OT: The Beast is back...

sevengables_2207 said:

@convertedpatsfan Good points. My statement was rather reductive, and in fact, looking at those numbers makes me think that the Seahawks could really be the team that comes out of the NFC.

IIRC, the offensive line play in Seattle was pretty bad the first half of the season. I am not sure if this continues to be an issue there, but there is no question that they have really caught fire (sans Rams game) down the stretch.

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I haven't watched a ton of Seattle games but I think you're right, the line was pretty bad at the beginning of the season.

But Wilson, an extremely mobile QB, was sacked 31 times in the first 7 games, and only 14 times over the last 9 games. Sacks don't always tell the story, but that's a pretty significant difference.

Makes a bit of sense since they traded their starting center in the Jimmy Graham deal. Assimilating Graham into the offense also took a while early on, and he started to catch fire late in the season until he got injured against Pittsburgh, but the offense has continued to light it up even without him.

oldrover said:

Marshawn Lynch, Kam Chancellor, full contingent of injured Seattle Seahawks could return for playoff game against Vikings

Do not... do NOT... rule out the Seahawks.

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TBH I hope they meet up w/the Panthers and crush Cam in Carolina. Cam's a great player but I hate his show boating...someone needs to humble that team. Apart from the Donks, the last team I want to see win a Super Bowl is the Panthers...then the Steelers.

convertedpatsfan said:

I haven't watched a ton of Seattle games but I think you're right, the line was pretty bad at the beginning of the season.

But Wilson, an extremely mobile QB, was sacked 31 times in the first 7 games, and only 14 times over the last 9 games. Sacks don't always tell the story, but that's a pretty significant difference.

Makes a bit of sense since they traded their starting center in the Jimmy Graham deal. Assimilating Graham into the offense also took a while early on, and he started to catch fire late in the season until he got injured against Pittsburgh, but the offense has continued to light it up even without him.

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Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett have been really stepping up for that team in the wake of Graham's injury from what little I have seen of the Seahawks games.

oldrover said:

Marshawn Lynch, Kam Chancellor, full contingent of injured Seattle Seahawks could return for playoff game against Vikings

Do not... do NOT... rule out the Seahawks.

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One thing I know for sure Seattle = Carolina kryptonite also Seattle's Offense have been significantly better since Jimmy Graham's season ending injury. I wonder if Seattle would part ways? might get my dream of Gronk/Graham combo on the Patriots.

With a -10 kickoff temp, they'll need him.

I'm ruling everyone else OUT because the Pats are winning it all .......... again

FortressX said:

Kind of sad that this will be the Vikings last outdoor home game for many years.

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I wonder if Vikes fans would agree.

As a fan I certainly agree with you as outdoor games in the cold are a perfect setting for a playoff football game.

Seattle will have the unenviable task of having two 10am starts in back to back weeks if they win this week.

West coast teams traveling east has always been a huge hurdle. Back to back games against the leagues best teams seems like a setup to fail.

If they make it to the NFC championship game, they will have earned it and then some, and will be terrifying to anyone they face.

On Friday, before the Seattle Seahawks traveled to Minneapolis, coach Pete Carroll was optimistic that Marshawn Lynch would play Sunday. That has been the message from the team all week.

By the time the Seahawks boarded a plane to Minnesota, Lynch wasn't with the team and the star running back was ruled out of Sunday's wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings.

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Seahawks star RB Marshawn Lynch suddenly ruled out vs. Vikings