Seahawks get Mychal Kendricks back just in time to sack the Vikings
A Seahawks win over the Vikings would be huge for their playoff hopes. Mychal Kendricks will be a huge factor in making that happen.
The Seahawks don’t absolutely need to beat the Vikings to stay in the playoff picture, but a win would certainly help. Minnesota has a daunting aerial attack, to be be sure. One key returning player who could truly help contain their game is linebacker Mychal Kendricks.
Kendricks was suspended by the league for eight games, so this will be his first action since week four versus the Arizona Cardinals. In just three games, Kendricks had two sacks, three quarterback hits, four tackles for a loss, and five golden rings. Sorry, but we had the Christmas flow going. No rings yet, but who knows what will happen, right?
Those two sacks have him tied for third on the Seahawks. Remember, he’s only played in three games. Kendricks is tied for fourth in both tackles for a loss and quarterback hits. Did I mention something about him just being in three games? Kendricks has been a godsend for Seattle.
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Now I’m not going to go crazy and say he’s Lawrence Taylor, the Tarheel demigod. What he is, is very good at disrupting the opposing backfield. With K.J. Wright still out, Kendricks couldn’t have come back at a better time. Like I said, he isn’t LT, but he’s gotten to the quarterback far more than Austin Calitro. Calitro has played well, but the kind of disruption Kendricks specializes in simply isn’t his game.
The Vikings throw the ball a lot. Kirk Cousins has been pretty good in his first year in Minnesota, and at times, phenomenal. There’s no doubt that having wideouts like Stephon Diggs and Adam Thielen would help anyone’s passing game. But you have to have time to get the ball to them.
This is where Kendricks can step in, and step up. The Seahawks recorded 23 sacks in their seven wins. The only game they’ve won without getting a sack was over the Carolina Panthers. For those of you who aren’t naturally mathy, Seattle has eight sacks in their five losses. That’s over three sacks per game in wins, and less than two in losses. Toss out the aberration of the Panthers game (the lack of sacks, not the win!), and Seattle averages nearly four sacks per win. More sacks, more wins.
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Mr. Kendricks will be a big boost to the pressure the Seahawks need to apply to Cousins. Yes, the Seahawks need to play well in other areas. For one, the one and only Russell Wilson will need to continue his stellar play. The Seahawks secondary needs to step up. They can’t play like they did against the 49ers and expect to win this game. The return of Kendricks will take some of that pressure off our young corners, and put it right on the Vikings.