Whether Seahawks contain McCaffrey or not makes no difference

Seahawks have had ups and downs with top backs

The Rams beat Seattle both times, whether Gurley had a good game (113 total yards and three touchdowns on 26 touches) or a huge game (160 total yards and one score on 19 touches). It’s more illustrative to say the Seahawks shut down Johnson and Jones, and subsequently beat both the Lions and Packers. It certainly helps to hold the running game down, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to a win. And a big game by the opposing back doesn’t always mean a loss, either. Elliot’s 127 yards was the most given up by the Hawks this season, but he still wound up with the loss.

Let’s get back to Mr. McCaffrey. He’s had huge games, like 184 yards in a win against the Bengals. He’s had his share of lesser outcomes, like 20 yards in a loss versus the Redskins. He did add 46 receiving yards in that game, but his 66 yards from scrimmage was his second lowest total for the year. He was shut out of the end zone and the Panthers lost 23-17.

Here’s where it gets interesting. I know, finally, right? McCaffrey’s worst overall game of the season was against the Baltimore Ravens. He was held to 45 yards in 14 carries, with just 11 yards on 4 catches. However, he scored twice and the Panthers prevailed 36-21. In Carolina’s six wins, McCaffrey has 445 yards rushing on 93 attempts, a 4.78 average. Throw out the extreme outlier of the Bengals game and he averaged 4.01 yards per carry.