UNSTOPPABLE ON PRIME TIME
The Seattle Seahawks continued their prolific Monday Night record with a gutsy 37 to 30 wins over the Minnesota Vikings Monday Night at CenturyLink Field. In the process of improving their Monday Night home record to 12-1 the Seahawks improved their season record to 10-2 and leapfrogged the San Francisco 49ers for first place in the NFC West.
The Seahawks own the head to head competition between the two teams due to the Seahawks week Ten 27-24 win over the Niners. The NFC rivals will finish the regular season with a Week 17 rematch on December 29th in Seattle . Here is some quick impression from the Seahawks Prime time win over the Vikings.
RUNNING GAME IS A TWO BACK AFFAIR
Pete Carroll and John Schneider surprised everyone when they selected Rashaad Penny in the first round during the 2018 draft. Carroll has been steadfast in his philosophy of having two complementary running backs. Chris Carson had established himself as the starter so the move to draft made no sense on a paper. After a precarious rookie season due to injury , Carroll’s belief never wavered, and that patience is now being rewarded. On Monday the Seahawks two back rushing attacked accounted for two rushing touchdowns and 176 of the teams 218 rushing yards.
Carson finished the game with 102 yards on 23 carries after going through concussion protocol in the second quarter. Penny did more than play a stand in role. The second year back from San Diego State had 15 carries for 74 yards. The 218 yards rushing was a season high for the Seahawks and more impressive was that the feat was accomplished against a Vikings team that came into the game ranked 6th against the run and was allowing 94.2 yards a game.
THE DEFENSE HAS ARRIVED
The Seahawks defense continues to improve each week. Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles the Seahawks defense forced three fumbles and two interceptions. On Monday night the defense continued to create turnovers. Tre Flowers had another interception adding to the one he had in Philadelphia and Rasheem Green’s hit on Dalvin Cook in the third quarter caused a fumble that was recovered by Bradley McDougald at the Vikings 26 yard line. The turnover led to a 26 yard field that gave the Seahawks a 20-17 lead they never relinquished. The Vikings made a furious comeback that fell short.
When it mattered most Seahawks, defensive front seen bowed up and shut down the Vikings. Jadeveon Clowney returned after missing the Eagles game and his presence added to the Jarran Reed and Ziggy Ansah’s relentless pressure on Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins and the shutting down of the Vikings run game. While they did not record a sack, the Seahawks Dline had seven hits on Cousins.
