WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED: CLASH OF THE TITANS!

AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE

The Seattle Seahawks have accomplished all of their goals for the 2013 regular season. They won the division, they earned the number one seed giving them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first-round bye and they did it by recovering from various different sources of hardship and adversity. The Seahawks play in the most competitive division in the NFL and still managed to lose just three games this season. What's even better is that Pete Carroll has successfully instilled a sense of teamwork that transcends personal achievement in terms of individual statistics and benchmarks often used for a player to negotiate a more lucrative contract at the season's end. The Seahawks sent six players to the Pro bowl, yet if you examine the top categories in terms of the most important categories for team success, you won't see a Seahawk player on the lists for the most recognized individual awards.


Marshawn Lynch had a very successful 2013 campaign running the football, yet he ranks just sixth in the NFL with 1,257 yards. The Seahawks most prolific pass receiver was Golden Tate, ranking 46 in receptions with just 64 and 898 yards. Perhaps the most misleading statistics in Seattle's success this season was at the team’s most important position, quarterback. Russell Wilson matched his rookie season with 26 touchdowns (10th) and 3357 yards (16th), but only nine interceptions. Wilson played mistake free football for most of the season keeping the Seahawks in games late and allowing the defense to finish games. This has become the hallmark of Pete Carroll's football team and the main reason for its success at home 7-1 and on the road, 6-2. This has been a team that has traveled well and taking care of business at home in front of the legendary 12th man at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.


The teamwork mantra of Pete Carroll didn't stop with their offensive competitive climate in terms of individual statistics, or lack thereof. The Seahawks defense rated number one in the NFL throughout the season, surrendering a league-leading 14.4 points per game to their opponent and scoring enough per game (26.7 points) to give Seattle a 417-231 for a league-leading differential of 186 points. Seattle logged 44 team sacks this season, good enough for 10th in the league (tied with two other teams) and an improvement over the previous season by just five sacks. However, the amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks was palpable during the season as newcomers, Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, bolstered an already effective defensive line for the Seahawks that were number one in the league last season in scoring defense as well, 15.7 PPG. The leading defensive player in sacks this season was Michael Bennett with 8.5 sacks with Cliff Avril not far behind with 8.0. Though the strength of Seattle's defense is not its pass rush, but instead, it's pass defense in the secondary and Seattle has the best defensive secondary in football. The Seahawks front 7 and its secondary have a symbiotic relationship in terms of dealing with both the pass and the rushing game of their opponents. As the linebackers and defensive line pressure the quarterback, the secondary is able to play a physical brand of press man-to-man coverage that cannot work without a steady level of pressure on the quarterback. At the same time, the play of Seattle's secondary at the line of scrimmage disrupts the receivers ability to run their routes on time, giving the defensive linemen an extra edge and extra second or two for the pass rush to get to the quarterback and caused him to hurry his passes or for the lineman to bat balls down just after they leave the quarterbacks hand. Seattle's linebackers have a special blend of size and speed, giving them the ability to stuff a run heavy offense at the point of attack and to fall into pass coverage on play action or straight up empty backfield designed to move the ball through the air. Because of Seattle's defense and its ability to keep scores low for their opponent, Russell Wilson has been asked to play a different style of play than he's used to playing in college at SC State or Wisconsin. The Seahawks average a league low 25 pass attempts per game and feature a run heavy offense relying primarily on the physical punishing brand of football that money back Marshawn Lynch brings to every carry in every game of the season. Lynch might be the most difficult running back to bring down one-on-one in the game right now. Arm tackles and grabbing at the man they call "Beast Mode" is a strategy that has proved to be ineffective against the 6-year Pro out of the University of California. Lynch is a human piston engine, reliable and sturdy, often taking handoffs through a play action system or read option strategy that gives him the ability to weave his way through a zone blocking scheme in the offensive line, a signature system of offensive line coach, Tom Cable. Marshawn is the beast and always seems to take a play with no hope and turn it into 8 yards carrying defenders down the field like a Metro bus. He is the cornerstone of the Seahawks offensive strategy and is the player who sets the tone for each game and chews-up valuable play clock as the ball hawking Seahawks defense tightens the noose around opposing offenses giving them little hope of catching up if they fall behind early in games. This is Pete Carroll's strategy for the season and it is unlikely to change and the Seahawks trudge into the playoffs with the weight of the 12th man behind them willing them on a collision course with the AFC champion (Denver or New England) in the New Jersey Meadowlands; MetLife Stadium in Super Bowl XLVIII February 2.


After playing San Francisco twice the season already, the Seahawks are no strangers to the 49ers brand of smash mouth football, nor are they to Seattle's ball hawking, face slapping style of intimidation and supreme confidence in their abilities to function like a well-oiled machine in front of their 68,000+ strong, screaming and yelling 12 man. So what will be the strategies for these teams who mirror one another and have a special familiarity so much that surprises are unlikely and head-to-head toughness and execution are more likely to be the determining factors in this "loser go home" "winner Super Bowl bound" contest that will answer all the questions that these 2 great teams have for one another going into this gargantuan game of Titan vs. Titan.


Before the 2013 season, the 49ers and Seahawks began an arms race that continued until the very last contest of the regular-season in December. The Seahawks made the first significant move of the NFL off-season, signing superstar WR Percy Harvin in a blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers answered just days after Seattle's big move, signing veteran WR Anquan Boldin, of the training Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Then, the Seahawks made another move to improve their football team by signing free-agent defensive end Cliff Avril of the Detroit Lions. Frisco answers again, signing Glenn Dorsey, a free-agent defensive end from the Kansas City Chiefs. In another move for Seattle, they signed veteran corner, Antoine Winfield, a free-agent from Minnesota. Again, not to be outdone, the 49ers immediately signed Nnamdi Asomugha, a veteran DB from Philadelphia. This chess match of personnel continued throughout the season involving players who would even play for both teams at one point or another during the season. As recently as week 16 and 17 of the regular-season, defensive back Parrish Cox play for both the Seahawks and the 49ers a veritable yo-yo of West Coast trips to the airport for Cox. Pete Carroll made moves to choose players off the 49ers practice squad, and in a seemingly personal response, Jim Harbaugh would snatch players from the Seahawks practice squad, if only to carry them on their active roster for a couple of days. Whether or not this was a personal war of personnel, nobody really knows, but it does seem somewhat ironic that these 2 teams have been in a constant battle of weapons and nothing is too sacred for these 2 calculating coaches as long as it gives them an edge in the very competitive division of the NFC West.


Now, the smoke has cleared and both Seattle and San Francisco have settled their rosters for the clash in Seattle and the right to claim a trip to New Jersey and the opportunity to represent the national football conference in Super Bowl XLVIII. As different as the personalities of each teams head coach are, it's ironic how alike both teams are on the field. Seattle has a bruising rushing attack featuring Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch who crushed the 49ers in Seattle with 98 yards rushing and a couple of touchdowns. The 49ers feature a hard running; resilient and tough back "Frank Gore" the man who was the Achilles' heel for Seattle when they visited Candlestick Park for the last time. Gore ripped off a cutback off tackle play for 51 yards setting up the 49ers for the game-winning field goal in Seattle 19-17 and evening the regular-season and 1-1. Seattle and San Francisco both feature young and athletic quarterbacks who are as likely to be a team with their legs as they are with their arms. Colin Kaepernick is a long and lanky QB with the galloping running style that can rip off huge chunks of yardage if left in space and when plays break down. He has a very strong arm and can accurately throw the deep ball of wide receivers gain separation on their defender. Russell Wilson is quick and Wiley in the pocket and has a great sense of pressure and went to run and went to continue looking downfield and throws on the run better than perhaps any quarterbacks in the game today. Both quarterbacks are smart and confident and can take over a game if the defense gives them any space on the field. Kaepernick has perhaps a better supporting cast for receivers and has a game breaking tight end in Vernon Davis. Wilson has a great blocking tight end in Zach Miller, who is dangerous especially in the red zone, and several slot receivers who have good hands and excel blocking down field in support of the running game. The Seahawks have the edge in the running game, while the 49ers can hurt you from the various pass catching receivers downfield. Both teams play very hard and tough on special teams and have very accurate and capable placekicker's and in and game that has a high emphasis on tough defenses, the kicking game might be the balance in which the NFC championship game is decided.


