Seahawks’ defense dominant in victory over Vikings
By David Stobbe
The Seattle Seahawks worked their magic once again in the playoffs, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible effort of the teams defense.
The Seahawks’ defense shut down the Vikings all game, holding them to only 183 total yards. Their biggest accomplishment was limiting Adrian Peterson to 45 yards on 23 carries for an average of 2.0 yards per carry.
Let’s recognize the players that helped lead the defense to such a dominant performance.
It all starts with the big boys up front, and the defensive line was a huge factor in shutting down the Vikings’ offense.
Michael Bennett is one tough dude and had an incredible game. He was playing with a toe injury, and then in the fourth quarter he suffered a knee injury which initially looked bad. Bennett was able to shrug it off and come back without any hesitation, only missing one play.
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Cliff Avril also had an unbelievable game for the Seahawks and made several big time plays. He had 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 3 QB hits. His play of the game was mid-way through the third quarter when he tackled Peterson for a 7 yard loss.
Ahtyba Rubin and Brandon Mebane were forces in the middle and made life difficult for the Vikings’ offensive line.
Rubin fell on the ball after Peterson’s fourth quarter fumble and showed the importance of hustling on every single play. That type of “play until the whistle” is all heart and determination, and Rubin has been doing that all year.
Mebane also held his ground in the middle of the line and made sure Adrian Peterson didn’t get any room. Mebane didn’t get moved off the line, but quietly went about his business and had a spectacular game.
The linebackers played fast and furious and were relentless, especially in run support, making tackles left and right. They are an underrated part of the defense, but they deserve recognition for the way they played.
Bobby Wagner was all over the field and had a big sack in the fourth quarter on a perfectly dialed up blitz. He also led the team with 8 total tackles, and 2 of those were for a loss. Wagner is the captain of the defense for a reason, and he had a big impact on the game.
KJ Wright also had a great game, using his athleticism to chase down the ball carrier, and he finished with 7 total tackles. He also had a 0.5 sack, which was a 6 yard loss at a crucial time near the end of the fourth quarter.
Bruce Irvin played very well and had a total of 5 tackles. He was alongside KJ Wright with the other half of the big, fourth quarter sack. Irvin has a warrior mentality, refusing to wear long sleeves in the frigid temperatures.
Finally, we have the Legion of Boom who played absolutely outstanding and didn’t give Bridgewater anything easy to throw at.
Jeremy Lane was impressive. He made a huge play in the final minutes of the game when he tipped the ball out of Stefon Diggs’ hands on a third and long, forcing the Vikings to punt.
Deshawn Shead also had a nice game at both the right corner and nickel position. He is a versatile player who has been solid for the defense.
Richard Sherman had a beautiful game, both in pass coverage and run support. He played with a lot of heart and passion and never gave up on any play. His hustle was demonstrated when he came within inches of blocking Blair Walsh’s FG at the end of the third quarter.
Kam Chancellor had a game-changing play when he forced Adrian Peterson to fumble the ball in the fourth quarter. He brings the boom to the legion and made his presence known with that play, giving the Seahawks some confidence and momentum.
Earl Thomas had a huge pass breakup when he knocked the ball out of Jerick McKinnon’s hands with a big hit on third down in the second quarter. Thomas makes those kinds of game changing plays on a routine basis for the Seahawks’ defense.
The entire defense had an amazing day, and they gave the Seahawks a fighting chance all the way to the end. They shut down Adrian Peterson and made life difficult for Teddy Bridgewater and company.
Next: 5 Takeaways from Seattle's playoff win
The Seahawks now prepare for the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round. They will look to slow down MVP candidate Cam Newton and the rest of the Panthers offense.
If the Seahawks’ defense keeps playing like they did against the Vikings, then they will be a tough team to beat in the playoffs. When they play together and for each other, with relentless passion, they can stifle any offense.