The Seahawks are back in the playoffs, thanks to an overtime win over the Rams. They needed help from the Lions, too. But let’s praise the Hawks that made it happen.
As I’m sure every member of the 12s feels, I could not be more proud of this team. It’s one thing to love your team and “just know” they’ll make the playoffs. It’s another thing entirely to see them pull it off after they’ve moved on from two of their greatest players ever. It wasn’t an easy road for the Seahawks, who couldn’t seem to find their identity during the season.
Was this a 2-3 team that struggled to win shootouts? Hmmm…maybe it was a 6-3 team that was efficient on offense and ferocious on defense. Or were they equally incompetent on both sides of the ball, a team that struggled through a 1-5 stretch to take themselves all but out of postseason contention?
As it turns out, they were all of these things. The Seahawks blasted the hapless Jets in Week 18 to even their record at 8-8, then needed overtime to get past the Rams. Geno Smith has been brilliant this season, but he was anything but that Sunday. I’d say he had his worst game of the season.
The running game powered the Seahawks Week 18 win
When you’re picked off on the opening play, that isn’t a great sign, right? Still, I’ll give Smith credit. He kept his head in the game, made several great runs that kept drives alive and threw a beautiful strike to Tyler Lockett that gave the Hawks their only touchdown of the game.
As I wrote earlier, Geno Smith made each of his four runs count. But the man who really drove the Hawks to the win was running back Kenneth Walker III. He had his third straight 100-yard game and topped 1000 yards rushing for the season. That’s all the more remarkable when you consider he didn’t start until week six when Rashaad Penny went down for the season. Hmmm…I wonder where all those pundits who said the Hawks wasted a draft pick on Walker are today?
Back to Mr. Kenneth Walker III. While he didn’t rip off any huge runs against the Rams, he did account for over 30 percent of the Seattle offense. He saved his best for the end of the game when a 20-yard ramble took the ball deep into Los Angeles territory in overtime. Four more runs by Walker brought the ball to the Rams’ 14-yard line, and that was all another hero of the Seahawks needed to end the game. The Hawks had to wait for help from the Lions but Seattle did exactly what they needed to do today.
Seahawks couldn’t have won without the foot of Jason Myers
Listen, I don’t want to hear about the one kick Jason Myers missed that could have won the game in regulation. It was just his third missed field goal of the year, and he’d already made three kicks to keep the Seahawks in the game. Seattle only managed one touchdown against Los Angeles, and I’ve had all I want to see of Jalen Ramsay and Quentin Lake, thanks.
As for Bobby Wagner, I’m happy to see him, even in a different uniform. I’d be thrilled though if he’d take the next contest against the Seahawks off. Maybe open a children’s hospital or a homeless shelter. Okay, kidding about that. You always want to beat a team at its best, and coming out on top over a player as great as Wagner makes this win even better.
As for Myers, I wrote earlier this season about how overlooked his contributions have been. He truly stood out in this game, as he scored 13 of Seattle’s 19 points. Obviously, the Seahawks would be sitting at home next week without him. But as he has all season long, Myers put the Hawks in great position to win with his kickoffs, too. His five kickoffs resulted in four touchbacks and one 17-yard return. After every Seattle score, Los Angeles faced long drives to answer, and that cannot be overlooked.
Quandre Diggs saved the game and the Seahawks season
I don’t think anyone would say this was the best season Quandre Diggs has played. That’s only because virtually every season he’s played with the Seahawks has been his best. Yes, he’s dropped a few sure interceptions this season, and missed a few more tackles than we’re used to seeing from him. But he’s also coming off surgery from injuries that could have ended his career, and playing without teammate Jamal Adams. I think we can give the man who made his third straight Pro Bowl a little slack.
Despite the fact that Diggs has now made at least three picks in the past six seasons, he’s never had a bigger interception than the one he made in overtime vs the Rams. I mean, even the NFL says he covered an insane amount of ground to make the play. Go ahead, watch his brilliant play again. Watch it a dozen times; we’ll be here when you get back. See, wasn’t that amazing? If there was one play that saved the season, it was this beautiful interception by Quandre Diggs.
From here, Seattle visits San Francisco to extend their season. That won’t be an easy task, to be sure. The Niners handed the Hawks their worst defeat of the season in week two and won again just four weeks ago. Still, I like our chances. Without the play of Diggs, Myers, and Walker, the Hawks wouldn’t even be in the game.