Well done, Geno Smith, and a merry Christmas to you. I have been critical of Geno and his ability to perform when the chips are down. Happy to Be wrong for this game at least showed that he can do it When his back is Against the wall. Memories of Drew Locke dancing in his head?
The remaining two games i I believe favors the Seahawks but who knows..? This NFL season has been littered with upsets.
Win and hurrah,lose and go home and. May the best man win.
You do all realize that the Titans are a good team with a not so good record ??? , Number 1 in red zone defense beat the Dolphins .Chargers twice blew out the Bengals lost by one score to the Ravens , Most losses were by one score .....This was still a very good win its the NFL .
Football looks for Coaches who scare Strong Men. The Titan players were recruited for strength and durability by an extremely tough Coach who is permanently pissed by not making the Playoffs. We beat a team of guys playing Lights-Out for their jobs next year. This is a huge Win. Drabel will be a future nemesis for many teams in the coming years.
We discussed earlier games where we didn't attack the middle of the field enough. This was another. Even the announcers mentioned how often we throw to the outside (3rd most in the NFL, I believe), which is good, but it shows imbalance. When we were struggling earlier in the year, the TEs and middle routes were productive. When I see endzone camera engles, and all the routes are sideline routes, I see all our recievers sandwiched against the boundaries. We give them 2 extra defenders that are unbeatable and the length of the field. We did see slants working, and Colby's TD in particular, work. I just want more balance, including the rushing attempts.
Echoing other Seasiders: come from behind wins are great, but that shows we dig holes early that we don't need to dig.
All-in-all, it was a desperately needed win to keep our "anything can happen in the playoffs" shot alive. Congrats to the guys and the staff!
Happy Holidays and Merry 12s Days of Christmas to all y'all!!
Regarding Geno being a TO machine, i'm just not so sure. I agree that he throws too many picks, but I don't know that my expectations are realistic. Looking at the numbers, he's at least as good as half of the league is at avoiding them. He is tied for 14th in INTs currently, with 9. Best is 4, with the majority of guys better than him having 6-7 picks. So, not far off from being top-5 in the league.
But, we are WAY on the end of the teeter-totter of distribution area of passes thrown instead of somewhere closer to the middle. If we had routes across the entire width of the field, then there would be more space to make those throws easier, too. The problem is not that he isn't throwing across the middle, it's that the routes over the middle aren't even being run in the play enough times. So, there is not even a threat of a pass there.
Also, the perception that he throws so many turnover-worthy passes is overblown. I know it's a month old, now, but these are PFF's stats on QBs Negative Play Factors from when he wasn't playing as well.
If you throw out QBs who didn't have 100 attempts, he was 10th best in INT-worthy rate, and Top-5 in total negative play rate then. But, he has them at inopportune times, which magnifies the mistakes. I just don't know that you couldn't say the same thing about all the other QBs out there.
He also has a pretty high success rate when throwing into tight windows and throwing receivers open. I can get that link, but it would take me a minute. This above one just happened to be handy.
When I said top-5 in turnover worthy passes, I meant top-5 in Negative Play Rate, it includes sacks and fumbles l, so even his bone headed sacks are factored in. We just all know a lot of these things are preventable and are mental lapses. We know he can do better.
I keep seeing people refer to points scored and points allowed in a game. I think it’s very misleading. Points per possession is more accurate imo.
Seahawks offense today: 20 points on 7 possessions. That is 2.85 points per possession (PPP)
The average amount of possessions in a game is roughly 10. In a typical game the Seahawks offense would’ve put up 28 points. That’s pretty good 👍🏼
2.85 PPP from the Hawks offense today would be better than the 2023 Niners who are 2.77 PPP and much better than league average 1.87 PPP.
Overall, the offense played well, extremely well in SH, but the game was kept close because there was a very low amount of possessions (defense not so good).
Unless some kind of magic occurs between now and the Steelers game, the Hawks are going to have just as much trouble with the Steelers run game. I am afraid it's going to be another nailbiting, cussing, blood pressure raising chaotic mess of a game. And unless some other form of magic that creates a consistent and disciplined team (what's up with madman Artie Burns?) takes place very soon, it's hard to see how the Hawks go beyond the wildcard round
Whether it's DK (now seemingly under better self-control) or Burns (the latest sucker puncher)the fuel for these ugly penalties is frustration - both O and D knowing they should be far better.
re Penalties bailing us out: They were fortunate to go our way in the 4th. But I sea it as football gods making up for the (at least) 3 bad calls against I can remember. Diggs unsportsmanlike and Brown’s DPI being the biggest that standout.
