This game made me think of games 6 and 7 of the world series and all of the improbable (impossible?) things that propelled the Dodgers to the WS win. If thoughts and beliefs are held strongly by a group (our players) and channeled to one common cause, then seemingly miraculous things occur. I believe what Ernest Jones said about the Rams players pointing at them and laughing, and they, as a group, said NO MORE. That was a galvanizing force that brought them and the miraculous energy together. When that happens, ANYTHING is possible. I hope this team can continue to harness this *belief*, because if they do, they can win it all.
I watched the game on catchup cos of the time difference, had the result spoilered by my fantasy football app. Despite knowing the final score, I thought to myself "we are so fucked" when that 2nd INT happened. To quote British broadcasting legend Chris Kamara:
HOLY SH*T! WHAT A RUSH! From "Aw f**k..." to "OH F**K!!" in one game! Including comic relief with a Buster Keaton-ish moment where a polite Charbonnet hands a 'seemingly' dead ball to the ref while walking off the field in dissapointment...inadvertently tying the game! Who knew right? In a cinderella story movie of a team's NFL season, THAT game would be the finale. Too unbelievable? Yeah, that sh*t don't happen in real life.
After that second interception to Turner at the goal line, that felt like game over at that point. I think most everyone thought so, too. My wife decided to go to bed after that. I went out to the porch to smoke a bowl. At the far back of my mind I was hoping that perhaps something good would happen as I was away from the TV. Low and behold, ten minutes later, I look at the TV and it says 30-22. What the hell happened!!?? WTF!!?? I came back in time to see our guys in the midst of the drive that ultimately had Sam to Barnett in the endzone. Then the wacky 2-point conversion of that lateral pass that Zach recovered. Tie game! Holy smoking shit!
I ended up going back out to the porch to smoke another bowl as LA was trying to drive down for a field goal in regulation. So stressful. But, the kicker missed the 48 yarder! We had chances to win in regulation but both defenses rose to the occasion.
This game had the feeling of watching a Mariners game late in the season and into the playoffs. So much clutch and improbable moments that happened. Unbelievable!
The thing that blows my mind is the 0-172 stat of never winning a game when trailing by 16 plus in the fourth quarter. To witness the end of that streak was something to behold. Such good vibes! Now, the next ten days will be such a nice relaxing and satisfying time before Carolina. What a season so far!
First what a heroic game from Sam, who dealt with Rams in his face all night long, unlike Stafford who enjoyed clean pockets for most of the first 3 quarters as they built their lead. The comeback will be a part of the team legend, deservedly so.
But also therein lies the problem... the Rams success feels a little more durable right now. They were in Sam's face all night... and they were keeping Stafford upright. Their completions felt easier and more open, whereas ours - like that insanely ridiculous completion to Kupp - feel harder to repeat. They know how to pick Sam off. We needed a lot of crazy things to go right. I hope I'm wrong about all of this.
As for Sam... it was great, and also... what makes him great which was also true on Wednesday is that he's being paid properly and not killing the team financially ... like a Jones or a Tua or a Herbert. It allows our team to go after the Shaheeds when they become available, and we all saw what that can do. Sam has proven he can play under duress (I thought he had already proven this but I enjoyed the heck out of him proving it again last night!). And he's proven that sometimes he can't and will cough it up. Note: Drew Lock once had a great last minute win vs the Eagles. Geno had many 4th qtr comebacks and was league leader in that stat. Nice to see Sam, our guy right now, prove this in a big big game.
RE: The Derick Hall suspension. The play starts at 2:25 in the first quarter. You can't see it on the broadcast, but in the all-22 side view on DAZN, Hall is seen stepping on the ankle of Dotson. It didn't look intentional to me. Dotson was on the ground under Hall and it looked to me like Hall started to trip over Dotson then shot his foot down to catch himself, stepping on Dotson's ankle in the process. Hall didn't look down until he had already stepped on Dotson's ankle, so I don't understand how this can be seen as anything but inadvertent. Hall has appealed the 1-game suspension. My 2 cents.
Was at the game last night. Epic. Our entire row left (not me) in the fourth when it looked over, and came running back after Shaheeds return. What a turn !
There are moments in sports that you look back on and say "that's where it started." They don't always lead to the end point where champagne is sprayed and cigars are smoked and confetti rains from the sky, but when they do it's that moment you remember just as profoundly as the end result. If we win the whole thing this year, or even next year, it will be this game that becomes that memorable moment for Seahawks fans. That's pretty damn special.