As tough as both Seattle and San Francisco are on both sides of the ball, there are some drawbacks to both football teams and they reside on the same side of the football and at the same position. Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson are both great leaders and play a similar style of read and react in terms of throwing the ball downfield or tucking it and making plays with their legs. What separates the 2 young quarterbacks is largely based on stylistic differences. Kaepernick is much more flamboyant runner, galloping with wagging arms as he sprints down the field, while Wilson is far more compact runner and seems to glide across the field like he's on wheels. Many so-called pundits of football point to Kaepernick's superior straight-line speed, but in reality, both athletes possess similar speed. Wilson is a legitimate 4.55 runner and showed his speed at the combine in Indianapolis in 2012. Kaepernick ran just slightly faster at 4.53, but with a 6 foot five frame and mostly legs, the San Francisco signal caller can Gallup down the field and out run many of the linebackers at the second level of the defense in a longer race downfield. Wilson has the advantage in small spaces and with his first step is lightning quick. He also seems to have an intangible that his counterpart hasn't seemed to develop as well. It's an unteachable internal sensation that a quarterback gets when the passing pocket begins to break down. Each passing play a potential 360°° circle of attack begins around the quarterback, shortly after the ball is snapped. The goal of the quarterback is to keep his eyes downfield going through his progression of checking down from primary to secondary targets searching for an open downfield receiver. He must also be able to feel the pressure around him with an internal clock that tells him when to give up on the pass opportunity and hopefully exit the pocket and look for openings to run for positive yardage. Remarkably, Wilson entered the NFL with an extraordinary high level of pocket awareness and at such a primary level of the game. His propensity to avoid high pressure blitzing attacks from the defense sparked many to compare him to, Harry Houdini, the early 1900s Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. Kaepernick is more suited to make people miss in space, and once he reaches the secondary would be tackler's, he's a very difficult runner to catch or tackle. On the other hand, Wilson is more likely to keep his head up looking downfield for open receivers while he runs. He runs to pass rather than Kaepernick who passes, then looks to run and once he puts the ball up under his arm, he commits completely to the run. Both quarterbacks have a bright future, but seemed to get great results, but in very different ways. They also rely heavily on their fantastic defenses that put them in advantageous situations to succeed. Rarely do either quarterbacks find themselves with long fields in front of them, giving them multiple opportunities in enemy territory and optimum scoring opportunities in the red zone.


This NFC championship game has been met with all the hype you would expect from the two best football teams in the NFL about to go to war for all the marbles and another chance for a Super Bowl trophy. The Seahawks missed their chance in 2005 losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers highly controversial game where the officiating was more than just a little suspect. The 49ers missed a golden opportunity to go to the Super Bowl II years ago on a muffed punt, then just last year San Francisco lost on heartbreak opportunity in the waning seconds of regulation when Kaepernick overthrew Michael Crabtree in the corner of the end zone. The Baltimore Ravens prevailed 42-37 leaving the 49ers defeated and heading home again without a trophy. Both the Seahawks and the 49ers are incredibly hungry for another chance and this game carries all the significance you can imagine for two division rivals who have everything to lose and everything to gain and, as Richard Sherman stated during a pregame press conference, neither of team has any love "lost or found" for one another.


The weather at CenturyLink field in Seattle is forecasted to be clear and dry which provides a perfect landscape for this football game to be decided by the best team, not the team that suffers from poor field conditions as we have seen this season in other games played in severe conditions. When two highly talented football teams come together for a significant game like this, you want to have the game decided by the players, not the officials and certainly not the weather conditions. The Seahawks 12th man is primed and ready to make things as difficult on the 49ers as humanly possible, and the stadium will be bursting at the seams. The stadium doesn't even offer standing room only tickets, much like each home game for the Seahawks throughout the regular-season. This town is ready for something special and the Seahawks have the players to make it happen. However, the 49ers have made a difficult journey to get to this game. First, being a wild card team, Jim Harbaugh and his Niners had to fly to Green Bay Wisconsin to play against the Packers on the hallowed frozen tundra of Lambeau Field with temperatures plummeting far below zero. San Francisco proved worthy to the task and beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and earning the right to play a divisional playoff game on the road again, this time on the East Coast field of Charlotte Carolina against the Panthers. It was a hard-fought and physically punishing football game, but again the Packers prevailed and now face perhaps the best football team in the NFL here in Seattle. The Seahawks are the number one seed and cruised to a 13-3 regular season schedule and then dispatched quarterback Drew breeze and the New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks didn't play their best, but they did enough and the 12th man helped lift them to a victory setting up the ultimate match up with the 49ers at the place the Seahawks and their fans call the "C'Link.” The crowd has already broken to world records for crowd noise and set the mark at a resounding 137.7 dB, the same level of noise you would hear at Ground Zero in front of giant amplifiers and speakers at a rock concert or standing on the tarmac next to a jet airplane. The 12th man has truly created a horrible place for a visitor to have to play football and the stakes don't get much higher than this game for the NFC championship and the right to play in Super Bowl XLVIII.


The Seahawks and 49ers know that they must control the line of scrimmage and develop a strong running game to have any chance of winning today. Both young quarterbacks are dynamic both running and throwing the ball, but it is expected that neither of them will put the ball in the air more than they keep the ball in the hands of the Seahawks Marshawn Lynch and the Niners Frank Gore, both punishing runners and extremely difficult to tackle. Russell Wilson's passing statistics have dipped over the last four or five games, but there might be more to that than meets the eye. Seattle's defense has been so dominant that once their offense manages 20 or more points, Pete Carroll and his coaching staff believe they will play enough quality defense to win the game. Thusly, Wilson is being asked to do less in the passing game and more in regard to protecting the football and not giving the opponent a chance to capitalize on costly turnovers and mental errors. Wilson only attempted 18 passes against the New Orleans Saints last week, but much of the reason could be attributed to the inclement weather conditions and the game plan put together by Pete Carroll and his assistant coaches. In the first half of the game, Drew Brees was held to 34 yards passing, the lowest total in his career. Because of the driving rain and the blowing wind, New Orleans adopted a dedication to the ground attack and for the most part, it was working against the Seahawks stingy rushing defense. It wasn't until the Saints fell behind that Brees fell back into his usual artistry of passing, tallying over 300 yards in the second half alone. Unfortunately, for Brees and the Saints, improved to not be enough as the Seahawks went on to win the game 23-15. Although the score was only a separation of eight points, the Seahawks dominated in the game and the 12th man in combination with Seattle's defense and Legion of boom, they tightened the noose around the Saints offense and squeezed the life out of them in the waning seconds of the contest.


Now, the Seahawks face the 49ers in the ultimate showdown between two young and dynamic quarterbacks with defenses that allow them to be aggressive and then sit on small leads until the clock ultimately expires. Because of the fact that both of these teams matchup against one another almost identically, Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll will likely need to get creative on offense as well as their defensive sets and reads. These teams know each other very well and know what to expect once they take the field. I look for Wilson to throw the ball more than he has in the last six games, but it's imperative that he avoids making mistakes and giving the 49ers more opportunity to move the ball on offense. Colin Kaepernick has not had success in Seattle, losing both games by large margins and looking very much the inexperienced signal caller, bothered by the crowd noise and the gravity of the team rivalries. Last time Kaepernick came to CenturyLink Field, he threw three costly interceptions as the Seahawks prevailed 29-3. The only real threat that the 49ers made in the red zone resulted in a Kaepernick interception to Earl Thomas on a tipped pass. From there on, not much went right for Harbaugh's 49ers. It was a total beat down as lightning and thunder filled the skies of Seattle as an ominous reminder of where these 49ers were playing and how dominant the Seattle Seahawks can be in their own house with their own family of 67,000 screaming and hollering fans…… The 12th man.


Now, San Francisco comes into Seattle believing they have a prescription to handle the crowd noise and the gravity of this most important game. Kaepernick even commented that CenturyLink field was perhaps a little louder than most stadiums. That might not have been the best way to taunt the people who cause the most trouble in a stadium than any other in the 32 cities of the NFL. The Seahawks and the Niners have managed to make it through the long 16 game season and into the third round of the playoffs with a primarily healthy roster of players. The Seahawks will be without the talents of their electrifying wide receiver, Percy Harvin, and the 49ers could possibly be without Carlos Rogers, the starting right corner. Harvin is listed as "out" and Rogers as "Questionable,” however whoever wins this game or loses will not be predicated on injured players or weather conditions. It will be because one team executed their game plan and the other did not. Both teams seem loose and ready despite the importance of this NFC championship game, and it seems clear that two veteran football teams are ready to clash and prove who is the biggest and baddest in the National Football Conference.