I knew this game would be problematic. Remember the last time we played them, here, built up a big lead and then they ran all over us for the comeback win? So I recorded the game and did Christmas stuff around the house. At 2:30 asked my wife to find out who won. Hey great news! So I sat down to watch the game... and had to ask her twice if she had read the score correctly. When you know the outcome, you watch a bit more objectively, and objectively... I thought we sucked all around. Yeah there were some decent plays here and there, but we did not look like a team that was in control of its own destiny. They went down the field and ate up the clock on us like pretty much everyone else. And our offense didn't do squat, and looked ugly in the process. Somehow we kept them from putting us away, but I was very unimpressed when they scored on us after an 8 minute drive in the fourth quarter. I kept wondering, where was this victory going to come from. So... I see how we won, and some guys were clutch, on offense and defense. But why do we have to get our asses kicked for three quarters before we see the light? And not to be negative here, but we were lucky to have the help of their penalties. And what kind of sieve is our O-line? And I thought we were supposed to be playing a second-string secondary. Didn't look that way to me. I was happy last Monday. And I'm not unhappy tonight. But I hate to say it, we're looking like a team that is still trying to figure out what it's supposed to be doing on every single frickin play, after the snap. Okay. Vented. Merry Christmas to all you wonderful Hawks fans on this site and to Ken for putting it together.
Record-watch is better than live, especially w/2023 Hawks. Not suffering dumb commercials is a win, no matter the score. Slow mo to understand who did what, in 1+/- hrs! 2 hrs to do other things.
My buddy's wife tries to make us have "positive" comments (she's a teacher).
"I'm positive this is the most exciting game between 2 mediocre teams I've seen today".
I do this too. The game is recorded to the DVR until there’s at LEAST an hour saved up then we watch. We also wait until the game is over on occasion. No commercials, no halftime talkathon, and as many replays as we want. I love to watch sports this way.
The only thing uglier than an ugly win, is an ugly loss. I had a vision of a blowout win but I should have known better. That was a slog all the way to the end and I confess I was thinking the game was lost when the Titans went up 17-13. Geno got the job done, and everyone lives to move on to the Steelers.
The D will look instantly better when Witherspoon is able to suit up. They miss his energy and he is far superior to either Burns or Bryant as the slot corner.
The Titans run D is statisically not bad, but I was suprised our OL was not able to consistently win in the trenches--that is the biggest concern I have coming out of the game, and I agree with you Ken that drafting another OT would be a great idea for 24.
Geno is like a robot. Enter command, execute task. He just doesn’t appear to play with any “take what they give you”. I realized today that for two weeks I wasn’t having nearly the same amount of frustration/nerves/anger/disappointment during the game as I have all year or today. Lock gets the ball out noticeably faster. My brother told me to give Geno a few games with our healthy o-line to get back in sync but it really felt like we could have gotten better every week with that experience for Lock (and with Jamal off the field). Like the players told Marshawn in Superbowl XLIX “if we lose going to you 4/4 times on that final play, I’m good with that” I’d be good with a shorter season or early exit from the playoffs giving the nod to Lock and riding that wave. This is what makes me think we go with Geno another year despite this years showing of mediocrity. Today did not change my mind. We were lucky we won - how many similar games this year have we lost?
The Seahawks could not run the ball. Geno took over the second half and the narrative is he sucks and with Lock it would have been a blowout. Got it. By the way - The reason the ball was coming out quicker with Lock was that he throws almost exclusively to the first reads. Geno made multiple throws to second/ third reads, which is why Lockett had near a season number of catches this week.
I think it’s impossible to compare the two - not a large enough sample size. Eventually teams would have enough tape on lock to give him problems. I just think I’d rather watch that story than the slogfest we have been witnessing all year. I think it was the fourth quarter geno handed the ball to walker on the goaline and he was immediately swallowed up by two unblocked defenders. Like, not even close. Of course these plays are forgivable but my god it was so obvious that was not the right read I just couldn’t even believe it. It’s one thing for our o line to not develop gaps for our running gaps, it’s another to set up our RB1 to get posterized.