Since Sea Side Joe (who I am beginning to think is actually named Ken) is so good at predicting what will happen, Why do they bother to play the games??😊
If I'm in Vegas in January will you give me a hint?👍
I don't think so. He was the editor in chief of Field Gulls first, years ago, before he made this Substack, so I always figured he writes about the Seahawks because he enjoys it. I think the SBNation position is paid, though I couldn't say at what level. You don't need to be a fan of a team to cover them professionally. Or he could just be a fan of both teams and not really do the rivalry/picking sides thing. Whatever it is, as long as he reports with sincerity and integrity, no matter if he is writing here or there, I don't think it really matters.
First, I hate having to sign in before I post. The computer should know me my now and just say, "Yes, sir, post away." Some day I will forget what I want to say by the time I sign in,
Second, Sam McDarnold IS NOT an elite quarterback. Sam McDarnold IS a franchise quarterback. He is our franchise quarterback. In my opinion, he gets a little ruched under pressure and can improve how he reads a defense. He was fooled into the two interceptions by defensive switches. He looked foolish on those throws at the game and people were wondering wtf was he doing?
Third, when I got home and watched the game on TV, those defencive switches that fooled Sam were easy to see. The first was a man look that switched to a zome. If I were QB (and that's something no one wants to see) I think I may have made the same throw with the same results. On the second INT, a D lineman dropped into zone coverage for the interception. The more experience Sam gets I believe he will get fooled less. Right now he needs the rest of the team to win games. A good D, good Special Teams. When he becomes elite, he can put the team on his back.
Like the way I felt about Geno, I can't wait till the OL gives Sam more reliable protection. We need nothing more than time, but if we want to speed it up, another Grey Zabel would be a good first round pick.
And yet, he's 26-6 over two seasons with two different teams, with two regular-season games to go this year. Pretty nice results in a result-driven league. I'm not really keeping track, so I have to ask how Geno is doing these days?
This was the biggest / best regular season Seahawks game. My 2 favorite seahawks games are The 2013 NFC championship game is my all time fav (beating the 9ers and winning the SB) and 2014 NFC championship game (it’s kinda tainted because of the SB).
Now we have to make something come from it. Putting the #1 seed and bye week aside (although those are important) the things I found so impressive, which I also believe will help carry this team, are:
- Darnold stayed in the fight, even when he faltered, he persevered and ultimately succeeded.
- you called it, special teams was a HUGE factor. Missed FG and punt return for TD were critical plays.
- the D started sold, then struggled, then lost key players, the offense looked hopeless for most of the game, but they never let up and found another a gear when it mattered most.
-MOB Is s Life! This group truly loves each other and plays for their brothers.
This team gets knocked down over and over, people doubt them (I for sure did after the 2nd INT), but they never doubt themselves.
That 2 point conversion deserves its own name…. Backwards Logic has a nice ring to it :)
JOSH JONES. Highest PFF o-lineman for the Hawks and didn't really notice him all night, which means he did his job admirably. Low key should get a game ball among all the others: Saubert, Sheed, JSN, K9, Charbs, Darnold, Murph, DLaw, Kupp: just amazing plays all game!
Haven't seen any comments on MM's clock management at the end of regulation ahead of the 2:00 warnnng. Brief mention on the broadcast. Much like last week (where it won them the game), MM did the unexpected thing and it paid off beautifully - especially after the Rams 3rd down incompletion and missed FG left them with a "free timeout" at the 2:00 warning (in addition to the one remaining regular one).
As it turned out, the offense couldn't take advantage - but MM's decisions gave them an *opportunity* that they almost certainly wouldn't have had in the PC era. Just another way in which MM is putting his stamp on this team.
Man...what an absolutely crazy game. I'm absolutely speechless at the resilience of this team, and how they found a way to win.
Key things that made this game great:
-Last time we truly beat the rams (last season, we beat them with them resting their starters) was 2022, so it's been a WHILE.
-Sam notably has played poorly against the Rams dating back to his Vikings season.
-Sam also hasn't had a signature, put the team on his back moment this season. To need to drive the team down the full distance AND get a 2 pt conversion...cold blooded
-Coop with a signature clutch toe tap grab, after a less productive overall season.
-30-14 with 8 mins left, and ending at 38-37 shows what an all around effort this was. The defense turned it up at the end+kept us in it just enough, Special teams gave the spark, and offense made the plays when needed to dig us out of the hole.
This team does not have any quit in them. They play hard. Call me impressed
This game made me think of games 6 and 7 of the world series and all of the improbable (impossible?) things that propelled the Dodgers to the WS win. If thoughts and beliefs are held strongly by a group (our players) and channeled to one common cause, then seemingly miraculous things occur. I believe what Ernest Jones said about the Rams players pointing at them and laughing, and they, as a group, said NO MORE. That was a galvanizing force that brought them and the miraculous energy together. When that happens, ANYTHING is possible. I hope this team can continue to harness this *belief*, because if they do, they can win it all.
