Had the San Francisco 49ers been able to deal with the raging defense that was the Seattle Seahawks over the weekend, the game might have been a real game, and it quite possibly would have resulted in a different ending because of Sam Darnold's decent but not great performance.
Yes, he got the win, and that's what matters at the end of the day. That said, Darnold was nowhere near the reason the Seahawks crushed their division rivals, sending them packing and slamming the door on their incredible season. No, the Seahawks won because of what they did with their running game within the offense.
More specifically, what Klint Kubiak did with Kenneth Walker III, who, before Week 11 of the regular season, was barely in Seattle's offensive play calling. Of course, that all changed after that loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and Walker would soon become a much more useful tool. He was more than just a tool against the 49ers, though; he was the catalyst.
Kenneth Walker III's explosion proves the Seattle Seahawks made the best offensive decision mid-season
Prior to that Week 11 loss to the Rams, Walker had stacked up 606 yards in ten games. He was still on pace for a 1,000-yard season, but that's not the point. Walker wasn't being leaned on due to Darnold's incredible start to the season, but his erratic quarterback play would eventually creep up. It was only after Seattle's loss to LA that things changed for the offense.
From that week on, Walker (Seattle's rush attack in general) became more of a focal point each week for the remainder of the regular season. In the remaining eight games after the Rams' loss, Walker picked things up as the Seahawks began using him and Zach Charbonnet more. Both backs were instrumental in the final stretch for Seattle, and Walker has been huge, especially.
Against the 49ers this past weekend, he carried the Seahawks to the 41-6 victory, rushing for 116 yards. His three touchdowns were the more impressive mark of the game; it was just the second time this season Walker had two or more touchdowns in a game (he ran for two against the Saints in Week 3).
To highlight his three touchdowns even more, Walker only had five in total through eighteen regular season games. His 116 yards came on 19 carries, but he was also used in the passing game, catching three balls for 29 yards. The performance was by far his best of the entire year, and it was needed to, considering Darnold threw for just 124 yards.
As the Seahawks turn their attention to another division rival, the Rams, Walker can look back on his last performance against them. Everyone remembers that Week 16 rematch in Seattle, where the Seahawks had to come back in the second half, force overtime, and eventually squeak out the win, barely.
Walker posted 100 yards, dead on, that night. He also averaged 9.1 yards per carry, his season best, including scoring one touchdown. Earlier in the year, when the Seahawks dropped their first game to the Rams, Walker had 67 yards and also one touchdown.
He's had success against the Rams' defense this season. Does that set the bar high going into the NFC Conference championship game this weekend? Well, yes, it should.
What it should do is force Kubiak and the offense to lean on Walker, despite the natural reaction to rely heavily on the passing attack, given that the Rams' strength is the passing attack. Going mano a mano with Matthew Stafford seems like the logical game plan; however, Darnold has not shown any signs lately that he can do that, at least, not consistently.
Of course, Darnold has to play well to beat the Rams, especially play turnover-free, but the Seahawks could have the advantage with the running game, and they should continue to use it for their benefit. Walker could go off again, and that might be the best option Seattle has this upcoming weekend offensively.