Interesting you mention that particular hand off. If memory serves, I think it was out of shotgun. On 710AM this week, Robert Turbin said handoff from shotgun is tough on the running back because they have no running start. His words came back to me on that play. TN sure as heck had the play dx'd.
I still hold PC/JS failure to value a stud Center means opponents overplay TG & Off-tackle runs. Hawks have no ability to run up the middle (or create a traditional passer pocket for that matter).
Ugh I thought the game was over after that play. Whose responsibility is it to read there will be guys rushing unblocked off the edge? Was it an RPO and QB messed up? Either way, glad we were able to make up for that disaster.
They could have had 2 tacklers drop off onto a TE and still have that play snuffed. To expect anyone to do anything in coverage on the goalline is iffy, at best. Not criticizing your comment, just the play. Like mentioned earlier here, this was one of my "wtf are we calling here?!" moments. I am not a fan of shotgun on the goalline. I think it stresses the defense more when we come out in tight formation, then PA pass, than it does to come out in shotgun then run. The threat of the running start for the RB to power in or dive over is a much more urgent mindset. IMHO
What a game. This is what sports is all about. Last game and this one. Game/Season/Job? everything is on the line. The best have a way to remain composed and deliver in high pressure situations. What a luxury it is to have two number 1 QBs who both came up huge in Game Winning Drives (GWDs) the last two weeks.
Speaking of ... Geno may need to change his name to Mr. Clutch:
Just awesome stuff. However, the sack he took before the 3rd and 14 was a bad play. JT O'Sullivan of the QB School highlighted how good Lock was getting the ball out on the final drive. Conversely, Geno comes right back on a 3rd and 14 and rips the ball to JSN. He is great at bouncing back and gets another GWD in the 4th.
Many more thoughts but that is what comes to mind first. Great game out of the 3 WR especially Tyler which was good to see.
There are no easy games in the NFL and especially not on the road.
I would also add, Pete Carroll's brand of football can be great for upsets because he keeps the game close and rough when being the better team because he keeps the game close. I doubt there is a team with less possessions in a game than the Seahawks. Which is why we need to talk about the offense in terms of Points Per Possession (or drive) and not points per game. Same with the defense. It skews the numbers.
The Seahawks led by Geno came out with an astounding 5.6 PPP in the second half. They only had 3 possessions resulting in an incredible 17 points. That is clutch with everything on the line.
Another cardiac test of a game, as expected...so I suppose the final two will likely be the same. Both dangerous teams that Seattle can beat - but they'll probably make is watch all 60 minutes each week to find out whether they do it.
Have a friend who's a Steeler fan and we always bet a burger on head-to-head games. Free burgers taste much better than ones I pay for, so go Hawks! 🤞
Well done, Geno Smith, and a merry Christmas to you. I have been critical of Geno and his ability to perform when the chips are down. Happy to Be wrong for this game at least showed that he can do it When his back is Against the wall. Memories of Drew Locke dancing in his head?
The remaining two games i I believe favors the Seahawks but who knows..? This NFL season has been littered with upsets.
Win and hurrah,lose and go home and. May the best man win.
You do all realize that the Titans are a good team with a not so good record ??? , Number 1 in red zone defense beat the Dolphins .Chargers twice blew out the Bengals lost by one score to the Ravens , Most losses were by one score .....This was still a very good win its the NFL .
Football looks for Coaches who scare Strong Men. The Titan players were recruited for strength and durability by an extremely tough Coach who is permanently pissed by not making the Playoffs. We beat a team of guys playing Lights-Out for their jobs next year. This is a huge Win. Drabel will be a future nemesis for many teams in the coming years.
Going into yesterday's game, the Titans had a winning record at home. The game wasn't a gimme.
We discussed earlier games where we didn't attack the middle of the field enough. This was another. Even the announcers mentioned how often we throw to the outside (3rd most in the NFL, I believe), which is good, but it shows imbalance. When we were struggling earlier in the year, the TEs and middle routes were productive. When I see endzone camera engles, and all the routes are sideline routes, I see all our recievers sandwiched against the boundaries. We give them 2 extra defenders that are unbeatable and the length of the field. We did see slants working, and Colby's TD in particular, work. I just want more balance, including the rushing attempts.