I watched the game on catchup cos of the time difference, had the result spoilered by my fantasy football app. Despite knowing the final score, I thought to myself "we are so fucked" when that 2nd INT happened. To quote British broadcasting legend Chris Kamara:
Unbelievable, Jeff.
HOLY SH*T! WHAT A RUSH! From "Aw f**k..." to "OH F**K!!" in one game! Including comic relief with a Buster Keaton-ish moment where a polite Charbonnet hands a 'seemingly' dead ball to the ref while walking off the field in dissapointment...inadvertently tying the game! Who knew right? In a cinderella story movie of a team's NFL season, THAT game would be the finale. Too unbelievable? Yeah, that sh*t don't happen in real life.
After that second interception to Turner at the goal line, that felt like game over at that point. I think most everyone thought so, too. My wife decided to go to bed after that. I went out to the porch to smoke a bowl. At the far back of my mind I was hoping that perhaps something good would happen as I was away from the TV. Low and behold, ten minutes later, I look at the TV and it says 30-22. What the hell happened!!?? WTF!!?? I came back in time to see our guys in the midst of the drive that ultimately had Sam to Barnett in the endzone. Then the wacky 2-point conversion of that lateral pass that Zach recovered. Tie game! Holy smoking shit!
I ended up going back out to the porch to smoke another bowl as LA was trying to drive down for a field goal in regulation. So stressful. But, the kicker missed the 48 yarder! We had chances to win in regulation but both defenses rose to the occasion.
This game had the feeling of watching a Mariners game late in the season and into the playoffs. So much clutch and improbable moments that happened. Unbelievable!
The thing that blows my mind is the 0-172 stat of never winning a game when trailing by 16 plus in the fourth quarter. To witness the end of that streak was something to behold. Such good vibes! Now, the next ten days will be such a nice relaxing and satisfying time before Carolina. What a season so far!
First what a heroic game from Sam, who dealt with Rams in his face all night long, unlike Stafford who enjoyed clean pockets for most of the first 3 quarters as they built their lead. The comeback will be a part of the team legend, deservedly so.
But also therein lies the problem... the Rams success feels a little more durable right now. They were in Sam's face all night... and they were keeping Stafford upright. Their completions felt easier and more open, whereas ours - like that insanely ridiculous completion to Kupp - feel harder to repeat. They know how to pick Sam off. We needed a lot of crazy things to go right. I hope I'm wrong about all of this.
As for Sam... it was great, and also... what makes him great which was also true on Wednesday is that he's being paid properly and not killing the team financially ... like a Jones or a Tua or a Herbert. It allows our team to go after the Shaheeds when they become available, and we all saw what that can do. Sam has proven he can play under duress (I thought he had already proven this but I enjoyed the heck out of him proving it again last night!). And he's proven that sometimes he can't and will cough it up. Note: Drew Lock once had a great last minute win vs the Eagles. Geno had many 4th qtr comebacks and was league leader in that stat. Nice to see Sam, our guy right now, prove this in a big big game.
For the second week in a row.
RE: The Derick Hall suspension. The play starts at 2:25 in the first quarter. You can't see it on the broadcast, but in the all-22 side view on DAZN, Hall is seen stepping on the ankle of Dotson. It didn't look intentional to me. Dotson was on the ground under Hall and it looked to me like Hall started to trip over Dotson then shot his foot down to catch himself, stepping on Dotson's ankle in the process. Hall didn't look down until he had already stepped on Dotson's ankle, so I don't understand how this can be seen as anything but inadvertent. Hall has appealed the 1-game suspension. My 2 cents.
My brain is in a fog. A happy, happy fog.
Was at the game last night. Epic. Our entire row left (not me) in the fourth when it looked over, and came running back after Shaheeds return. What a turn !
There are moments in sports that you look back on and say "that's where it started." They don't always lead to the end point where champagne is sprayed and cigars are smoked and confetti rains from the sky, but when they do it's that moment you remember just as profoundly as the end result. If we win the whole thing this year, or even next year, it will be this game that becomes that memorable moment for Seahawks fans. That's pretty damn special.
Well, maybe. If we get blown out in the next two weeks, then this win won't mean a thing. Let's pump the brakes a little for now.
I have an additional thought...'
Since Sea Side Joe (who I am beginning to think is actually named Ken) is so good at predicting what will happen, Why do they bother to play the games??😊
If I'm in Vegas in January will you give me a hint?👍
Oh man, I hope I can predict the Super Bowl! I'll see if Ken can give me the inside info on the future.
hmmm, yes, SSJ is Kenneth Arthur, who in addition to his Substack here, is the editor in chief of the LA Rams SBNation site, Turf Show Times.
