Note: Last Sunday evening at Seattle’s Centurylink Field the Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 35-30 in another classic game between the two teams. The Hawks and the Patriots don’t play each other often, this game being just the 4^th match-up in the Pete Carroll era (including the 2014-15 Super Bowl), but when they do it’s pretty much guaranteed the game will be a barn burner. I think anyone who saw it will agree, this contest lived up to all  expectations. Please read on…MA

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As Russell Wilson brought the Seattle Seahawks offense to the line of scrimmage for the 3^rd play of last Sunday’s nationally televised game against Bill Belichik’s New England Patriots, the last thing I worried about was the possibility the Hawk’s QB would throw a pick-6. After throwing only 5 interceptions all last season, and being so good against Atlanta (31-35, 322 yds, 4 TDs, 0 Int) in the first game of this season, the idea that a Wilson pass could be pilfered and taken to the house just had no basis in reality for me. It also never entered my mind that such a thing could happen on a pass that hit Seattle tight end Greg Olsen right in the hands; so sticky fingered is the usually reliable Olsen. Yet, if you saw this game you know that is exactly what happened, with Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty accepting the gift deflection at the Hawks 45-yard line and running it in untouched for the score. Thus, with the game barely a minute old, Seattle already trailed Belichik’s team 7-0—not the start the Twelves were hoping for.

Incidentally, that pick-6 provides a marvelous example of the effect one play can have on a whole game. Based on the way Wilson and Seattle’s offense played last week; and the way they played against New England following that interception, it’s reasonable to assume Wilson would have led his team to a score of some kind on that opening possession; even if only a FG. At the minimum, then, McCourty’s interception not happening becomes a 10-point swing for the Hawks, 3 more because of the FG and 7 less for the Pats with the pick-6 coming off the board. Instead of winning a nail-biter on the game’s last play 35-30, Seattle would have won going away 38-23. Now, I realize this is all speculation and that it’s pointless to think that way, because that pick-6 DID happen. I know It’s a much better approach to simply do what Wilson always does—stay in the moment. As a fan, all I can say is…well…I’m going to have to work on that.

Russell Wilson has already mastered it, however. Following the interception, and throughout the balance of the game, the Seattle QB was simply on fire; a fact made more impactful when you take into account the quality of the Patriots secondary, possibly the best in the league. For the game Wilson completed 21 of 28 throws for 288 yards and an astounding 5 touchdowns. More impressive was the fact that the 5 scoring passes went to 5 different receivers; one each for Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, rookie Freddie Swain (his first TD ever), David Moore and running back Chris Carson. Wilson’s willingness and ability to work through his progressions and spread the ball around to ALL his receivers is one of the special parts of his game. He gets everyone involved. One the best analogies I’ve heard to describe Russell compares him to a point guard in basketball, like John Stockton or Magic Johnson, both NBA Hall of Famers and all-time great ball distributors. That most definitely is an apt description for the Hawks QB, but Wilson is so much more.

That “so much more” aspect of Wilson was especially displayed on two of his more remarkable scoring throws, the first to DK Metcalf and the second to David Moore. Because it occurred earlier in the game, we’ll start by analyzing the Metcalf TD. The first thing to grasp about Metcalf in this game is that for virtually the whole game he was matched one on one against last season’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore. I’ve watched enough of Gilmore to know what an incredible player he is. He reminds me of Richard Sherman in his Legion of Boom days; and we all know how good Sherman was when he was here.

The next thing to grasp about Metcalf is that he is well on his way to becoming a superstar wide receiver, which this TD play clearly demonstrates. To set the scene, at the 8:48 mark of the second quarter the Seahawks had the ball following a Patriots punt, 1^st and 10 at Seattle’s 25-yard line. A short pass to Lockett, a 14-yard completion to Metcalf on a slant route, and a short Chris Carson run, gave the Hawks a 2^nd and 8 situation at their own 46. It was then that the magic happened. For the 2^nd down play Wilson lined up in shotgun with an empty backfield. Split to Wilson’s left was Tyler Lockett with Chris Carson shifted out into the slot to Tyler’s right. Split out to the right side was Freddie Swain and to his left, in the slot, was DK Metcalf. (As a note, I have now watched this play easily 10 times through, and I must say that Chris Carson is due a special commend for its success. When he initially took his position for the play, Carson was lined up to the outside of Lockett. A count before the snap he went in motion to his right, shifting his position from Lockett’s outside to Lockett’s inside, right into the path of Patriots linebacker Chase Winovich, who would be blitzing on this play. If you go back and watch the play you will see that Wilson just gets the pass off before Winovich crashes in to him from the left side. The reason the Pats linebacker got there late was a beautiful “chip” block by Carson that delayed Winovich’s rush by just enough for Wilson to release the pass. Kudos to Carson for that block.)

