Gameday grades: week 8 Seahawks versus Texans
By Andy Larkin
In what might end up being one of the most exciting games of the 2017 NFL season, the Seahawks managed to cap a late comeback against the Texans in a thrilling 41-38 fireworks show.
That was a fun little Sunday afternoon. The game was reminiscent of the 2015 shootout against the Pittsburgh Steelers (a game the Seahawks won 39-30). It was back and forth the entire way, and just when it looked like a loss was inevitable, Russell Wilson fired a game winning touchdown to tight end Jimmy Graham.
The victory was certainly thrilling, and at 5-2 the Seahawks have put themselves right in the thick of things. The record is one measuring stick, but there’s always more to the story. Enter the grade book! Though a lot of aspects of yesterday’s game were exciting, others were downright scary. Let’s take a look at the grades I handed out for the weekend.
Offensive Line: (D)
Simply not good enough. Let me rephrase that… The offensive line was technically good enough on Sunday. The team got the win. But the offensive line was once again a major hindrance for the the team, especially in the ground game. The Seahawks ran for just 33 yards with 30 of those coming from the legs of Russell Wilson. The running game is an absolute joke right now. I was baffled that the Texans were actually still freezing up on play action. This rushing attack has to get better. Right now, it’s not even a threat.
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Now for some positives. The line actually did a pretty good job of protecting Russell on his 41 pass attempts. There was some pressure, but Wilson was given enough time to drive the ball down field for some big plays. Wilson was sacked just twice in the game.
The addition of left tackle Duane Brown from the Houston Texans is a huge get for a struggling group up front. Having a very good tackle on the left side of the line could do wonders for this team going forward. I hope the the Texans didn’t make him get on the flight home, only to turn around and fly back to Seattle.
Quarterback: (A+)
There really isn’t a lot to say about Russell Wilson’s performance. He was absolutely phenomenal. In what was statistically the best game of Wilson’s career, the sixth year quarterback flat out took over. Wilson was 26-41 for 452 yards and four touchdowns. I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun watching Russell than I did yesterday.
Running backs: (F)
Terrible. I could not believe how bad the ground game was on Sunday. Yes, the line wasn’t opening up many holes, but the backs certainly weren’t world beaters. Did they break one tackle all day?
Eddie Lacy goes down too easy for a 260 pounder. He has just 108 yards this season on 42 carries. Similarly, Thomas Rawls does not look like the same back we saw in 2015. I sometimes wonder if past injuries are haunting both backs.
I’d like to see more of J.D. Mckissic. His slight build makes it hard for him to run between tackles, but at least he hits the hole hard every time. Aside from that he is a nightmare to match up with in the passing game.
Receivers/Tight Ends: (A)
The receivers played a great game against the Texans. Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and Paul Richardson each finished the game with six receptions. However, the day belonged to Paul Richardson, who grabbed two touchdowns and should’ve had a third if it hadn’t been erased by a Thomas Rawls penalty.
Jimmy Graham sighting! Trade rumors were floating around pregame, but Pete Carroll and John Schneider quickly put those to bed, and Jimmy went to work. Though he caught just four balls, Graham made them count. Graham secured the final two touchdowns that capped off a thrilling come from behind victory.
*Bonus Grade: Game winning techno party: (A+)
The Seahawks have incorporated some techno spirit into their practice routine, and it has boiled over into touchdown celebrations. The group party that ensued following the go-ahead touchdown was a thing of beauty. The highlight? Russell Wilson skipping over to the madness playing an air flute. More of this please!