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Defense Is Unmerciful To Cam Newton, Seahawks Grind Out Another Victory, Russ’s Rookie Year

Defense Is Unmerciful To Cam Newton, Seahawks Grind Out Another Victory, Russ’s Rookie Year

The Carolina Panthers season had gone the opposite of Seattle’s. Accompanying their sole win was a trio of losses to the New York Giants, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Atlanta Falcons—three teams whose defenses finished 2012 at the bottom of the rankings. To blame was a dysfunctional offense. Quarterback Cam Newton had his hands full, and as his moniker suggested, he was indeed “Superman” for the unit. His statistics were lukewarm, with seven total touchdowns to five interceptions, but…

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Why The Falcons Will Win The Super Bowl

Why The Falcons Will Win The Super Bowl

At the conclusion of the NFC Championship game, the Atlanta Falcons stood victorious, having defeated NFC powerhouses the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers in consecutive weeks by decisive margins. Carried by a feisty defense and by far the NFL’s best offense, led by its MVP-caliber quarterback, Matt Ryan, the Falcons final challenge will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas to face the AFC champion New England Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LI. At…

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Redemption Win Against Panthers Proves Bittersweet; Minus Thomas, Team Must Overcome Greatest Challenge Yet

Redemption Win Against Panthers Proves Bittersweet; Minus Thomas, Team Must Overcome Greatest Challenge Yet

The Seahawks hand a beat down to the Panthers. Everything is right with the universe.

No position on the Seahawks was of greater concern and uncertainty than that of running back, where a string of injuries cost the offense its versatility. The backfield carnage started with CJ Prosise’s wrist injury and was followed by Russell Wilson’s ankle, Thomas Rawl’s leg, Wilson’s knee, Prosise’s shoulder, Troymaine Pope’s ankle, and then, momentarily on Sunday, Rawls in the concussion protocol. Finally, on Sunday, the offense played its first game with both Wilson and Rawls at full strength since week 14 of the 2015 season. What resulted was a running explosion of 240 yards, the strongest performance of the season and a rebound from a season-low 33 yards only a month prior. This dramatic improvement has hardly been formulaic. Against the Patriots and the Eagles, Prosise was the leading rusher. Against the Buccaneers, it was Wilson. Against the Panthers, it was Rawls. This running game is not only resurfacing but is no longer built for one specific person or one specific philosophy. It wants lots of weapons with lots of options and the personnel is there, if these guys can stay on the field.

Prosise’s and Wilson’s performances almost feel like slow motion juxtaposed to the eye-popping displays of instinct and speed from Rawls.

Discombobulated But Still Dangerous, The Cardinals Lie Ahead – Seahawks Bye Week Special

Discombobulated But Still Dangerous, The Cardinals Lie Ahead – Seahawks Bye Week Special

The Seahawks played a smash-mouth game against the Rams during week two and lost in a fashion only the Rams can create. There were many reasons to ignore this game, especially since every NFL team shits the bed once per season. One could be forgiven for thinking, without Teddy Bridgewater, and in the first week of the Sam Bradford experiment, where Adrian Peterson rushed for only 31 yards on 19 carries, that the Vikings were in 8-8 territory. Fast forward to week 5 and the Vikings are now 5-0 and have won four of those five games by greater than a touchdown. Last year, the Seahawks took the Vikings twice. The first was a 38-7 stomping. Several key Viking defensive starters were missing during the game, and in the post-season, it was a different story with their presence. The Hawks still won, 10-9.

If the Seahawks are due to meet the Vikings in the post-season, this Rams defense might be the only real warm-up they get. So being the glutton for punishment that I am, I decided to watch week two again.

2015 Seahawks Re-Watch, Divisional Playoff: Just The Beginning

2015 Seahawks Re-Watch, Divisional Playoff: Just The Beginning

Any season that ended without a Super Bowl victory was a season that ended on a sour note, and so was the end of the 2015 Seahawks. A slow start put the team in the hole at 2-4, and the loss of Marshawn Lynch put the offense in SOS mode. Bevell changed philosophies midseason, coaching his unit into a pass-first offense. For the defense, the underperformance at the second corner position was a yearlong struggle. Defensive coordinator Kris Richard moved on from cornerback Cary Williams and found stability in a combo unit of Jeremy Lane and DeShawn Shead. These mid-season adjustments put the Hawks on a winning streak, resulting in a double-digit win total for the fourth consecutive year.

If there was any consolation to be had, it was the emergence of Russell Wilson as the predominant young quarterback in the NFL. Having lived up to his new contract, Wilson played at an elite level, whether it was using his hands or his feet. His leadership was flawless, and his work ethic and passion had focused the Carroll-era into the winningest stretch of Seahawks football. Seasons came, seasons past—but a mid-to-late round quarterback who led a team to the post-season in his first four years, including winning a Super Bowl, was a level of immediate greatness only two others franchises had been fortunate to befall. The 49ers got Joe Montana. The Patriots got Tom Brady. The Seahawks got Russell Wilson.

2016, be forewarned.

Super Bowl 50: The Sheriff Rides Off Into The Sunset.

Super Bowl 50: The Sheriff Rides Off Into The Sunset.

In a thrilling and sometimes cringe inducing fashion, the Old-Testament Denver Broncos stuck it to the fun-loving Carolina Panthers for a 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50. In a game polluted with turnovers, an amazing 7 fumbles and 2 interceptions, the Broncos were able to steal drive after drive, no two thefts being more symbolic than Von Miller’s two strip fumbles off Cam Newton for the game’s opening and closing touchdowns.

Super Bowl Prediction: The Big D Sinks Big Cam

Super Bowl Prediction: The Big D Sinks Big Cam

It’s hard to judge who is hotter right now–the Bronco defense or the Panther offense, but I’m going with the big D. The Panthers have had two consecutive blowout games where they were up by multiple touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. That’s not a normal thing, my friends. And I’m assuming that, unless Manning throws a pick six to start the game, the Denver D will not surrender in such a fashion.

Conference Championships: Denver’s Big D

Conference Championships: Denver’s Big D

Your Super Bowl is the Carolina Panthers versus the Denver Broncos. To me, this game personifies the old school versus the new school trends in the NFL. The Broncos will bring their aging quarterback with his 2000s offense and its heavy pass rush defense while the Panthers will bring their young, 2010s QB (great thrower, great runner) and their fiesta defense that feeds on a strong stable of linebackers.

Divisional Playoff: Just Short.

Divisional Playoff: Just Short.

The 2015 Seahawks ends in disappointing fashion but how the team evolved and improved is a testament to the organization. Whether it was going to Rawls or cutting Cary Williams or dumping the run-first offense, the Hawks always embrace change and take big risks to improve. From 2-4 to 11-7, the Seahawks showed us the entire gamut of what a football season can be. Through dramatic highs and dramatic lows, the Hawks ultimately found their stride in a rebuilt offense led by its superstar, Russell Wilson.

Wildcard Playoff: The Big Chill.

Wildcard Playoff: The Big Chill.

The Wilson-era Seahawks built on their illustrious history with a nail-biter victory over a tough, smart Vikings team who wanted a low scoring contest where they would have the final drive. Unfortunately for the Vikings, irony was abound and they got exactly as they wished. Field goal kicker Blair Walsh–who was the sole reason the Vikings had a chance to win at all–sent a chip shot wide left during the closing seconds of the game, dealing the Vikings a stomach churning loss.