The Seattle Seahawks are one of the few teams that have yet to suffer a loss in 2024.
Almost equally remarkable is the Away They won at home against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. What the Seahawks have not yet experienced is a loss. But they have also had to do without several other parts – incredibly important parts – of a good football team and Despite it won the game.
What I’m saying is that Seattle just won a very bad football game. That hasn’t happened to them very often in recent years and it’s an incredibly positive sign for the team’s future.
Before you say, “Wait a minute, have you never seen Russell Wilson? The Seahawks have consistently won bad games! In fact, they specialize in that” – I’m not talking about the style of play. I’m talking about what the team didn’t have on Sunday and still won.
The sales margin
It’s been mentioned at length before, but Seattle had a minus-two turnover differential and still won by 21, which hadn’t happened since my dad played with leather helmets or something.
Third Downs
The Seahawks were 3-for-11 on third downs against Miami, which was usually the result of a loss a year ago. A big difference this season is that they are now able to make the opposing offense even worse, as the Dolphins were just 1-for-12.
Don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Kenneth Walker, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Abe Lucas or George Fant?
Not only are these some of the more recognizable names on the team, but it’s important to note where they all play. I’m well aware that this team always wins despite barely having a running game. Zach Charbonnet finally came to life, but that was after about five consecutive quarters of waffling last week.
And then you want to tell me that the preferably two center backs both went down and the team held De’Von Achane to 30 rushing yards??
“Can’t run, can’t stop the run” led to a 1-5 streak in the second half of 2023. This time, the team has enough firepower and coaching creativity on both sides to overcome that.
A return game
Unlike the OT win over the New England Patriots, Seattle didn’t win on special teams. In fact, they were pretty bad. Sometimes that third period is necessary to overcome some of the deficiencies listed above. Not this week.
I don’t want to ride a dead horse, but protection
It’s uncomfortable to have to keep pointing out that one or two players are constantly on the verge of rendering the entire offense useless. Anthony Bradford is playing terribly, and Geno Smith deserves a medal, a contract, a Pro Bowl, and probably a year of counseling for the pressure he continues to face.
discipline
Eleven penalties. Miami had 10, but Seattle’s penalties cost more yards. Some of them were even real violations that actually happened!
Ultimately, fans might just conclude that the Dolphins are a low-level team and the Seahawks should be happy to have played them now when they are so incompetent.
I do not come to that conclusion and would like to encourage you to go outside, have a coffee and rethink your attitude towards life.
I see a team that hasn’t even come close to playing its best ball and just won an NFL game by 21 points.
Ask the Tampa Bay Buccaneers what it feels like to play against Bo Nix.
Normally, you have four of these deficiencies and you lose. But these Hawks have it all. Whether it’s talent, coaching skills, mentality or whatever you want to call it. I’m pretty excited.
