Seahawks-Falcons final: Nick Emmanwori's breakout game
Emmanwori and Devon Witherspoon force turnover in Seattle's win over Atlanta
To quote Alfred E. Newman, “What ‘Man Wori?”
After the opening second half kickoff was returned for a touchdown, it seemed like the story of the game would be special teams saving the Seahawks on the road against the Falcons (the unit that I highlighted last week as a huge advantage) and you could still argue that’s what happened.
But as the rest of the half unfolded, Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori added even more to his Defensive Rookie of the Year case with a sack, an interception, and more to go with his first half field goal block. Offensively, Sam Darnold refused to disappear from the MVP conversation by throwing for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns, including two more to Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
And Rashid Shaheed had his best game as a Seahawk, gaining 67 yards on four catches as receiver to go with his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
Seahawks 37, Falcons 9
The story could be Jay Harbaugh’s continued dominance as coordinator of the league’s best special teams, but then it is also Darnold, JSN, Shaheed, Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon (interception, fumble recovery), and Drew Lock’s fifth appearance in a game this season due to a blowout.
What stood out to you during Seattle’s Week 14 victory over the Falcons, sending the Seahawks to 10-3 with a game against the fading Colts in Week 15? Share your thoughts in the comments and I’ll repost some of your replies on Monday’s newsletter — I’ll open the comments to free subscribers as well this week to celebrate the win:
Nick Emmanwori’s breakout
I was talking to a friend this week about the 2025 rookie class and why Emmanwori could be a consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year despite a) missing four games and b) not having an extraordinary stats that pop like sacks or turnovers. That narrative takes a significant upturn in Seattle’s favor this week with a blocked field goal, an interception, and a sack.
It’s not just that Emmanwori’s stats are better, it’s also the fact that “the media” is going to talking about him a lot this week. This is the right month to have the media talking about you.
^I mean, Mina Kimes is a voter and a lot of people in the media like to follow her lead.
There also aren’t a lot of other good candidates. Emmanwori could have taken the lead this week and again — he missed a whole month!
Devon Witherspoon’s second interception
It had been 35 games since Witherspoon’s first and only career interception. (The pick-six against the Giants.) He finally got #2 this week on a tipped pass.
Emmanwori got a pick on a tipped pass.
I seem to remember that one of the most special qualities about the Legion of Boom was that they managed to constantly feed each other interceptions by tipping passes. Sometimes you make the play yourself, but sometimes you just got to get a hand on the ball and trust that on of your teammates will finish the job.
Derick Hall couldn’t cleanly come down with the tipped pass himself but Witherspoon was there to finish the job. This was arguably Witherspoon’s best game of the season and not just because of the interception and the fumble recovery.
But on that note, Coby Bryant was visibly mad at himself for not recovering the fumble that Witherspoon recovered. He had his hands on it but couldn’t secure the ball. My friend always used to say that a football is like a Butterball turkey. Certainly seemed to be the case for Coby this week but luckily — in the words of Bruce Irvin to me once — “It ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.”
Sam Darnold’s return to form
This game felt like a reverse of all the games that gave Seahawks fans such an uneasy feeling in the second half of a blowout. It was still a blowout (Seattle’s sixth 14+ point win of the season) but it was only 6-6 at halftime.
The Falcons actually looked like the better team on both offense and defense in the first half, but it also never felt like the Seahawks would actually lose. Even Darnold’s interception just felt like a speed bump on an inevitable road to victory because Seattle’s defense/special teams is so good.
Darnold bumps his season totals up to 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, still leading the NFL in yards per pass attempt.
In terms of the MVP conversation — and I agree that awards don’t matter — but just in terms of that conversation happening, I am going to bet that Week 16’s game between the Rams-Seahawks has a huge say in the winner.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now at 1,428 yards and 9 touchdowns.
He’s already well past the single-season franchise record for yards. He needs 12 catches to break his own receptions record and 5 touchdowns to tie Doug Baldwin’s touchdown record.
Rashid Shafinally
I highlighted Shaheed in my “5 most important” preview on Saturday and it worked. He came through with the longest play in the NFL this season and a really good game as a receiver.
Seattle has probably run the ball more than they needed to this season and won most of their games. This week, they went the other way and probably passed it more than they needed to and they won by 28 points. Darnold also diversified his receiving options without sacrificing production for JSN:
Cooper Kupp TD
Shaheed 67 yards
Barner 27 yards on 4 targets
Charbonnet + Walker total 6 targets
Even on not a good day of running the ball, the Seahawks had 129 yards. Backup Velus Jones looked good in his limited appearance at the end of the game.
Elijah Arroyo and Brandon Pili both left the game with knee injuries.
Next Week: Riley Leonard
Daniel Jones appeared to suffer a serious season-ending injury in the Colts game on Sunday. The Colts lost and backup Riley Leonard went 18-of-29 for 145 yards and an interception. Indianapolis has now lost four of their last five games after starting 7-1.
Seaside Joe 2470
Great game! I called this Darnold’s get right game, and that he would have 250yards (he got 249) and 3 TDs (nailed that one) It really wasn’t a get right game, but one hell of a get right 2nd half. To me it means a lot to have a poor 1st half and just shrug it off and ball out. People don’t seem to appreciate the 4th quarter he had against the Rams to almost come back and steal it. That’s why I’m not worried about Sam.
I had JSN and Shaheed getting TDs Oh well, JSN got 2. I had the defense holding the Falcons to single digits (9), two INTs and said one would be Emmanwori and the other Spoon. (Spot on) I thought we’d have 4 sacks, I missed that but there was lots of pressure and Cousins only completed 50% for 160 yards on 30 passes. I posted my predictions in a comment yesterday on the 5 players to watch in this game. The score I predicted was Seahawks 38 Falcons 9 Off by one. It was my 2nd best prediction of the year. (Saints game was a touch better)
This was the prediction in the comment yesterday: I call this Sam Darnold’s get right game. I have him going over 250+ yards and throwing three TDs. One to JSN (who gets 125+ of those 250+) One to Shaheed of 40 + yards, and maybe one to Barner or K9, although I’d like K9 to get his TD in an explosive run, rather than pass. I am calling for the defense to hold the Falcons to 10 or fewer points, and base this on no turnovers by the offense. Emmanwori picks off a pass for Pitts, and Spoon reads and explodes on a pass to Robinson, picking Cousins off a second time. I see 4 plus sacks of Cousins as the game will spiral out of control early. I am not counting on Pearce being out, but I am counting on a big game by our OTs, negating the outside pressure. The interior DL injuries should make it a little easier for them to hold up and allow Darnold his get right game.
Seahawks 38 Falcons 9
This defense is awesome. I can't remember who was asking about Devon Witherspoon some weeks ago but man has he responded. I watched every snap and specifically watch 21 every time. He is so good at defending the LOS. He makes plays for his mates and does all the dirty work. Definitely one of the best CBs in the NFL.