SEAHAWKS MUST RIDE WAVE OF WILSON'S SUPER BOWL VISION

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off their second defeat this season and unfortunately, it had to be at the hands of their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers.  For a Seahawk fan, losing to the 49ers is akin to losing a child or something similar.  Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick carry the honor of being the most disliked 49ers and they always seem to be the ones with their mouths flapping constantly anytime a microphone or camera is nearby. 

After the loss to the Niners, free safety Earl Thomas mentioned that perhaps some of his teammates got too caught up in the idea of winning the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by earning the number one seed in the NFC.  The Seahawks took care of business, beating the New Orleans Saints, in Seattle the week prior, but their flight down to San Francisco didn't turn out the way they had hoped or expected.

First, and foremost, the Seahawks committed far too many penalties and what's worse, the flags occurred on plays that were critical to drives leading to field goals rather than touchdowns.  Reportedly, 49ers head Coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman, had a pre-game on-field meeting with NFL referee, Clete Blakeman, and the rest of his officiating crew.  Harbaugh and Roman tipped them off that, in their words (paraphrased), "The Seahawks held our receivers on every single play up in Seattle, in our first meeting.  That's why our receivers were unable to get loose and make plays down field."  They went on to warn the officiating crew on practically every infraction Seattle has drawn since Pete Carroll took over in 2010.  I don't quite understand why it is that the referees tolerate coaches attempting to sway them into making penalty calls against their opponent.  The officiating crews should already be prepared for all rules and penalty situations as well as interpretation for all on-field infraction calls before the game starts without a pregame powwow with the coaches and other team personnel.  It’s preposterous and should be considered a giant insult to the NFL officiating crews, but somehow it’s allowed.  There were several ghost penalties on Seattle, though I also saw several penalties called on the 49ers that had no merit whatsoever.  This is by far the worst officiating performance on the year that I have seen in recent memory.  Clete Blakeman’s have been highly criticized for making errors in officiating and affecting the outcome of more games than any other crew currently officiating.  If the replacement officials were making these calls, they would be crucified by the; league, media, fans, the players and coaches alike.  I expect more from these professionals and it just might require that the National Football League pay the officials like full-time employees, rather than the job being seasonal, something like public school teachers deal with each summer.  The decisions and interpretations made during these pro-football games are integral to calling a clean game, and each individual game has more gravity and impact than perhaps any other team game in terms of the ramifications that lead to post game qualification.  Not to mention, the difference of hundreds of millions of dollars between successful organizations and perennial losers.  Last season, the Seahawks were denied a divisional championship by "one half game" because the 49ers tied with the Rams earlier in the season.  Because of that, Seattle became a wild-card team and did not get the first round bye in the playoffs or a home game in postseason play.  Instead, they had to fly across the country to Washington DC to play the "Washington Pro Football Team" in the wild-card matchup at FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland.

Although Seattle did get some questionable officiating calls against them at Candlestick Park, it's important to point out that poor officiating wasn't the reason that Seattle lost to the 49ers last Sunday.  The Seahawks had their chances and simply didn't execute.  This was a very hard-fought contest that remained close for all four quarters of the game.  The only major difference in the game was that when the 49ers needed a big play, they got it.  Running back, Frank Gore, ripped off a 51 yard trap play, placing the 49ers well within their kicker's (Phil Dawson) field-goal range.  Many, including myself, sat in front of their televisions wondering why Coach Carroll didn't simply allow the 49ers to score, which would have left the Seahawks offense and Russell Wilson more than two minutes to put together a "possible" game-winning or tying drive.  Seattle had a one point lead 17-16, so even if the 49ers would have scored a touchdown, and tried for a two-point conversion, Seattle would have only trailed by six or seven points.  They could have figuratively driven down the field, scored a touchdown and tied the game with the PAT or could have tried for a two-point conversion, themselves, for a victory.  The two point conversion for Seattle would have been unlikely, though.  Carroll would likely have opted to play for the “tie” and an overtime period to live to fight on.  However, when the Seahawks coaching staff decided to play for a defensive stop or perhaps a turnover, (which made no sense whatsoever) they left so little time on the clock that any kind of heroic drive to score and tie the game was unlikely with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation.  The ensuing kick was short, giving Golden Tate a chance for the return.  Unfortunately, he was only able to manage a return to the 15 yard line.  Next, Russell Wilson found Jermaine Kearse on a deep "go route" down the middle of the field.  Kearse tripped on his own feet, and fell down as he tried to adjust to the ball.  This allowed the defender to intercept the ball, icing the game for the 49ers and ultimately splitting the 2013 series with Seattle, 1-1.

So, what did we learn about the 49ers game last week?

The Seahawks played one of their worst games of the season and lost by only a deuce.  Colin Kaepernick didn't look particularly sharp and even without Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond, the Seahawks kept the Niners' wide receiving and tight end “quartet” under control for the most part.  Kaepernick was 15-29, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and a passer rating of 67.5.  The Niners signal caller has never had particularly good outings against the Seahawks, going 1-2 and getting blown out in both trips to the Northwest.  Seattle's defensive line also did their jobs for most of the game; Frank Gore had 110 yards, with 51 of those yards on one play at the end of the game, the play that ultimately decided the game.  The Niners had no touchdowns rushing and they kept Kaepernick from using his feet to attack Seattle's defense.  The real breakdown was on Seattle's offense and the ongoing problem with making mental errors and drawing ridiculous and unnecessary penalties on big plays and important drives.  The Seahawks had four plays called back of 20 or more yards gained passing and rushing.  Five of their nine penalties were on third down, killing drives and giving the ball back to the 49ers.  Russell Wilson was 15-25, 199 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and a passer rating of 81.9.

The Seahawks protection of Russell Wilson was much improved, from what the diminutive QB phenom has dealt with over a 10 game stretch, while 2/3 of his best offensive lineman were out with various injuries.  Breno Giacomini, Russell Okung and the rest of the offensive line allowed Wilson to be sacked just twice for 21 yards.  Unfortunately, Seattle could not get their running game going throughout the game.  Marshawn Lynch tallied just 72 yards on 20 carries and his longest carry was for just 11 yards; Lynch scored the only rushing TD.  Robert Turbin was the only other Seahawks running back with a carry, just 2-12.  Another aspect of Seattle's offense that was nonexistent was Russell Wilson running the read option or even taking off of boot passing plays where he would usually tucked the ball under his arm and run if he couldn't find an open receiver.  Wilson carried the ball just once for 2 yards.  This is highly unusual for the Seahawks offensive not to utilize Wilson's speed while out on the flank looking for throwing lanes.  Slot receiver, Jermaine Kearse, had a real good look at a well thrown ball from Wilson in the left front corner of the end zone that hit Kearse right in his hands, but failed to haul it in.  This was a game of missed opportunities and far too many mistakes.  The mistakes have been a common theme for Pete Carroll's Seahawks over the last two years.  However, making plays hasn't been a chronic problem for this football team.  Each week it seemingly turns out that a new hero arises and makes the plays necessary for Seattle to move the ball and score often enough to win.  Wilson was unable to consistently find open receivers as Tate (6), Baldwin (3) Kearse (2), and Miller (1) seemed almost nonexistent.  The leading receiver of the day was rookie tightend, Luke Willson, 3-70, TD.

From the onset, it didn't appear that the Seahawks came into the stadium with the energy we are used to seeing from Pete Carroll’s highly excitable players.  There was a lot on the line for both football teams; the Seahawks playing for the division title and playoff rewards and the 49ers simply playing for a spot in postseason.  It was as if, the Seahawks' players believed the 49ers game wasn't one they needed.  As it turned out, that's the way they played the entire game, too.  Seattle had no energy, no sense of urgency and even the coaching staff seemed unimaginative, tentative and careful with their playcalling.  All in all, it was an uninspired afternoon of Seahawk football, with too many errors and not enough big plays to win.  The 49ers players were well aware what was on the line for them.  This was a must win game or they were going to be back on the Bay, watching the playoffs (on TV) this year from their living rooms. 

