While it was not a perfect game the Seahawks’ 33-13 win over the Houston Texans was as good as the Hawks have played all season. Sometimes what you did is more important than who you did it against. Let the record show that the Seahawk’s have won two games in a row for the first time this season. Why and how you ask?
A fully healthy Russell Wilson showed why he is considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. Running back Rashaad Penny had his best game as a pro and Tyler Locket had another Pro Bowl performance. Add in a second consecutive second half shut out by the defense one can see why head coach Pete Carroll and the 12’s for that matter feeling the team is closer to a contender rather than a rebuild come season’s end.
LIFE OF FIGHT MAKES FOR GOOD DECISIONS
With injuries concerns behind him, Wilson was quick-footed in the pocket, stepping up when the pocket began to collapse, dumping the ball off to intermediate route runners and he even tucked the ball under his arm for an eight-yard gain that helped move the chains. Wilson’s ability to move around the pocket enabled him to throw long, short, and pretty much anywhere he wanted. Wilson was 17 of 28 for 260 yards and two touchdowns for a 115.2 passer rating. While all of the receivers benefited from Wilson’s pinpoint accuracy the biggest beneficiary was Tyler Lockett who had five receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown was a jaw-dropping 55-yard reception just before halftime
ANOTHER PROLIFIC SEASON
The 142 reception yards saw Lockett reach the 1,000 receiving yards marks for the third season in a row. The only other Seahawk player to accomplish that feat in the NFL Hall of Fame Steve Largent.
“I mean, this was another masterpiece today of just body control, getting open, using the sideline, the balls that Russ threw to him,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the game . “Just such a graceful, beautiful athlete. I was thinking about Lance Alworth, a guy who back in the day used to be so graceful. Tyler was just unbelievably on it today and did a great job. A bunch of yards and the big touchdown right before the half. Russell (Wilson) threw a great deep ball right there to get the score before the half.”
RASHAAD PENNY IS THE REAL DEAL WHEN HEALTHY
Getting a second consecutive start for the first time in his career often injured and much-maligned Penny showed why the Seahawks made him a first-round pick in the 2018 draft.
After partaking in the season opener at the Colts Penny was ruled inactive for weeks two and three and finally landed on the IR list for the next three games. The injury woes continued causing Penny to shuffle between the inactive list and the bench until last week’s game against the 49ers where he earned his first start of the season. A decent outing against the 49ers 10 carries for 35 yards earned him a second consecutive start against the Texans.
“He was running so hard and of course the big plays that exploded,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “He was running tough and everything. We’ve been waiting for a little juice from the run game, and it was really there today in a big way. I’m not sure but it seems like that’s the only time he’s really come back-to-back maybe in the last two years… To see him come back and play again, was the accomplishment. So now, we got to get him back this week and get him back out there and hopefully he will feel good about it and be able to contribute in a big way again.”
Penny finished the game with a career-high 16 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns and earning him a third consecutive start according to Carroll.
AN OTHER SECOND-HALF SHUTOUT BY THE DEFENSE
The Seahawks defense pitched another second-half shutout for the second game in a row. This without Pro Bowl Safety Jamal Adams who will have another shoulder surgery. Say what you want about Adams’s pass coverage skills his energy and enthusiasm are a game-changer for the Seahawk’s defense.
The Seahawk’s defense bowed its neck in the second half Sunday after watching Texans rookie quarterback Davis Mills have his way in the first half.
Defense Coordinator Ken Norton Jr. unleashed Darrell Taylor from the line of scrimmage and the linebacker position confused Mills and made him erratic in his throws and decision making.
While he recorded just one sack Sunday to bring his team-leading number to six . Taylor harassed Mills along with Bobby Wagner, Ryan Neal, Ugo Amadi, L.J Collier, and Poona Ford who all had at least one tackle for minus yards. All part of Norton’s plan to confuse Mills with multiple coverages and blitz packages.
BIG TAKE
The question is the glass is half full or half empty. Carroll coached teams also finish the last part of the season on a strong push. With just four games left in the season how the Seahawks fare against the LA Rams and Arizona Cardinals will bring clarity. Both of those games are on the road. The two home games against the Lions and the Bears are must-win games to make amend for the team’s home struggles this season. Going 2-2 down the stretch would bring one person short of an inquest. A 3-1 finish would most likely have the franchise thinking it’s easier to stay together than rebuild from the ground up.
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