Gut Reaction: Seattle vs. San Francisco
Dec 23, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider looks at the Seahawks bench in between during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
All I can say is that waiting was the worst part. The week before this game had my nerves all twisted and blood pressure at a consistently unhealthy level. I tried to avoid conversations about football with any of my friends in San Francisco and stay focused on the game at hand. When kickoff finally rolled around I had so much adrenaline in my system that I didn’t know how to process it. Cry? Yell? Run around in circles like a jack-rabbit on amphetamines? I realize I might have taken this game way too seriously, but I can’t help it. I hate losing, as many of you probably already know. But more than just losing, I hate losing to the 49ers.
Anyway, by the time kick off finally arrived, it seemed like the game had taken on a sense of inevitability. There was just so much energy, support, and emotion behind the Seahawks that it would have taken a Herculean effort to stop the Seahawks yesterday. Even with Justin Smith I don’t think San Francisco could have taken down the Seattle team that showed up Sunday night. The fans simply would not let it happen.
Russell Wilson continued his odyssey of dismantling opposing defenses with an almost scientific precision. Marshawn Lynch continued to punish opposing linebackers and secondaries. Speaking of secondaries, ours played out of their
Dec 23, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll stands on the sideline during during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
minds. Kam Chancellor laid down the hit of the season on Vernon Davis. A completely legal hit, I’d like to add. Sherman had an interception and a recovered blocked field goal. Red Bryant had his fourth blocked kick in two years. The game was so complete that I could basically list every play and talk about how great it was.
I was worried that Colin Kaepernick’s mobility would present problems for Seattle. Especially with demonstrated weakness across the middle in various pass plays. The defensive line held strong though and on top of that they made Frank Gore look like a below average running back. Seeing Seattle beat Chicago, Green Bay, New England, and now San Francisco. I just wish I could see them play Atlanta, Houston, and Denver just so the complete set of the NFL’s top teams would be in the record.
After this game, the national media has finally started to pay attention to the wrecking ball coming out of Seattle. Russell Wilson is finally getting the attention he deserves for rookie of the year consideration. I honestly don’t especially care about individual awards such as rookie or players of the year. They’re nice but ultimately meaningless.
Aldon Smith was in the running for defensive player of the year but didn’t get a single sack against Seattle because his front man, Justin Smith, wasn’t there to block for him. Does that mean Aldon or Just in is more valuable? Anyway, if Wilson gets it, great. If not, who cares? It’s not like the sports media complex has demonstrated any sort of integrity or fairness when reporting sports in the last few years. Looking at you, ESPN. The new attention is nice but I’d rather keep the chip on the team’s shoulder and use that to steamroll their way through the post season.
Alright, that’s enough words on this great victory. Seattle has punched its ticket to the post season and I expect them to do some damage while they are there. I wish I was in the Northwest to experience this with the 12th Man. Someday soon, hopefully.
Also want to send shout-outs to Doug Baldwin who reemerged this game and made an awesome catch in the end zone showing great spatial awareness. Also, Red Bryant for being nothing less than Big Red. And finally Chris Clemons who chased down Kaepernick to tackle him from behind on a play that wasn’t a sack but a great demonstration of his intensity and determination.