The Seahawks still possess a two-game lead on the 49ers in the NFC West division, but now it becomes imperative that Seattle wins two of their final three remaining games against the; Giants, Cardinals, and Rams.  The NFC West is widely believed to be the toughest division in football and division rivalries can create outcomes that are inconsistent with collective logic.  In simpler words, the Seahawks cannot sleep on any of these remaining opponents if they have any hope of winning the division and securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The latter, being imperative, Seattle not losing a football game in the last 14 contests at CenturyLink field.  Russell Wilson has been the starter for all of those winning games on his home field.  Winning this week against the New York Giants would be a favorable start to finishing the regular-season and dominating the NFC West.  Taking back the division title for the first time in three years would also be a shot in the arm for the 12^th man and would likely ramp up the volume at the C’Link for the playoffs.  Because of the decided advantage for the Seahawks, playing in Seattle in front of the 12th man at CenturyLink Field, home field advantage in the playoffs would virtually be "curtains" for any team coming to the cold, wet and miserable Pacific Northwest in January.

Pete Carroll seems to have his football team ready for the New York Giants.  This will be “one” of hopefully “two” visits to the New Jersey Meadowlands this season, for this year’s Super Bowl XLVIII will be played at New Jersey’s “MetLife Stadium,” the home of the New York Giants and Jets.  It’s a long flight and it will be another 10:00 AM start for the Seahawks, one of five this season (tied for most).  Carroll has his team in the mindset that “time zones and game start times” should absolutely have no effect on their ability to execute their game plan, and thus far, his team has responded winning five of seven road games this season, four of them being in different time zones with one remaining this Sunday.  Seattle has certainly bucked the stigma of being a poor “Road team.”  In fact, going back to last season, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are 8-3 in road games for their last 11, including a playoff road win in Washington.  It was the first playoff road victory for the Seahawks in three decades.  The Seahawks have a road ready, dominant defense, and as history shows, you could take a defense on the road with little or no effect on the players; it’s another case altogether for traveling offenses, though.

Look for Seattle to re-establish their dominant running game this week against the Giants, followed by a rigorous and beguiling play action, read option combination in tandem with a big play deep threat to punish the aggressiveness of a team that may likely play in the same brand of football they usually do, but now without the personnel to make it effective.  Under Tom Coughlin this season, New York is a dismal 5-8 and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.  So, the question for the Seahawks is likely; “How will the team react to playing for nothing, literally, in terms of this year’s postseason.  The Giants’ players are beaten down from a long, and losing, 17 week season, fall of a laundry list of key injuries and a roster that has been allowed to get old.  I believe it all depends on how much is left “in the tank” for these Giants’ players.  How many of Coughlin’s personnel are playing severely hurt or injured, and how successfully he can ready them for a game that seemingly has no real meaning to the players.  Other than, to save their coaches job and for their sense of pride, not surrendering to the West Coast bullies without a fight, there isn’t much to say about this game for Giants fans.  They must have a certain amount of pride on that football team, yes?  After all, this team has won two Super Bowl Championships in four years and both under the tutelage of Coughlin.  The Giants have their share of stars on the roster, as well.  Super Bowl MVP QB Eli Manning, big sack men; DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DT Justin Tuck, and WR Victor Cruz, and WR Hakeem Nicks.  Coach Coughlin has always put together very well coached and discipline defensive squads.  It’s vital that the Seahawks go to the East Coast with an aggressive game plan and a laser focus… A focus on Nothing other than the New York Giants football team.  The Seahawks must make this a “statement game” in New Jersey; everything else comes later; the time is NOW to concentrate on the HERE and NOW.  No one knows the concept of “supreme focus” more than Russell Wilson. 

There is no doubt among the Seahawks players, that this is Russell Wilson’s football team.  He is; their field marshal, their locker room cornerstone, their calming centerpiece and their on-field captain (voted by the team).

The Seahawks players must ride the wave of Wilson’s hopelessly positive attitude and his impeccable attention to detail.  They have their leader and now they must follow him into battle and take care of the business that they are fully capable of completing.  Wilson has already visualized winning multiple Super Bowls, and now the team must make the first one in reality.

THE HALFWAY POINT AT 7-1 -- HAVE SEAHAWKS MET HYPE?

The Seattle Seahawks closeout the first half of the regular-season with a franchise best 7-1 record, and while it is a great accomplishment for the Seahawks and the city of Seattle; this is not a football team approaching the second half of the season with a tremendous amount of momentum or confidence.  If you survey the first eight games, Seattle could have very easily finished 4-4 instead of leading the NFC West and going into the easier half of their 2013 schedule. 

They won a squeaker in their debut this year in Carolina, Russell Wilson getting hammered by the Panthers front seven and needing a miracle forced fumble by Earl Thomas at the end of the game as the Seahawks led 12-7 with the Panthers driving down the field without much defensive resistance.  However, the Legion of Boom came up big and took away the ball and managed enough offense to drain the clock and get away with a win.  It was far too close for comfort. The Seahawks scored just enough against one of the most tenacious and aggressive defenses in the NFL and one of the most unappreciated teams of today.   Middle linebacker, Luke Kuechly, leads a group of defenders that constantly harassed the quarterback and lure them in to making mistakes at key moments in games.  Rookie defensive tackle, Star Lotulelei, creates an interior push that really stressed the Seahawks center, Max Unger, though Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch made plays when it mattered and second-year wide receiver, Jermaine Kearse, made a fantastic catch in the end zone that turned out to be the winning drive and giving the Seahawks a perfect 1-0 record to take back home where they would play the rival 49ers at CenturyLink Field.

The second game of the season showcased a very efficient Seahawks (offense and defense) as they throttled their division rival, the 49ers, giving them Mount Rainier sized beat down at CenturyLink, 29-3 and making it look easy, despite an electrical storm and a break and play while a fairly big storm passed through Western Washington. To be completely fair, the 49ers didn’t exactly bring their "A" game, but that didn't stop the national from falling hopelessly in love with the Seahawks, their toughness and ability to make one of the best teams in the NFL look incredibly average.  Colin Kaepernick looked shaken once again at CenturyLink and the rest of the Niners seemed completely off their game.  During the game, the Seahawks 12th man aimed to break and set the Guinness book of world records new standard for loudest crowd roar… And they succeeded.  136.6 decibels was the official technical achievement that was headed by former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Joe Tafoya.  The stadium rocked and so did the Seahawks and the 49ers seemed completely incapable of overcoming the 12th man and the distraction that seems to confound every team and its quarterback as they enter the home of the the Seahawks and the Legion of Boom.  The record was set, the Seahawks took the first of 2 meetings between these divisional rivals and left another bad taste in the mouths of Jim Harbaugh's 49ers who had a similar experience here in Seattle late in the 2012 season, losing 42-13.  The 49ers are now one game behind Seattle in the NFC West standings, and very much looking forward to a rematch at Candlestick Park in week 14.  This is the most highly anticipated game of the remaining season and should be a dynamite game to watch throughout the US, Canada and probably Europe.  This is what the NFL is all about and these gladiators of the gridiron remind us what a tough, physical rivalry is all about.  In a game where it seems the league is getting softer by creating rule changes that make the game supposedly safer, it's good to know that there are teams that would just rather pay the fine and risk suspension to keep real football in the NFL.  Salute to the 49ers and Seahawks rivalry.

Then, the Seahawks hosted arguably the worst football team in the league at the time, the Jacksonville Jaguars.  There wasn’t much to say while the game was progressing or after the carnage on the field, but Seattle decisively beat-up a team that they were supposed to beat and in grand fashion, while many of the starters spent the second half of the game on the bench as they watched the reserves continue to pound Gus Bradley’s Jaguars 45-17; with the bulk of Jacksonville’s points scored in the 4th quarter after the game was over for all intent and purposes.  It was a difficult day for the Jaguars head coach, Gus Bradley, who left the Seahawks position as defensive coordinator, for a head-coaching opportunity in Jacksonville.  Bradley was a very well-liked coach with the Seahawks players and dear friend of Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seahawks coaching staff and front office.  The 12th man gave Bradley a standing ovation and a big round of applause welcoming him as he walked on to the field just prior to kickoff.  Unfortunately for the former Seahawks defensive coordinator, that was the only honor he received at CenturyLink field.  The 2nd half offered a rare chance for the Seahawks reserves to get valuable playing time experience, however.  Though it was a lopsided blowout, the 12th man was again faithful, filling the stadium and staying on the entire contest, as they are accustomed to.