Isn't that a conflict of interest?
I don't think so. He was the editor in chief of Field Gulls first, years ago, before he made this Substack, so I always figured he writes about the Seahawks because he enjoys it. I think the SBNation position is paid, though I couldn't say at what level. You don't need to be a fan of a team to cover them professionally. Or he could just be a fan of both teams and not really do the rivalry/picking sides thing. Whatever it is, as long as he reports with sincerity and integrity, no matter if he is writing here or there, I don't think it really matters.
Okay, yes, I have thought of what I want to say,
There are 4 things I want to say.
First, I hate having to sign in before I post. The computer should know me my now and just say, "Yes, sir, post away." Some day I will forget what I want to say by the time I sign in,
Second, Sam McDarnold IS NOT an elite quarterback. Sam McDarnold IS a franchise quarterback. He is our franchise quarterback. In my opinion, he gets a little ruched under pressure and can improve how he reads a defense. He was fooled into the two interceptions by defensive switches. He looked foolish on those throws at the game and people were wondering wtf was he doing?
Third, when I got home and watched the game on TV, those defencive switches that fooled Sam were easy to see. The first was a man look that switched to a zome. If I were QB (and that's something no one wants to see) I think I may have made the same throw with the same results. On the second INT, a D lineman dropped into zone coverage for the interception. The more experience Sam gets I believe he will get fooled less. Right now he needs the rest of the team to win games. A good D, good Special Teams. When he becomes elite, he can put the team on his back.
And that's the way it is.
Like the way I felt about Geno, I can't wait till the OL gives Sam more reliable protection. We need nothing more than time, but if we want to speed it up, another Grey Zabel would be a good first round pick.
And yet, he's 26-6 over two seasons with two different teams, with two regular-season games to go this year. Pretty nice results in a result-driven league. I'm not really keeping track, so I have to ask how Geno is doing these days?
This was the biggest / best regular season Seahawks game. My 2 favorite seahawks games are The 2013 NFC championship game is my all time fav (beating the 9ers and winning the SB) and 2014 NFC championship game (it’s kinda tainted because of the SB).
Now we have to make something come from it. Putting the #1 seed and bye week aside (although those are important) the things I found so impressive, which I also believe will help carry this team, are:
- Darnold stayed in the fight, even when he faltered, he persevered and ultimately succeeded.
- you called it, special teams was a HUGE factor. Missed FG and punt return for TD were critical plays.
- the D started sold, then struggled, then lost key players, the offense looked hopeless for most of the game, but they never let up and found another a gear when it mattered most.
-MOB Is s Life! This group truly loves each other and plays for their brothers.
This team gets knocked down over and over, people doubt them (I for sure did after the 2nd INT), but they never doubt themselves.
That 2 point conversion deserves its own name…. Backwards Logic has a nice ring to it :)
I read it called "The Zachward Pass" at Field Gulls
That’s pretty good…
JOSH JONES. Highest PFF o-lineman for the Hawks and didn't really notice him all night, which means he did his job admirably. Low key should get a game ball among all the others: Saubert, Sheed, JSN, K9, Charbs, Darnold, Murph, DLaw, Kupp: just amazing plays all game!
Amazing win!
Haven't seen any comments on MM's clock management at the end of regulation ahead of the 2:00 warnnng. Brief mention on the broadcast. Much like last week (where it won them the game), MM did the unexpected thing and it paid off beautifully - especially after the Rams 3rd down incompletion and missed FG left them with a "free timeout" at the 2:00 warning (in addition to the one remaining regular one).
As it turned out, the offense couldn't take advantage - but MM's decisions gave them an *opportunity* that they almost certainly wouldn't have had in the PC era. Just another way in which MM is putting his stamp on this team.
Man...what an absolutely crazy game. I'm absolutely speechless at the resilience of this team, and how they found a way to win.
Key things that made this game great:
-Last time we truly beat the rams (last season, we beat them with them resting their starters) was 2022, so it's been a WHILE.
-Sam notably has played poorly against the Rams dating back to his Vikings season.
-Sam also hasn't had a signature, put the team on his back moment this season. To need to drive the team down the full distance AND get a 2 pt conversion...cold blooded
-Coop with a signature clutch toe tap grab, after a less productive overall season.
-30-14 with 8 mins left, and ending at 38-37 shows what an all around effort this was. The defense turned it up at the end+kept us in it just enough, Special teams gave the spark, and offense made the plays when needed to dig us out of the hole.
-Lastly. FTR!!!
WHAT A GAAAAME.