The Seattle Seahawks defense was heavily criticized and ridiculed for its ineptitude during the first half of the 2020 NFL season. Well, to be more specific, the pass defense was destroyed while the race defense generally fulfilled its part of the deal.
What you cannot deny is that, through the bad defensive game and the current improvement that we are seeing, Seattle has been able to overcome this problem consistently. Think how different this season would have been if Cam Newton had scored from the 1-yard line here …
And then, a week later, Ryan Neal comes to pick up Jamal Adams and intercepts Dak Prescott’s prayer that could have forced the overtime.
Two weeks after that, Alexander Mattison is stuffed in 4th and 1st and the Seahawks are able to go 94 yards and win it at Russell Wilson’s touchdown throw for DK Metcalf. Should the Vikings just kick the basket to go up 8? Well, they can think about everything out of season, but it proved to be an absolute dagger for Minnesota’s playoff hopes, while Seattle improved to 5-0.
I’m sure RB Alexander Mattison would love to have this fourth and inch deal back. It looks like he should have returned it to the SS, which was blocked by TE Kyle Rudolph. Mattison played a great game after Cook’s injury. 112 running yards and 136 yards in total. A set of centimeters. pic.twitter.com/zmKS0qHpgS
– Odds and Ends with Mike Tice (@ miketice86) October 13, 2020
Now, admittedly, the Seahawks defense managed a 34-24 lead in their first encounter with the Arizona Cardinals. The ease with which Kyler Murray and company achieved the field goal that tied the game was disappointing at best and maddening at worst. Then, when the rematch took place at Lumen Field in what was a mandatory win for Seattle, Carlos Dunlap showed why the Seahawks switched to him.
Exactly a month later, Dunlap’s services were needed again, despite limited clicks due to injuries.
And while I don’t consider it a stop to save the game, it was a goal-setting position that changed the game from which the Rams never recovered.
That is the performance of the clutch for you. And I didn’t even include the fact that the Patriots and Washington lost two-point conversions that would have provided them with a safety net to kick a tied field goal if they didn’t get the victory touchdown.
As usual, Seattle played many games played, but unlike 2019, Russell Wilson did not have to lead so many twists in the 4th period. This year’s team has often had to preserve leads late and is more than ready for the task. It has been one of the high points of the Seahawks team and one of the main reasons why they will end this year as NFC West champions for the first time since 2016.