Ironically enough, the Seahawks offense really has taken flight once they were forced to make Russell Wilson and the passing game the focal point of the offense, after Lynch and Rawls went out with injuries.
Be that as it may, Lynch returning will certainly make them more fomridable.
I don't think that's entirely true. Wilson definitely took on a lot more responsibility, but that offense really started going in their 10th game against the Cardinals. They would lose Lynch and the game, but the offense put up 32 points.
Over the next 7 games, they'd go 6-1 and score 29 points or more except for once, the Rams loss. Rawls was on the field for 3 of those big games, and the offense put up 29, 39, and 38 points with him filling in. They also scored 35 in the game he was injured after 6 carries for 44 yards, but the team still ended up with 123 yards rushing.
During that 7-game stretch, the offense averaged 264 yards passing and 148 yards rushing. Wilson threw for 300 or more yards in only one game, while the offense ran for 100 yards or more in every game but one.
Wilson was definitely more efficient during this stretch. During the first 9 games of the season, Wilson averaged 30 attempts, completed 66%, 7.96 YPA with 10 TDs vs. 7 INTs for a 91.7 RAT. Over the last 7 games, Wilson averaged 31 attempts, but completed 71%, 8.78 YPA with 24 TDs vs. 1 INT for a 132.8 RAT. Similar number of attempts, just did more with them. And that 71% completion rate would be higher if it weren't for the 60% posted against the Rams, as his next two-lowest completion percentage games during that stretch were 68% and 70%.
So I don't think it's as simple as saying Wilson became the focus. He just did more with the attempts he was given. The run game was huge during that stretch.
Regardless, they are a formidable team playing their best football of the year. They've got to win 3 games on the road too to make it back for a 3rd time though. And they had the bounces go their way the past two years. Something tells me they're due to get ****ed by the refs or lady luck at some point but I certainly wouldn't bet against them right now.
