Seahawks vs Lions 5 takeaways from a playoff win

January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) moves the ball in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) moves the ball in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) moves the ball in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) moves the ball in for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. So that’s what a running game looks like

Thomas Rawls looked like Thomas Rawls for just the 2nd time all season. He ran all over Detroit’s defense, and helped Seattle maintain an offense efficiency that had been absent all year.

Rawls Finished with 27 carries and a Seahawks playoff record 161 yards. He also added a crucial fourth quarter TD that the Seahawks desperately needed.

The best part of the running game’s performance was that it happened because of the guys up front. Justin Britt and Mark Glowinski had perhaps their best games of the season. They regularly were driving Detroit’s defensive tackles back on running plays.

The Lions don’t exactly have a pair of imposing defensive tackles. There was no Aaron Donald out there to contend with. Replicating this success next week in Atlanta won’t be easy, but damn it was good to see tonight.