Next,, the Seahawks left Seattle for their second road game, playing a team that was expected to give the Seahawks some trouble and it took place at Houston's Reliant Stadium,  against the talent rich Texans with one of the best pass rushing defenses in the National Football League and a prolific scoring offense that features superstar players such as; QB Matt Schaub, RB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson, TE Owen Daniels and rookie, first-round pick WR, DeAndre Hopkins. This is a football team capable of beating you up offensively and tearing you down defensively, with one of the most aggressively blitzing front 7 that the Seahawks would face all season. The Seahawks struggled mightily on offense as sack master JJ watt and second year standout defensive end, Whitney Mercilus, hammered Seattle’s depleted offensive line and put a thorough beating on Russell Wilson again.  The Seahawks entered that game without two thirds of their offensive line including their starting tight end (Zach Miller) injured and out.  All-Pro left tackle, Russell Okung, was out with a significant injury to his shoulder and remains out still today, while veteran right tackle, Breno Giacomini, has suffered a significant injury to his knee, and has been out of the lineup for several weeks after a surgical procedure to remove fragments and fluid.  In addition to losing their two linchpins of the starting O line, they also were without their pro-Bowl center, Max Unger, for several consecutive games.  So, 3 of 5 offensive line starters were out with various injuries and their pro-bowl tight end, Zach Miller, also missed significant playing time and hadn’t played a single snap in the regular-season, out with a hamstring pull and a Lisfranc injury to his foot.  That put the Seahawks offense on a road to disaster against last year’s defensive MVP (JJ watt 22.5 sacks)) and several other excellent defensive role players. The Seahawks literally escaped from Houston with an unlikely victory, but at the time, Seattle was just happy to leave Texas with a win over a team that many analysts picked to be one of the few teams to beat the Seahawks this season. 

Next, the Seahawks had to travel once again; this time to Indianapolis to play Andrew Luck and the Colts.  Indy had already beaten the 49ers at Candlestick Park in the second week of the season (one week after the 49ers destroyed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers." However, the next week, the Colts lost to the San Diego Chargers, and the game was in their own house in front of the Colts fans(at Lucas Oil Stadium).  The Seahawks, still without their starting right and left tackles; Giacomini and Okung, and center Max Unger at about 75%, played a competitive game, but turned over the ball and made too many mental errors to win this road game.  They also allowed Russell Wilson to get assaulted again and again by the Colts defensive front 7, including another sack machine, Robert Mathis.  It was a close game, 34-28, but Andrew Luck proved to be too good at home,  making plays when they needed to, while the Seahawks just plain didn’t.  The Colts were a much better team than thought to be before the season began, but since beating San Francisco and Seattle, Andrew Luck and company also beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Indianapolis.  The Colts are for real, but until they become more consistent, there will still be doubters.  Also, Luck lost his favorite wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, after sustaining a season ending ACL injury in week 7 against the Broncos.  The Colts turned out to be the only football team that would be the Seahawks in the first half of the season.

The next game was at home for the Seahawks as they hosted the Tennessee Titans.  Tennessee was without starting quarterback, Jake locker, a hometown favorite playing his college career at the University of Washington and growing up in the nearby town of Bellingham.  Locker was injured the prior week with what was diagnosed a minor hip injury. Ryan Fitzgerald, the Titans backup quarterback, would fill in and play the entire game against the Seahawks at CenturyLink. Though I never felt during the entire game, that Seattle was going to lose to the Titans, the score was way closer than it needed to be for the Seahawks and Pete Carroll.  The 'Hawks were only able to manage 20 points in their home stadium against the Titans and their backup quarterback, and allowed a much inferior football team to stay within one touchdown with a team that is supposedly built for the playoffs and a bona fide contender to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in February.  This kind of performance against a team that was handicapped by injury, just like the Seahawks, was just unacceptable and for whatever reason the Seahawks refused to change the way they played the game.  The defense seemed confused at times and the offense failed to utilize a much more physical and talented starting lineup to take advantage of the Titans obvious weaknesses.  OC Darryl Bevell made the Seahawks offensive play calling look like a playwright from the Keystone Cops or a silly skit by the bumbling Marx Brothers.  Russell Wilson had to pull off unbelievable "escape artist" type moves to avoid several sack attempts and Seattle’s passing game was, again, completely ineffective and made the Seahawks look very average and barely relevant despite the fact that the Seahawks won the game.  This was a game that easily could have resulted in a loss, and would have ended the Seahawks 10 game winning streak at the C’Link.  Seattle amazingly won by a touchdown, 20-13, preserving the home field win record at 11 (going back to last year), but leaving many questions to be answered going forward, like; How are they going to generate more offense and how their depleted offensive line can improve and keep their diminutive franchise quarterback unbroken and out of the hospital.  It is considered universal thinking that the Seahawks would lose many games without #3 under center each week.  They must figure out a way to protect Wilson or things could get ugly for the 12th man in a real hurry.

The Seahawks, fresh off of a home win against the Titans, blocked forward to traveling to Arizona to play a very decent, divisional foe that came out on top of their first game against one another in 2012.  Seattle had every chance to win that football game, but it was Russell Wilson's NFL debut and he was still learning the ABCs of pro-football. Playing in his first game, a road game, against a very formidable defensive squad, Wilson struggled at times while a relentless Cardinal pass rush continued to put pressure on him on almost every passing down.  The rookie had his moments of getting used to the extreme speed of the NFL game, but still he gave the Seahawks' a couple of chances to win the football game in the final seconds.  Seattle didn't lose because of their rookie quarterback, though.  This season, the Cardinals are frustratingly trapped in a losing record, despite making significant off-season moves to improve the team.  Starting with the firing of Ken Wisenhunt and the hiring of Bruce Arians, assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts the year prior, and they took the opportunity to secure the services of gunslinging quarterback, Carson Palmer.  Palmer had a somewhat disappointing experience with the Oakland Raiders prior to making the short move to Arizona. Despite putting up some very impressive passing stats in Oakland, the Raiders front office decided to dump Palmer and his relatively large contract, acquiring a fifth-round draft selection for the veteran quarterback to boot.  Palmer never seems to be short on completing passes for tons of yardage, but his willingness to take huge risks at pivotal times in important games caused him to continue turning over the ball with interceptions more often than he throws touchdown passes to his own teammates.  The game against Seattle, down in the desert of Glendale, was no exception as the Seahawks intercepted Palmer twice, watching him put up 45 attempted passes, completing 34, for 245 yards, one touchdown and the two interceptions; one to Brandon Browner and another to Earl Thomas.  The Seahawks played fairly well on both sides of the ball against the Cardinals, despite three fumbles by the usually dependable QB Russell Wilson. After beating the Cardinals this season on the road, the Seahawks equaled their entire 2012 total of road wins at three all year, now only halfway through this year's schedule.

After putting up decent numbers and a total team effort necessary to beat the Cardinals the week prior, the Seahawks traveled to St. Louis for another divisional contest with the Rams.  Las Vegas and ESPN odds-makers had the Seahawks 14 point and 13.5 point road favorites, respectively.  St. Louis had lost their starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, to an ACL injury the week prior requiring them to look for a suitable backup or the remainder of their schedule.  Apparently, head coach Jeff Fisher felt fairly desperate to replace Bradford.  The NFL is woefully thin on viable backup quarterbacks; so desperate that ESPN reported that the Rams actually called retired veteran quarterback, Brett Favre, asking him if he would consider dusting off his helmet and coming out of retirement, AGAIN, theoretically to replace their ailing franchise quarterback for the remainder of the Rams dismal season.  The Rams were 3-3 at the time with 5-1 Seahawks coming to town.  St. Louis was a fairly bizarre  time and city to play a football game in, as Rams fans had all but given up on the football team and have instead turned their attention to the St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball team.  The Cards are currently a team that had earned the right to compete in the 2013 World Series.  In fact, the Cardinals were in competition for their fan bases with the Rams, both playing their games simultaneously and right down the street from one another.  It was reported that the Edward Jones Dome would be relatively empty  for the football game, and that more fans would be at home watching their baseball Cardinals play the Boston Red Sox, unless they were lucky enough to have tickets to see the game in person, of course.  Nonetheless, the Seahawks were ready for just about anything, (a full stadium blowing the roof off Edward Jones), or a lot of Rams fans disguised as empty seats, creating more of a "library environment" for the football game.  As it turned out, there was a relatively good turnout, but nothing like the Seahawks were accustomed to in their home stadium. 