As Carson was making his “chip” on Winovich, Wilson received the center snap at his own 41 yd-line and retreated to the 37 as he looked downfield making his reads. Metcalf, meanwhile, who between last year and this has dramatically improved his route running, took off on what looked to be a deep post pattern, running diagonally, right to left across the field; Gilmore in good defensive position a half step behind him. Suddenly, In the center of the field at about the Patriots 40 yard-line, Metcalf angled sharply back to his right, which created about a yard of separation from Gilmore. For a great deep ball thrower like Wilson, that small bit of separation was all he needed. Sensing the pressure from Winovich, Wilson then lofted a gorgeous, arcing pass toward Metcalf as he raced at an angle toward the right side of the goal line. The ball gently dropped into Metcalf’s hands at about the New England 10-yd line, having travelled some 53 yards in the air since leaving Wilson’s hand. Gilmore made a futile attempt to prevent the catch by draping himself on DK’s back and putting his right arm around the receiver’s waist to strip the ball away. Metcalf, expecting this move by Gilmore, simply transferred the ball to his left hand, away from Gilmore’s reach. Adding insult to injury he then easily broke Gilmore’s tackle attempt, leaving the Patriots star flat on his face, and waltzed into the end zone for the 54 yd score.

As awesome as that Wilson to Metcalf bomb was, Russell’s TD pass to Moore might be more impressive, especially as far as touch and ball placement is concerned. For this play we go to the 3^rd quarter, with the Hawks trailing 17-14 and having the ball at the New England 38 yard-line, 2^nd down and 3 yards to go. On this play Wilson was also in shotgun, and had David Moore split wide left, with Metcalf on the other side, split wide right. In man to man defense on Moore for this play was Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty (twin brother of Devin, who had the pick-6 in the 1^st quarter), and his coverage on the Hawks receiver was nearly faultless. I have only seen the TV broadcast of this play, and so have not been able to see all of Moore’s route, but from announcer description he put a double move on McCourty, either a stop and go, or a slight break inside and then back outside as he angled to the extreme left side of the goal line. It’s hard to believe that Moore, of all the Seattle receivers on this play, was the most open, but Wilson was not to be denied. The Seahawks QB received the center snap at the Pats 43 yard-line and retreated to about the Pats 48, once again releasing his pass a split second before being hit. As the ball reached its peak arc and began its descent, Moore was battling McCourty for position, and had managed to create the slimmest of advantages, with McCourty to the inside part of the field and the ball descending towards Moore’s back shoulder, just inside the left sideline. By turning himself slightly to the outside, Moore was able to keep McCourty slightly to the inside, as Russell, of course, put the ball in the only possible position for Moore to catch it and have a chance at keeping his feet in bounds; which the receiver did in unbelievable fashion. On looking at the replay, Moore made the catch on the goal line, right next to the pylon where the goal line meets the sideline. He got his left foot down in bounds just as his right foot kicked the pylon, which prompted the receiver to pull his right foot in just a tad, so that when he planted it on the ground there was still just a little green showing (maybe a quarter inch) between his foot and the sideline. Staring right at Moore’s feet on the play was the disbelieving referee, no doubt having a hard time trusting his eyes. Ultimately, though, he signaled the touchdown, and the Seahawks took a lead they would not relinquish.

In looking back at this game, there were so many other big plays, some good and some, from a Hawks perspective, not so good. Wilson, of course, had 3 other scoring throws, and Chris Carson had a nice game, rushing for 72 yards on 17 carries. Defensively Jamal Adams had 6 tackles and the team’s only sack of new Patriots quarterback, Cam Newton; and Quinton Dunbar had a nice interception of Newton to set up one of Seattle’s touchdowns; but he also dropped what would have been a certain pick-6. I haven’t mentioned too much about Cam Newton. I am not a huge Newton fan, but there is no doubt he is a physical marvel; and he played a fantastic game against the Hawks. I’m a little dismayed at the difficulty Seattle had in stopping Newton and the Patriots defensively. Patriots receiver Julian Edelman had a career day (8 catches for over 180 yards) against a number of Hawks defensive backs, including Jamal Adams; and once again Seattle could not mount an effective pass rush. Not having safety Quandre Diggs (kicked out of the game for an illegal hit in the first quarter) at the back end for sure didn’t help, but it looks to me right now that the Seahawks defense is not Super Bowl worthy. It remains to be seen what Carroll, John Schneider and Co. will do about it.

All of that said, Seattle’s defense played the last snap of this game just about perfectly. To be able to stop that physical nightmare of a quarterback, Cam Newton, on a power run from the one yard line with 3 seconds to go, was special—hard on my heart—but special. I was so glad to see L.J. Collier, who as a 1^stround draft pick last year was such a disappointment, make that brilliant, submarining tackle to upend Newton before he could reach the goal line. It was a fitting and awesome ending to an incredible game!

It doesn’t get any easier for Seattle, as coming to the Clink this Sunday for a week 3 match-up in this new NFL season, are Dak Prescott, Ezequiel Elliott, Amare Cooper and the Dallas Cowboys. Based on their games so far, the Cowboys (1-1) look very potent offensively; but, like the Seahawks, are having trouble stopping anyone. With Diggs being back at safety, and another week of working together under the belts of Jamal Adams, Bobby Wagner and Quinton Dunbar, I’m definitely looking for Seattle’s defense to improve.

I hope they do, for if they don’t I think this Sunday’s game will be another barn burner at the Clink. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need that.

I don’t think my heart can’t take it!

Go Hawks!!

Copyright © 2020

By Mark Arnold

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