Echoing other Seasiders: come from behind wins are great, but that shows we dig holes early that we don't need to dig.
All-in-all, it was a desperately needed win to keep our "anything can happen in the playoffs" shot alive. Congrats to the guys and the staff!
Happy Holidays and Merry 12s Days of Christmas to all y'all!!
Geno Smith isn't good enough for Seattle to attack the middle as a regular part of the offensive scheme. He'd be an interception machine.
First, happy holidays to you and yours.
Regarding Geno being a TO machine, i'm just not so sure. I agree that he throws too many picks, but I don't know that my expectations are realistic. Looking at the numbers, he's at least as good as half of the league is at avoiding them. He is tied for 14th in INTs currently, with 9. Best is 4, with the majority of guys better than him having 6-7 picks. So, not far off from being top-5 in the league.
But, we are WAY on the end of the teeter-totter of distribution area of passes thrown instead of somewhere closer to the middle. If we had routes across the entire width of the field, then there would be more space to make those throws easier, too. The problem is not that he isn't throwing across the middle, it's that the routes over the middle aren't even being run in the play enough times. So, there is not even a threat of a pass there.
Also, the perception that he throws so many turnover-worthy passes is overblown. I know it's a month old, now, but these are PFF's stats on QBs Negative Play Factors from when he wasn't playing as well.
https://twitter.com/PattonAnalytics/status/1725231645379224007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1725231645379224007%7Ctwgr%5E9d9cd6d0d3fe2b7ae8df6fc47beff69f7fdd0b67%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-325262662172708203.ampproject.net%2F2312012346000%2Fframe.html
If you throw out QBs who didn't have 100 attempts, he was 10th best in INT-worthy rate, and Top-5 in total negative play rate then. But, he has them at inopportune times, which magnifies the mistakes. I just don't know that you couldn't say the same thing about all the other QBs out there.
He also has a pretty high success rate when throwing into tight windows and throwing receivers open. I can get that link, but it would take me a minute. This above one just happened to be handy.
Same to you! Beautiful day here in central Virginia!
My take is that the middle of the field is more susceptible to interceptions. But part of it is Pete and his aversion to TOs.
Every time I go back to my hometown of Mechanicsville, VA, or my mom's in Montpellier (Louisa/Hanover border), I don't want to come back to South GA.
When I said top-5 in turnover worthy passes, I meant top-5 in Negative Play Rate, it includes sacks and fumbles l, so even his bone headed sacks are factored in. We just all know a lot of these things are preventable and are mental lapses. We know he can do better.
2-win streak on Xmas morning is a good feeling.
Seeing the performance is less good feeling and more the ongoing dread of two more purgatory years.
And definitely a good feeling we don't have a QB/RB contract anchor like the Titans do.
I keep seeing people refer to points scored and points allowed in a game. I think it’s very misleading. Points per possession is more accurate imo.
Seahawks offense today: 20 points on 7 possessions. That is 2.85 points per possession (PPP)
The average amount of possessions in a game is roughly 10. In a typical game the Seahawks offense would’ve put up 28 points. That’s pretty good 👍🏼
2.85 PPP from the Hawks offense today would be better than the 2023 Niners who are 2.77 PPP and much better than league average 1.87 PPP.
Overall, the offense played well, extremely well in SH, but the game was kept close because there was a very low amount of possessions (defense not so good).
Unless some kind of magic occurs between now and the Steelers game, the Hawks are going to have just as much trouble with the Steelers run game. I am afraid it's going to be another nailbiting, cussing, blood pressure raising chaotic mess of a game. And unless some other form of magic that creates a consistent and disciplined team (what's up with madman Artie Burns?) takes place very soon, it's hard to see how the Hawks go beyond the wildcard round
IKR! Artie Burns turned into Artie Lange¹ for a second, there!
¹Howard Stern Show contributor, well-known drug addict, and loose-cannon
Whether it's DK (now seemingly under better self-control) or Burns (the latest sucker puncher)the fuel for these ugly penalties is frustration - both O and D knowing they should be far better.