Like the Las Vegas odds-makers, most Seahawks fans were cautiously optimistic that this would be a relatively easy game to get a win, and hopefully come home rested and victorious to play the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers back at CenturyLink Field after a short week from Monday night football, to play the following Sunday afternoon.  Well, Seattle came away with a victory, but not even close to what most fans and analysts thought would be the story in this contest of division foes.  The Seahawks have historically had a difficult time winning games at Edward Jones Dome… and this was no exception to that trend. Seattle’s number two ranked defense figured to have a heyday against the Rams offense, playing without QB Bradford ,and instead facing relatively unknown backup QB, Kellen Clemens, a man who hadn’t taken a regular-season snap in over (a year and a half.)  As it turned out, Clemens had a relatively good start against the best defensive secondary in the NFL.  He had his problems in the game, but considering his lack of experience of late, I’d say he has everything to feel proud about, and proved to be a worthy understudy to Bradford, giving Jeff Fisher some hope as he waits for his QB1 to return. 

The ball Hawking Seahawks "Bruce Irvin" and Richard Sherman each intercepted the backup quarterback.  As it turned out, those interceptions were the most pivotal moments that made this game winnable for the Seahawks.  Toward the end of the game, Seattle led in the fourth quarter with just 1:10 left in the game and the LOB  and the rest of Seattle's defense went into the old “prevent defense” in a zone scheme coverage that none of Seattle’s defensive backs like to use.  This situation reminded me of the notoriously lame defensive breakdown that Seattle found themselves in while the last seconds of regulation play ticked away in Atlanta , while the Falcons quarterback, Matt (Matty Ice) Ryan, shredded them through the air, getting the Falcons in field-goal distance and stealing the game right out from underneath the Seahawks noses.  Sherman, Chancellor, Browner and Thomas all prefer man-to-man, press coverage, but DC Dan Quinn called for zone formation, in Atlanta last year, and in St. Louis less than a week ago.  However, fortunately for the Seahawks, the results were slightly different; the Seahawks won the game this time.  After a couple of laser strikes from Kellen Clemens down the field, the Rams reached the 5 yard line.  After a couple of unsuccessful rushing attempts to reach the end zone, the Seahawks committed an extremely untimely penalty, giving the Rams a fresh new set of downs at the 2 ½ yard line.  The Rams attempted a couple of more rushes and the Seahawks defense rose to the occasion.  Then, with just 4 seconds left on the clock, the Rams sent in the final play of the game, fourth-down and goal from the one-yard line.  Kellen Clemens dropped back to pass and lofted a looping rainbow into the deep left corner of the end zone, with Brandon Browner defending, and the ball past over both receiver and defender and fell to the ground.  No flags, the Seahawks won the game, but I think the Seahawks showed just how not to win a football game.  Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks advanced to 7-1 for the first time in franchise history and eked out another unlikely victory at the halfway mark through their finest season.

Each and every game, one after the other, seems to expose the Seahawks weaknesses on offensive, as well as the defense, and the coaching staff seems unwilling to change their game plan and modus operandi sticking with the usual suspects on offense and refusing to play the players who are healthy on the roster and perhaps more suited to help the team right now while waiting for the injured starters to return to the field.  The stubbornness of Pete Carroll, Daryl Bevell and Dan Quinn are making “Seahawks Sundays” frustrating and disappointing as the fans seem to be watching a team full of all kinds of athletic talent, but not living up to the press clippings that we heard throughout the off-season.  Since the Seahawks lost to the Falcons in a conference playoff game last post-season in Atlanta, expectations have been sky-high.  Since the off-season acquisitions of; defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel and superstar all-purpose offensive weapon, Percy Harvin, those expectations are even higher.  Anything less than a Super Bowl trophy would be a disappointment to the 12th man.

The Seahawks have already faced the most difficult portion of their schedule this season, but that isn't to say that they don't have critical match-ups remaining down the stretch of this championship campaign.  Seattle will face the 7-1 Saints at CenturyLink field in week 13 and they will travel to San Francisco to play the 6-2 49ers in week 14. Both of these teams are capable of putting up 30+ points and the 49ers are always tough defensively.  What's surprising practically everyone, is how new defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, has resurrected a defense in New Orleans that ranked last in the NFL in almost every significant category in the league, just a year ago.  After being punished for the infamous "Bounty-Gate" scandal in 2011, the Saints lost the services of key players and coaches who were "in the know" about alleged payment incentives offered to players who were encouraged to purposely injure opposing team personnel, including specific body parts to target to those who had pre-existing injuries.  As part of the league sanctioned punishment, head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season and defensive coordinator, Greg Williams, whom was the central figure in the entire scandal, was suspended indefinitely by Roger Goodell and the league competition committee.  As it turned out, Payton was reinstated prior to the 2013 season, as was Williams, surprisingly. Payton returned to the Saints, but after the scandal,  but Williams was fired by the Saints and subsequently hired by the Tennessee Titans. Now, with the return of Saints head coach, patent, he has his team playing great football, on both sides of the line of scrimmage.  In fact, last year's worst defense in the NFL, has been miraculously put through a re-formation and has dominated their opponents through the first half of the season.  Rob Ryan has been awarded the lion's share of the credit, but whomever gets the glory, the Saints are playing great football and their 7-1 record surely indicates that. The Seahawks will face Drew Brees and the Saints at a time of the season when every game has extremely significant implications on the divisional race, as well as the tremendously valuable race to be awarded home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Because of Seattle's dominance in their home stadium, this could possibly be more important for the Seahawks than any other team in the NFL.  The Seahawks currently enjoy and 11 game winning streak at CenturyLink Field, and second-year quarterback, Russell Wilson, has never lost in his home stadium.

Many believe CenturyLink Field to be the most hostile and disruptive stadium for any opponent to win on the road, particularly in the playoffs.  Pete Carroll and the Seahawks will use that advantage to the fullest extent as the 12th man in Seattle is just getting warmed up for the playoffs.  Just to quantify the level of fervor and excitement for Seahawk fans in their home stadium, the second game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers had all the electricity and energy of a divisional, conference championship title game… and both teams were just 1-0 on the season.  The 12th man challenged themselves to break the Guinness Book of World Records for loudest Stadium roar, and did so during their shellacking of the 49ers. Imagine what kind of roar would come from a home playoff game in the Pacific Northwest? There is a lot on the line this season for every NFL team contending for divisional or conference titles, but none more than the burgeoning rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, both whose fans are intimately involved in the rivalry and have a reciprocal and symbiotic relationship to one another with loathing and a growing sense of urgency to win and fight for that, one, exclusive chance to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLVIII.

The Seahawks are deeply stacked with talent while they wait for one of the most lethal weapons in the NFL to return from his rehab assignment after having hip surgery to repair a slight tear to his labrum.  The Seahawks defense has been stifling, but Pete Carroll's offense hasn't yet begun to take form.  After a season ending surgery to WR Sidney Rice last week, the Seahawks are even more anxious to get Percy Harvin on the field to show just how dangerous he can be with a quarterback like Russell Wilson and a running back like Marshawn Lynch.  The 49ers are also waiting for a return of key personnel.  Mario Manningham is set to return soon, and more importantly for the 49ers (and in particular QB Colin Kaepernick) the return of WR Michael Crabtree after he sustained a serious Achilles tendon tear in training camp before the season began. 

