the actual MNF music (actual music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrnY11pXSFE ). But I was trying to get you pumped up, because this is a huge game. National television against one of the premier offensives and premier teams in the NFC. The Saints under performed last year, but I expect them to bulk up on defense at the draft, and with Sean Payton back that offense can do anything. Defensively, this will be the biggest challenge for the Seahawks all season. The extra week of preparation will help, but I say it’s a loss. Tough game. 10-2.

Drew Brees and the pass-heavy Saints could prove to be too much for the Seahawks.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fjUciSTPhlk/UHIl11avymI/AAAAAAAApVg/YYaw0bNQ4yU/s0/

Week 14:

At the 49ers. Wow. Right after we get the Saints we have to go to San Francisco on a short week. That’s a tough one. As good as the Seahawks are this year, I think the 49ers have an outside shot to be better. Plus, playing in Candlestick isn't easy. Niners win. Back to back losses is tough. 10-3.

Week 15:

At the Giants. I said the next stretch of games would be key didn't I? Another tough game. The Giants will return strong after a down year last year. I think they could be a tough match-up for us, but I have a feeling we pull this one out. Even in the Meadowlands. 11-3.

If the Hawks could go through weeks 13-15 with at least two wins I think that would be a colossal success.

Week 16:

Home against the Cardinals. Like I said before, Arizona will be much better than last year and surprise some people; but they can’t beat the Seahawks in Seattle. This does have some potential to be a trap game however because the 'Hawks would have just come off three monster games. I hate to say it, but it wouldn't be completely out of the realm to slip a tad bit and lose this game. But I don’t see it happening. Not at home. 'Hawks win. 12-3.

Week 17:

Home against the Rams. The Rams will be good. I believe it. Good defense and an improving quarterback. They tied the 49ers in San Francisco last year and should have won it except for a couple penalties, so it wouldn't be impossible for them to win in Seattle as well. This game though is one that could decide who wins the division as I expect the Seahawks and 49ers to be neck and neck for the regular season title. Because of that, I know the 'Hawks will come out firing and win this game. 13-3.

Okay 13-3. That would be an absolutely fantastic season. Furthermore, optimistically, the Hawks could finish 15-1 with wins at Houston which I think will be very close, and a home win against the Saints. I do not think the Hawks can win all three games in weeks 13-15 however so I don’t really think a perfect season is coming. Although it wouldn't be impossible…anyways. Pessimistically, the Hawks could finish a much worse 10-6, with potential losses being @ Colts, @ Falcons, and @ Giants. Any of these three finishes or something in between could be plausible, but I think this Seahawks team has a chance to be very good. Historically good. Perhaps even Super Bowl good. No need to count your chickens yet, but if I were you, I wouldn't miss too many games this year.

Russell Wilson's Big Strides Leading Seahawks to the Promise Land

Russell Wilson, the five-foot ten-inch rookie quarterback out of Wisconsin and a mere third round pick in last year’s draft, has progressed from a pre-season standout, into a rookie sensation. The former Badger signal-caller was the sixth quarterback taken in last year’s draft and after beating out ten million dollar free agent Matt Flynn for the starting job, has made big improvements every week. At the start of the season, Wilson leaned on the defense and running game to help lead the Seahawks to victories. But strong performances in recent games, capped off by two long touchdown drives late in the game against the Bears last week, make it clear that the tables have turned and it is now in fact Wilson leading the Seahawks to victories.

Hardly anybody has been able to catch Russell Wilson this season.

http://wegotthiscovered.com/news/seattle-seahawks-set-matt-flynn-russell-wilson/

As of late, the defense has regressed somewhat and the running game has slowed down. Marshawn Lynch has had back to back games without 100 yard performances, and the defense seems to have lost a little bit of its edge and speed it had in the first few weeks of the season. That has left the slack to fall on Wilson, and he has responded greatly, throwing nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last four games. This combined with a 67% completion percentage over these four games has led to three Seahawk wins in those four weeks, with a disappointing loss against the lowly Dolphins. This resurgence in the Seahawks passing game has even put Wilson in the national spotlight, getting headlines on ESPN for the first time since the Hail Mary at the end of the Packers game. 

This hot streak by Wilson, and the national recognition that has followed, has led many people to finally realize how strong his stats are. Some even say he has entered the offensive rookie of the year conversation with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. There are two main stats to measure performance of a quarterback. Those two being passer rating and Total Quarterback Rating (QBR). Passer rating is simply a compilation of passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions, while QBR takes difficulty of throws, situations, and other such factors into account. While passer rating is not a perfect indicator on performance, it is good to note that Wilson has moved into seventh in the league in passer rating, ahead of guys like Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Drew Brees, and Andrew Luck. Total QBR is not a perfect stat either, but Wilson ranks eleventh in that category, putting him ahead of Brees, Matthew Stafford, and Josh Freeman. All of these quarterbacks have more experience in the league than Wilson, which makes Wilson’s accomplishments even more impressive.

Russell Wilson has a higher passer rating and QBR than legendary QB Drew Brees.

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Report-Drew-Brees-to-miss-out-New-Orleans-Saints-Work-Outs-if-a-new-deal-is-not-struck-Blog-45532

The most important statistic of all however, is wins. Wilson has done a good job of helping the team to victory, leading us to a 7-5 record thus far in the season. Note that this is only one less win than Andrew Luck’s Colts, but one more win than RGIII’s Redskins. Clearly wins can be attributed to more than just quarterback play, but Wilson’s play has been a key component in the victories of the season so far. At this moment, the Seahawks would be in the playoffs as the six seed, which is due in large part to Wilson’s play and I believe if he continues to play at such a high level, then the Hawks could potentially make a run at the division title (a more in depth discussion on playoffs will come after this weekend’s games). However, the Hawks would probably need to win-out to do that. For now, Wilson and the team need to focus on improving every week, and I think that with continued development, Wilson can become a top-tier and elite quarterback in the very near future.

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Jackson