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| Credit to who made this, it's amazing stuff! |
Every time I think I know something about this season, it turns out I know nothing at all. Having said that, I still thought it entirely possible in the buildup to this game that the Seahawks could pull one out. What did surprise me was the fashion in which the Hawks won. Matter-of-factly, the Hawks stole this one from the refs. Russell Wilson carried the team on his back and nearly everyone on offense made clutch play after clutch play to will this team to victory. That's the extremely short version.
The previous week in Hawkville had that shitstorm vibe to it that normally comes along with a Seahawks road letdown. That vibe is usually erased by a shocking Seahawks victory in a game where hardly anyone who doesn't bleed blue and green gave them a chance. It defies logic. Seeing that the Hawks rank near the top of the NFL in "Strength of Victory" while also having the lowest "Strength of Losses" does not. Inconsistency is the mark of young and talented teams in the NFL and the Seahawks are certainly that. The funny thing is inconsistency has often been the mark of the eventual Super Bowl Champion in recent years, so maybe it's not such a bad thing after all?
Last season, it was the Giants who overcame a mountain of injuries and inconsistent play en route to a 9-7 regular season record, only to go on a memorable tear through the playoffs and all the way to a Super Bowl victory. If that storyline feels vaguely familiar, it's because in 2007 the Giants had a similarly reasonable regular season record, this time 10-6, securing a wild card berth and an improbable string of playoff road victories en route to a massive upset over the undefeated Patriots. Think it's just the Giants? The 2010 Packers, much like the 2007 Giants, finished second in their division with a 10-6 record. However, Aaron Rogers, James Starks, Tramon Williams, Desmond Bishop, Charles Woodson and company were able to lead the Packers to 3 straight road victories and yet another Lombardi Trophy. I refuse to discuss the 2005 Pittsburgh Stealers and their similar quest.
The point is, the potential for greatness in 2012 still exists. That's a complete 180 in comparison to last week when everyone was convinced that we were done after losing to Miami. This past Sunday was about getting back to the basics for me. I tried to make it a point to not get too down over the course of the game but it's just impossible for me. It can't be done. Especially not when there's $5 Red Hook readily available and not when the game is as insane as this Bears game was. I honestly don't know how much of this my heart and my liver can take, so far that, they get the Game Balls from the win in Chicago. It's been a long, winding road for the two of them this season so it's time they collect their props. Thanks guys! Here, another beverage for your troubles!
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| True Champions! |
While my night ended up a shitshow, the Seahawks night most certainly did not. While the defense continues to raise eyebrows, the offense does not. Russell Wilson has arrived as a viable threat to pull any game out of his ass, no matter how awful the refs are, and the receiving core continues to turn heads with big plays in clutch situations. Factor in an ideal performance from the running game as a collective and you've got mostly all the ingredients for a big Seahawks win despite those damn striped bastards.
I'm sorry, I can't get over how shockingly awful Mike Carey and his crew were. Actually, shocking isn't the proper term since this is always the case when Mike Carey and his crew get dispatched to do a Hawks game. This win bumps the Seahawks all-time record in games officiated by Carey to 2-6. Uninspiring to say the least. The calls are what's actually worse. You've got the phantom block in the back during the Cleveland game last season on Leon Washington's punt return TD and now you can choose from a litany of bad calls to add to the list. Look, I know bad calls are a part of the game and are going to happen but at least be equally shitty to both teams. This game was nuts in that regard. I was literally going nuts watching the game unfold.
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| Mike Carey and his officiating crew |
Despite losing my shit all day long, a certain calm came over me when the Hawks were left with the ball at their own 3 yard line, staring down the barrel of a gun named the Chicago Bears defense. It's no secret that I've been a stern believer in Russell Wilson, above all else things Seahawks this season. While I've had my doubts about certain players, coaches, etc. I've always believed that if the Seahawks just put all of their faith in Wilson they would be rewarded. It was an absolutely great feeling watching him march the team down the field converting key 3rd down after key 3rd down either with his legs or his feet. And of course let's not forget the 4th down completion to Zach Miller as a truly money play. You could tell just by watching that this was the first game where Russell was truly allowed to improvise late with the game fully in his hands coming from behind for the potential win. Golden Tate sealed the heroic drive with some heroics of his own and the rest was history...
Not quite. It wouldn't be a Seahawks road game without another late twisting dagger into the side of your rib cage. Miraculously to everyone outside of the Pacific Northwest, Brandon Marshall hauls in another monster catch and is somehow able to scamper down field, out of bounds, and into field goal position. Gould drills the field goal just like the script says and all of Seahawks Nation is dejected. The world was growing black and the light at the end of the tunnel was slowly disappearing. Life was closing in on me. Okay, that's a little bit over the top but it comes close to how things felt as the game headed to overtime.
However, unsung hero Matt Flynn called tails in one of the biggest decisions of the afternoon. Tails never fails. It didn't this time and the Hawks were back in business. I've never felt this way in the past but for some reason I still believed that Russell Wilson would get it done, again. If it was going to happen, it was going to have to happen on that opening drive of OT and it was going to have to be a touchdown. No field goals allowing the Bears one last chance, no three and outs due to shoddy playcalling and a disdain for going out and grabbing a win by the horns, none of that. It was going to take a gutsy drive from a rookie who had just turned 24 days prior. In typical Russell Wilson fashion, #3 was the one giving the 12th Man a massive birthday gift after his own birthday. Just imagine what he might deliver right before Christmas when the Hawks seek revenge against the suddenly inconsistent 49ers! That's another story for another time, though.
This story is just as sweet. So sweet that I assume we'll talk about it for years to come. When Sidney crossed the plane a total sense of relief washed over me. All the BS calls, all the stupid penalties that the Hawks COULD control, all the non-existent pressure on Jay Cutler was all over. All that mattered was that the Hawks got it done when it counted most and walked off of hostile territory with a massive notch underneath their weathered belts. The maturation of Russell Wilson continues at lightyear speed on a weekly basis and importance of that can not be underestimated. If this team continues to follow Russell's lead and fully goes all in, we might see another great underdog run. With possible suspensions to key players looming in the shadowy distance, it'd be especially important for this team to embody the "Joe Cool" personality of it's leader, especially when shit hits the fan. And if that happens? Well, we might just be looking at another inconsistent Super Bowl Champion.
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