Yup Yup, winning cures all...Woo Hoooo! Another terrific article!
re Penalties bailing us out: They were fortunate to go our way in the 4th. But I sea it as football gods making up for the (at least) 3 bad calls against I can remember. Diggs unsportsmanlike and Brown’s DPI being the biggest that standout.
Good point there.
It started out as a possible big win for the refs, but we came nack on them.
-missed offsides on the 1st sack
-missed delay of game early
-missed holding on a Henry run OT right for a 7yd gain midway through
My biggest concern is ’Spoon returning. Are we sure he’s coming back?
I knew this game would be problematic. Remember the last time we played them, here, built up a big lead and then they ran all over us for the comeback win? So I recorded the game and did Christmas stuff around the house. At 2:30 asked my wife to find out who won. Hey great news! So I sat down to watch the game... and had to ask her twice if she had read the score correctly. When you know the outcome, you watch a bit more objectively, and objectively... I thought we sucked all around. Yeah there were some decent plays here and there, but we did not look like a team that was in control of its own destiny. They went down the field and ate up the clock on us like pretty much everyone else. And our offense didn't do squat, and looked ugly in the process. Somehow we kept them from putting us away, but I was very unimpressed when they scored on us after an 8 minute drive in the fourth quarter. I kept wondering, where was this victory going to come from. So... I see how we won, and some guys were clutch, on offense and defense. But why do we have to get our asses kicked for three quarters before we see the light? And not to be negative here, but we were lucky to have the help of their penalties. And what kind of sieve is our O-line? And I thought we were supposed to be playing a second-string secondary. Didn't look that way to me. I was happy last Monday. And I'm not unhappy tonight. But I hate to say it, we're looking like a team that is still trying to figure out what it's supposed to be doing on every single frickin play, after the snap. Okay. Vented. Merry Christmas to all you wonderful Hawks fans on this site and to Ken for putting it together.
Record-watch is better than live, especially w/2023 Hawks. Not suffering dumb commercials is a win, no matter the score. Slow mo to understand who did what, in 1+/- hrs! 2 hrs to do other things.
My buddy's wife tries to make us have "positive" comments (she's a teacher).
"I'm positive this is the most exciting game between 2 mediocre teams I've seen today".
Hahaha.
I do this too. The game is recorded to the DVR until there’s at LEAST an hour saved up then we watch. We also wait until the game is over on occasion. No commercials, no halftime talkathon, and as many replays as we want. I love to watch sports this way.
Seriously. Every play. And I’m not a Pete hater or lover but the guy looks like my grandpa whenever we score - surprised and enthralled.
Where’s my defibrillator?!!!❤️
Exactly!
The only thing uglier than an ugly win, is an ugly loss. I had a vision of a blowout win but I should have known better. That was a slog all the way to the end and I confess I was thinking the game was lost when the Titans went up 17-13. Geno got the job done, and everyone lives to move on to the Steelers.
The D will look instantly better when Witherspoon is able to suit up. They miss his energy and he is far superior to either Burns or Bryant as the slot corner.
The Titans run D is statisically not bad, but I was suprised our OL was not able to consistently win in the trenches--that is the biggest concern I have coming out of the game, and I agree with you Ken that drafting another OT would be a great idea for 24.
I have to disagree. There are uglier things. I mean, have you SEEN my ex?
All joking aside, it's been 5yrs now, and I am still looking for my ex's killer.
Absolutely nobody will do it.
Oh, I feel your pain!
Geno is like a robot. Enter command, execute task. He just doesn’t appear to play with any “take what they give you”. I realized today that for two weeks I wasn’t having nearly the same amount of frustration/nerves/anger/disappointment during the game as I have all year or today. Lock gets the ball out noticeably faster. My brother told me to give Geno a few games with our healthy o-line to get back in sync but it really felt like we could have gotten better every week with that experience for Lock (and with Jamal off the field). Like the players told Marshawn in Superbowl XLIX “if we lose going to you 4/4 times on that final play, I’m good with that” I’d be good with a shorter season or early exit from the playoffs giving the nod to Lock and riding that wave. This is what makes me think we go with Geno another year despite this years showing of mediocrity. Today did not change my mind. We were lucky we won - how many similar games this year have we lost?