The Seahawks and 49ers are more alike than they would probably want admit to.  Both have dominant running games and athletic quarterbacks who can make plays from the pocket or on the run.  However, for both teams, it all starts with their defenses.  The 49ers have perhaps the best linebacking corps in the NFL and the Seahawks boast the best defensive secondary in football.  Both teams have strong defensive lines, however the Seahawks are built for a long 16 game season and should go into the playoffs fresh and relatively uninjured.  The 49ers have strong defensive line play as well, but the starters play 95% of the snaps and that could become a problem for Jim Harbaugh's defense if any of those players are injured during the season.  Last year, Justin Smith sustained an injury to his pectoral muscle and, although he played in the playoffs, it was obvious that they aren't the same team when he's injured as when he is healthy.  Right now, the Seahawks are suffering from the losses of tackles; veteran Breno Giacomini and All-Pro Russell Okung.  Both are expected back on the field in a few weeks, but their replacements are struggling mightily and making life extremely difficult for second year quarterback, Russell Wilson.  Colin Kaepernick has had a somewhat difficult sophomore season as a starter in Frisco.  Last season he seemed unstoppable at times with his 6'4" frame and with his long legs, the ability to gallop down the field and into end zones. However, this season his play and production numbers have dipped significantly, though no one really expects it to last.  He is a superb athlete and may be simply suffering from a loss of his number one deep receiver, Crabtree.  One of the big disappointments for the Seahawks, is the receiving Corps.  Even without Percy Harvin, one would expect that the collection of wide receivers on this team would be more productive than they have been thus far.  Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Sidney Rice and tight end, Zach Miller, were all expected to produce more than they have.  Some point to the missing tackles to injury, while the backups have done a dismal job of protecting their quarterback, Wilson.  However, at the beginning of the season when both Giacomini and Okung were available, the Seahawks still struggled to move the ball down the field through the air.  It could have been simply a lack of chemistry between Wilson and the receivers at the beginning of the season.  It's not uncommon for players to take time developing timing at the beginning of the season, even if they have played several seasons together.  It will be fascinating to see how Percy Harvin fits into this run heavy offense of Pete Carroll and OC Daryl Bevell.  Harvin is a capable runner out of the backfield, as well as catching the ball on screenplays in space and his unequaled ability to take a 6 yard pass and turn it into an 80 yard run.  This is the kind of thing that Seattle expects Harvin to add to their offense that they don't currently have on the roster and haven't had perhaps in their franchise history.  Harvin is a phenomenal athlete with rare speed, quickness and the ability to change direction without losing velocity.  The Seahawks already have 3 slot type receivers on the roster with Tate, Baldwin and the awakening of Jermaine Kearse, a local favorite from the University of Washington.  Harvin fits the same description, though his speed allows him to play every skill position on the offense except quarterback.  If Seattle is to take this football team to the next level, they will need Harvin to produce on the offense.  One caveat is that, Percy Harvin is such an unusual and dangerous player, he doesn't need to catch passes or even carry the ball to be effective in helping the Seahawks put up yardage statistics and touchdowns.  Just having him on the field requires the Seahawks opponents to strategize their defense to stop him or at least attempt to contain him.  If the defense is allocating a large percentage of their attention to Harvin, that immediately opens up the middle of the field to Marshawn Lynch, and the rest of the deep portion of the defense to Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and speedster Ricardo Lockett, recently re-signed to the Seahawks practice squad and activated to the 53 man roster once Sidney Rice was placed on injured reserve.  Lockett is a former track athlete with the sprinter type speed to threaten the deep part of the field, preventing defenses from playing press coverage and cover one zones because Marshawn Lynch is a threat at all times.  Between Tate, Harvin and Lockett, teams can no longer put 8 players on the line of scrimmage to stop Marshawn Lynch as they did in the St. Louis Rams game just a week ago.  The Rams knew that Seattle was thin at the tackle position, and that they didn't have any true speed receivers on the roster at the time.  So, they stacked the box and dared Russell Wilson to throw the ball deep.  The Seahawks, with a rookie tackle on the right and an inexperienced guard playing tackle on the left, attempted to establish the running game, but it was futile trying to block 8 players with 5 or 6 offensive lineman, resulting in few yards for Lynch.  The Seahawks turned to a quick passing scheme, but because the Rams had no difficulty covering Seattle's receivers, they were still able to stay in base defenses without having to nickel or dime the defense to account for Seattle's journeyman wide receivers.  In addition to the personnel problems, the Seahawks got flat "outcoached", particularly Daryl Bevell who had perhaps his worst day playcalling in his career in Seattle.  Hopefully, Harvin and Lockett will create a feeling of fear in Seattle's remaining opponents, disallowing them from cheating at the line of scrimmage, which will open up opportunities for Daryl Bevell and the Seahawks offense to run and pass effectively.  Breno Giacomini and Russell Okung couldn't return to fast for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks.  That, is for certain…

SEAHAWKS SEEK INDY 5TH AGAINST LUCK, COLTS

Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson Appear to Be the New Guard and Heir Apparent to QB Royalty

Wilson vs. Luck: Could This Be…

Maestro vs. Maestro Into the Future?

The Seattle Seahawks are coming into their fifth game with all the confidence you can imagine for a team that just barely won its fourth game of the season, in overtime, against the Texans on the road and in their stadium.  Though, the Seahawks didn't play their best football in this game, winning with the kind of grit that Pete Carroll's team exuded in the second half can be a springboard to parlay that momentum into the remainder of the season. This gutsy ball-hawking Seattle football team continues to find a way to win, even in the darkest of hours, when they are not playing anywhere close to the full potential that this roster is surely capable of.  After a Sunday like that, struggling in every facet of the game for three straight quarters-- and with a severely depleted offensive line, the Seahawks are still undefeated…

One important thing that can't be overstated right now is this; Not one team in the NFL wants to get into an alley fight with Pete Carroll's football team this season or in the postseason.  They might say something different to the press, because they're football players and they've been programmed since peewee football to fear nothing.  Seattle is the most balanced football team in the NFL and they are the most tough and physical roster perhaps in decades. Russell Wilson's offense and Earl Thomas's defense can score at any time, in a variety of  ways on both sides of the ball and from anywhere on the field. Seattle's defense has made an art form of taking the ball away from offense, especially when their opponent is threatening to score inside the 'Hawks red zone.  They can turn defense into offense from any of the 11 players on the field at any given time.  In the NFL, they call it the red zone, the area deep in the opponent’s side of field inside the 20 yard line. 

The Seahawks might have the best defensive mechanism in the NFL.  You don’t dare get in the red zone and worse, you don’t dare score on the Legion of Boom or you will pay dearly.  This is exactly what happened in Houston last Sunday.  The Seahawks played what was likely their worst game in their last 12 contests.  Seattle trailed the Texans 20-3 at halftime, but that’s the last time they would see the end zone or the goalposts.  The Seahawks defense clamped down on Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, Owen Daniel, Ben Tate and rookie sensation, DeAndre Hopkins keeping them out of the end zone for the entire second half.  In addition to the LOB shutting down the Houston Texans passing offense, the front seven defensive players for Seattle began to wear down Gary Kubiak’s offensive line and it began to be very difficult for Schaub to get off a pass without getting pummeled before and after he threw the football.  It was as if Seattle’s defense woke up at halftime. 

Because the Seahawks live and train on the West Coast, this was a 10 o’clock start for them.  The way that they began the game makes perfect sense…  Seattle started playing "Seahawks Football" when there internal clocks realized it was now 1:00 PM after halftime.  It was only then, that Clinton McDonald, Chris Clemons, Cliff Avril, Brandon Mebane and safety Kam Chancellor began their assault on the Texans quarterback, so badly that you could swear Schaub was on the sidelines using the telephone to call for a restraining order on the Seahawks defensive front seven.  Schaub was clearly rattled by the barrage of hits that he began to take in the third and fourth quarters.  Cliff Avril came off the left side and hit Schaub so hard his helmet flew off and he laid on his back in disbelief. Could he have realized that a sleeping dog had just awoken; a snarling, drooling and vicious attack dog?  It’s as if, Pete Carroll released his defense from the chains around their necks, allowing them to attack in the manner in which they were trained; attack those who enter their territory.  

KJ Wright took a blow to the shoulder, re-aggravating an old injury from his college playing days.  After being examined by the sideline trainers, Wright insisted that they tape him up and release him again to attack anyone carrying a football. "This was an important fight for the Seahawks and I wasn't about to miss a minute of this one." Wright said just after the game concluded. Kam Chancellor began to blitz from the safety position, flanking ball-carriers on the right, the left and straight up the gut causing the Texans' offensive lineman to appear surprised and confused on nearly every second half play.  Bobby Wagner, a pigskin "seeking missile", disrupted blocking schemes, shedding blockers right and left, until he found the football.  Earl Thomas, the best free safety in the game, patrolled the deep secondary like hammerhead shark, searching for anything spilling blood and carrying a football.  The Seahawks are definitely creating a reputation as a team that has a pattern of not showing up until the second half. Up until Sunday morning,  that pattern of play has been adequate, but the Seahawks didn't train and prepare to become adequate. This style of play must improve if they want to be ready for some of the tough contests they will face throughout the rest of the regular season and into the postseason playoffs. The Seahawks must retake the NFC West championship and secure home-field advantage through the playoffs.. The fans of Seattle deserve this and this football team is far too talented and prepared to do anything less. For the leaders of this football team and the Seahawk fans throughout the world, believe that it is Providence, it is destiny and anything less is simply unacceptable. Failure is not an option…

So, what did we learn about the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday at Houston?

