Seahawks actually starting to get some national respect

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks jumps on the back of Chris Carson #32 to celebrate Carson's touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks jumps on the back of Chris Carson #32 to celebrate Carson's touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Seattle Seahawks aren’t the same team that sported an ugly 0-2 record in mid-September. The national media is finally starting to notice.

All 12s know the Seahawks are a very different team than they were after their poor start. It wasn’t just that Seattle lost the first two games, but how they lost that rankled. You’ve probably blocked those games from your memory, but we’re here to remind you of those horror shows – it is Halloween, after all. Russell Wilson was sacked 12 times, and played more like Russell Brand or Owen Wilson than himself. Meaning, he wasn’t very good.

That all started to turn around in the Seahawks home opener versus the Cowboys. The Seattle running game came to life as Chris Carson piled up 102 yards. Suddenly defenses couldn’t ignore the run, and Wilson magically played better. Amazing how well play action works when you actually remember to run the ball.

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After that dismal start, the Seahawks are 4-1. During this run they’ve outscored their opponents 130 – 80 for an average score of 26-16. Their sole loss was a two point squeaker to the undefeated Los Angeles Rams that turned on a true stinkeroo of a holding call on D.J. Fluker. The Seahawks are a much better team than they were in those first two weeks.

Granted, two of their wins are against the medicocre Cowboys and Lions, both 3-4. Another is against the woeful Cardinals who are 2-6. And then you have the absolutely miserable1-6 Raiders. Chucky brought all tricks and no treats for the poor fans in Oakland. So I have to admit, Seattle hasn’t faced a lot of top teams yet.

But they came as close to beating the Rams as any other team. And if their coaching staff had realized running backs can carry the ball more than 10 times a game earlier in the season, they’d likely be 6-1.

That’s right, after two games Rashaad Penny had the most carries in a game with a mere 10. Apparently Pete Carroll though Chris Carson “was gassed” in Chicago. Luckily he realized the seventh round stud was built for the long haul, as he called Carson’s number 32 times against Dallas.

So the Seahawks have won four of their last five games, and the national media is starting to notice. In a report for USA Today, Nate Davis ran down their panel’s playoff picks. Three of the six named Seattle as the second wild card. Not the best show of confidence, but no one would have even thought of naming the Seahawks a few weeks ago. They got more love than the Bears, who were only named once. See, no one remembers that game in Chicago.