The Seahawks could not run the ball. Geno took over the second half and the narrative is he sucks and with Lock it would have been a blowout. Got it. By the way - The reason the ball was coming out quicker with Lock was that he throws almost exclusively to the first reads. Geno made multiple throws to second/ third reads, which is why Lockett had near a season number of catches this week.
I think it’s impossible to compare the two - not a large enough sample size. Eventually teams would have enough tape on lock to give him problems. I just think I’d rather watch that story than the slogfest we have been witnessing all year. I think it was the fourth quarter geno handed the ball to walker on the goaline and he was immediately swallowed up by two unblocked defenders. Like, not even close. Of course these plays are forgivable but my god it was so obvious that was not the right read I just couldn’t even believe it. It’s one thing for our o line to not develop gaps for our running gaps, it’s another to set up our RB1 to get posterized.
Interesting you mention that particular hand off. If memory serves, I think it was out of shotgun. On 710AM this week, Robert Turbin said handoff from shotgun is tough on the running back because they have no running start. His words came back to me on that play. TN sure as heck had the play dx'd.
I still hold PC/JS failure to value a stud Center means opponents overplay TG & Off-tackle runs. Hawks have no ability to run up the middle (or create a traditional passer pocket for that matter).
Ugh I thought the game was over after that play. Whose responsibility is it to read there will be guys rushing unblocked off the edge? Was it an RPO and QB messed up? Either way, glad we were able to make up for that disaster.
I think that the expectation was that the tackler would drop into coverage on one of the TEs.
They could have had 2 tacklers drop off onto a TE and still have that play snuffed. To expect anyone to do anything in coverage on the goalline is iffy, at best. Not criticizing your comment, just the play. Like mentioned earlier here, this was one of my "wtf are we calling here?!" moments. I am not a fan of shotgun on the goalline. I think it stresses the defense more when we come out in tight formation, then PA pass, than it does to come out in shotgun then run. The threat of the running start for the RB to power in or dive over is a much more urgent mindset. IMHO
Running backs*
What a game. This is what sports is all about. Last game and this one. Game/Season/Job? everything is on the line. The best have a way to remain composed and deliver in high pressure situations. What a luxury it is to have two number 1 QBs who both came up huge in Game Winning Drives (GWDs) the last two weeks.
Speaking of ... Geno may need to change his name to Mr. Clutch:
"From @ESPNStatsInfo: Smith now has five go-ahead TD passes in the fourth quarter this season, most in the NFL." - Brady Henderson https://x.com/BradyHenderson/status/1739027524321968622?s=20
Over the last two years Geno has 7 GWDs and five (5) 4th quarter comebacks including today.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/comeback.cgi?player=SmitGe00
Just awesome stuff. However, the sack he took before the 3rd and 14 was a bad play. JT O'Sullivan of the QB School highlighted how good Lock was getting the ball out on the final drive. Conversely, Geno comes right back on a 3rd and 14 and rips the ball to JSN. He is great at bouncing back and gets another GWD in the 4th.
Many more thoughts but that is what comes to mind first. Great game out of the 3 WR especially Tyler which was good to see.
There are no easy games in the NFL and especially not on the road.
I would also add, Pete Carroll's brand of football can be great for upsets because he keeps the game close and rough when being the better team because he keeps the game close. I doubt there is a team with less possessions in a game than the Seahawks. Which is why we need to talk about the offense in terms of Points Per Possession (or drive) and not points per game. Same with the defense. It skews the numbers.
The Seahawks led by Geno came out with an astounding 5.6 PPP in the second half. They only had 3 possessions resulting in an incredible 17 points. That is clutch with everything on the line.
On to the next,
Go Hawks!
Another cardiac test of a game, as expected...so I suppose the final two will likely be the same. Both dangerous teams that Seattle can beat - but they'll probably make is watch all 60 minutes each week to find out whether they do it.
Have a friend who's a Steeler fan and we always bet a burger on head-to-head games. Free burgers taste much better than ones I pay for, so go Hawks! 🤞
I don't like those corner end zone plays very much, but to be fair Gino did throw a pretty good one to DK.
...and to Bobo earlier in the year. I know it's been a minute, but yesterday seemed like it was more the exception than the rule