I think one of the most poignant things we learned was that Russell Wilson has an innovative, instinctual and unquenchable drive to keep doing whatever is necessary to win close games, especially when the team isn’t clicking on all cylinders, sometimes none.  One bit of info that's not a secret to fans of football is that; the Houston Texans defensive front-seven is extremely talented and stocked with dominant, physical and grizzly aggressive type players in their pursuit of opposing quarterbacks and ball-carriers behind the line of scrimmage.  Whitney Mercilus, Brian Cushing and are noted defensive standouts, but it’s, DE JJ Watt, who currently holds the prestigious honor as the “National Football League’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.  He is a true monster, a man among men, a beast of NFL defenses, collecting 20.5 sacks in 2012, and I’m sure that he and the Incredible Hulk have many things in common, skin color notwithstanding; Although they both turn into “someone or something” you wouldn’t want to meet on a football field or anywhere when they get angry, and make no mistake -- JJ was very angry throughout the second half of Sunday’s game and definitely with the press as they needled him with questions about the Texans loss at his Reliant Stadium locker stall.  He was restrained enough to avoid a slew of curse words, that he visibly struggled to hold back, as he explained the intense disappointment he felt losing to the Seahawks in the Texans own stadium.  

His countenance of the Texans failures could accurately have been described as fearsome, even frightening, by the time he put an abrupt end to the locker side interview.  A bloody, swollen gash on the bridge of his nose, which had required six stitches to close, didn’t help any.

“I’m (angry),” he said, his lower lip trembling slightly.  “This sucks.  Nobody likes to lose.  Especially like this.  In your own building.  This isn’t fun, man.  I was sick of it after one loss.  I can’t … That’s all I’ve got to say.

Asked how he sustained the gruesome cut, Watt continued with a glare straight ahead, wearing a Texans knit stocking cap;

“I hit people for a living,” he said.

Likely, an unintentional, funny line.  But nobody in the press corps dared to even smirk.

So, how did Watt actually sustain the laceration and contusion to his nose?  On a sideline hit, after Russell Wilson was seemingly trapped in the pocket, he scrambled out of a certain Texan melee and ran down the left sideline, ultimately throwing the ball out of bounds to avoid a sack.  As Watt was quickly bearing down on him, Wilson took a hard, but legal hit.  JJ Watt may have taken the worst of the collision, however.  Wilson somehow managed to avoid a clean hit and rolled out of his fall, into a standing position.  Standing over his attacker at 5’10” 200 lbs., while Watt, a hulking 6’5” 289 lbs. of muscle and bone, rose from the white grass sideline with what looked like a broken nose and a laceration spilling blood down each side of his nose and dripping from his lips and chin.  The replay was broadcast repeatedly all over the television networks, showing JJ Watt putting a lick on Wilson…  But the aftermath may have exposed a different story.  Wilson didn’t get a scratch, while the “Man-ster”(Watt) from Houston bled the red stuff all over his face, jersey and several white towels on the sidelines.

Another thing I think we learned about the Seahawks after Sunday’s game in Houston is that the “Legion of Boom” is as lethal as advertised.  It’s true that, the feared LOB and the rest of the Seahawks defense gave up more yardage in the first half to the Texans offense than they did any of their previous opponents in the entire game.  It’s also true that quarterback Matt Schaub seemed to have his way with the Seahawks secondary, (31/49 355 yds., 2 TDs) throwing strikes to wide receiver Andre Johnson (9 rec. 110 yds.) and to tight end Owen Daniels seemingly without any trouble whatsoever, allowing the Texans an eight minute advantage in time of possession (39:53 to 31: 48).  It really seemed like the Seahawks defense was confused in the first half.  As they came out in the second half, it didn’t seem like any real adjustments were made by the Seahawks to improve on those horrendous numbers.  Andre Johnson continued catching passes and Matt Schaub continued to enjoy several seconds each passing play to go through his "check down sequences" and picking apart the best defensive secondary in football.  Seattle's front seven failed to put any real pressure on Schaub threw three quarters of football.  But it’s the timely wisdom by Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Brandon Browner that makes the Seahawks D so bloody dangerous down the stretch.  Finally, Pete Carroll's "Skeleton Crew O line" began to wear down the Texans' sack masters; Watt, Mercilus and Smith.  Meanwhile defensive lineman; Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Cliff Avril, Clinton McDonald, Tony McDaniel and Chris Clemons (freshly back from ACL rehab assignment), began to seriously beat up the Texans offensive line, putting tremendous pressure on Schaub.  What was most important and what began to slant the momentum in the Seahawks favor was definitely the pressure of the defense on the Texans passing game.  The Seahawks did give 20 points to the Texans in the first half, but after the break, Schaub and his offense never scored another point.  The defense kept the game score close and manageable for Russell Wilson and the rest of the Hawks' offense.  Statistics don’t always tell the true story of every game.  In this case, statistics only told half the story and it is true that the Texans dominated the first half, in statistics and on the most important statistic.  Statistics only really have two applicable uses in pro-football, I think.  One; to make assumptions about individual performances and what will likely work and what won’t work as you develop a game plan against your next opponent, and two; for those who enjoy playing fantasy football.  In every other situation, you can throw out every statistical category except for one…  The scoreboard.

This week, the Seahawks face one of the better AFC football teams,the Indianapolis Colts.  Andrew Luck has been the epitome of what you would expect from a first overall selection, at quarterback, in the NFL draft.   Luck,  just like Seattle's Russell Wilson, is  in his second year and will constantly be under a microscope for signs of a sophomore slump. Last season featured five high profile rookie quarterbacks, starting for their respective teams and all full of high expectations. Luck was selected 1st overall, Robert Griffin III was 2nd,  Ryan Tannehill was 8th, Brandon Weeden went 22nd and Russell Wilson was selected in the third round,  75th overall.  Each of these  young gunslingers had outstanding debut seasons in the toughest football league  in the world.   Some better than others, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson all had outstanding rookie seasons with all of them leading their team into the playoffs.  Wilson was the only rookie quarterback to collect a victory in postseason, as the Seahawks defeated, RGIII and the Washington Redskins, in the NFC wild-card game in Washington DC.  Seattle would go on to  play the first seeded  NFC playoff team,  the Atlanta Falcons, at the Georgia Dome,  but faltered in the final seconds of regulation, losing by a field goal after trailing by 20 points at halftime and taking a one point lead with just 31 seconds to go.

But now it's 2013, and two of the brightest and best young quarterbacks will face each other at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis The expectations for Andrew Luck are enormous, the first selection in a draft of great college quarterbacks, not to mention the replacement for the future Hall of Famer, Peyton Manning, who brought a Super Bowl championship  to Indianapolis and Colt fans  everywhere.  on the other hand, there is Russell Wilson, the 75th pick in the third round  of the same draft class  Luck entered the NFL. No one had high expectations for Russell Wilson, except for Russell Wilson and everyone who truly knew him.. He is Seattle's first true franchise quarterback who has lifted the hopes  of an entire  nation of Seahawks fans from his 5'10" relatively diminutive NFL frame.  Wilson carries the weight of the city of people who haven't seen a major professional sports championship since the 1979 Supersonics won the NBA World Championship so long ago. The Seahawks fresh off a miracle win at Houston's Reliant Stadium, catapulting them with the confidence of an extremely important road victory against a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Colts, on the heels  of a dominant victory over the hapless and winless Jacksonville Jaguars,  full of momentum and  a much improved and underrated defensive unit.

This should be a very exciting and competitive game full of a variety of subtexts and interesting side notes.

Note: After the record-breaking noise fest earlier this season in CenturyLink Field, when the Seahawks throttled the San Francisco 49ers, in front of 68,000 screaming Seahawks fans, when the 12th man roared for the Seahawks at 136.6 decibels, Colts backup and former Seahawks quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, has been coaching the Indianapolis fans on the art of creating disruptive crowd noise for their home game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Lucas is a covered stadium and regardless of how loud the fans are in Indianapolis comparatively to Seattle, it will still be a noisy and disruptive environment for second year quarterback, Wilson.  Should be an interesting contest and challenging task for the Seattle Seahawks to contend with.  The Seahawks are the better team on paper, and with a much deeper roster.  However, this game is a road game against a quality opponent, and it will not be an easy game to come away with a 5-0 record best for Seattle.

 *****